Deadline: October 24, 2025
Applications are open for the Young Future Funding Challenge 2025. The challenge addresses the urgent need to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to navigate AI, which is rapidly reshaping their learning, creativity, relationships, and mental health.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture when over half of young people (51%) report using generative AI, primarily for information gathering and brainstorming. Research from Young Futures’ Youth Listening Tour and from partners in the digital wellness space reveals that teens often use these powerful tools alone, in secret, and without clear guidance, leading to anxiety, uncertainty, and missed opportunities for support.
The “Oops!…AI Did It Again” Challenge is seeking applications for solutions across four key themes:
- Youth-Powered AI: Projects where teens build, challenge, or creatively remix AI tools.
- AI in Learning, Work, and Creativity: Resources that help youth use AI to learn and create without sacrificing critical thinking or originality.
- AI in Relationships and Mental Health: Programs that help youth navigate AI companionship and mental health tools safely and critically.
- Intergenerational Guidance: Projects that equip adults to have supportive, informed conversations about AI with the young people in their lives.
Benefits
- Young Futures anticipates awarding up to ten organizations, one-year grants ranging in size from $25,000 to $100,000; a total of up to $1M. Award amounts will vary based on scope. The grant term will be April 2026–March 2027.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and fiscally sponsored projects with 501(c)(3) status.
- Collaborative proposals are welcomed. For example, a nonprofit with a partnership with another nonprofit or other entity is eligible to apply. While all solutions must lead to outcomes that support youth wellbeing and must be co-designed and/or co-led with young people, they welcome organizations that are helmed by leaders of all ages.
Application
Complete the eligibility quiz. Upon successfully completing the quiz, you will be given a link to access the LOI. In it, you will be asked to include a video submission showcasing your solution. A suggested format is provided on the application.
Click here to complete the quiz
For more information, visit Young Future Funding Challenge.
