About Us
Our Mission
YSF provides seed grants, mentorship, and capacity-building support to youth-led nonprofit organizations and social ventures at the earliest stage of development, enabling young changemakers aged 16-35 to transform their communities and address global challenges.
Our Vision
We envision a world where young people with vision, community connection and drive to create social change receive investment at the moment they need it most.
Seven Core Values That Guide Our Work
Trust in Youth Leadership
We believe young people possess the vision, creativity, and urgency needed to address the world's most pressing challenges. Age is not a prerequisite for leadership; lived experience, community connection, and commitment to change are what matter.
Early Investment
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Flexibility Over Bureaucracy
We provide unrestricted, flexible funding that young founders can deploy where they need it most. We minimize bureaucratic requirements and instead focus on trust-based relationships and clear communication.
Global South Solidarity
We recognize that youth founders in the Global South face disproportionate barriers to funding despite often addressing the most urgent needs with the fewest resources. We commit to prioritizing these founders in our grantmaking.
Equity and Inclusion
We support youth founders from marginalized communities facing barriers based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, geographic isolation, or economic disadvantage. The most innovative solutions often come from those closest to the problems.
Holistic Support
We understand that money alone is not enough. Young founders need mentorship, peer networks, capacity-building resources, and validation. We provide comprehensive support that strengthens both the organization and the individual leaders.
Learning and Adaptation
We recognize that early-stage organizations must experiment, pivot, and learn. We do not penalize failure; we encourage bold experimentation and create space for young founders to iterate toward solutions that work.
Organizational Objectives:
Building Impact That Scales
Youth Startup Fund operates with clear, measurable objectives designed to create sustainable impact for youth-led organizations worldwide. Our strategic roadmap balances ambitious growth with careful attention to quality, sustainability, and learning.
Primary Objectives (Years 1-3)
Establish Robust Grantmaking Operations
- Launch first cohort of grantees within 12 months of 501(c)(3) approval
- Develop streamlined, youth-friendly application and evaluation processes
- Build infrastructure for international grantmaking compliance and oversight
- Create systems for ongoing grantee support and relationship management
Build Sustainable Funding Base
- Secure initial operating budget through foundation grants, individual donors, and institutional partnerships
- Establish diverse revenue streams to ensure long-term sustainability
- Build endowment or reserve fund for organizational stability
- Develop case for support and demonstrate measurable impact
Support Initial Cohort of Youth-Led Organizations
- Provide seed grants to 15-30 youth-led organizations in first 18 months
- Prioritize Global South organizations facing greatest funding barriers
- Deliver complementary mentorship and capacity-building support
- Document impact and lessons learned for continuous improvement
Build Strong Governance and Infrastructure
- Establish active, engaged Board of Directors with diverse expertise
- Develop comprehensive policies and procedures ensuring compliance and effectiveness
- Create transparent, accountable systems for financial management
- Build organizational culture aligned with mission and values
Establish YSF Brand and Recognition
- Develop strong digital presence across platforms
- Build reputation within youth development, international development, and philanthropic sectors
- Share grantee stories and impact to inspire others
- Position YSF as thought leader on youth-led social change and early-stage funding
THE FUTURE WE ARE BUILDING TOGETHER
Scale Impact
Support 100+ youth-led organizations annually by year 5, expand to multiple annual cohorts and diverse funding mechanisms, develop specialized programs for specific contexts or challenges, and influence broader philanthropic sector to adopt similar approaches.
Build Ecosystem
Create vibrant network of YSF-supported founders supporting each other, facilitate cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing, develop alumni programming that maintains connections over time, and leverage network for collective advocacy and systems change.
Demonstrate Model
Publish rigorous research on youth-led organizations and early-stage funding, share best practices with other funders and capacity builders, advocate for policy changes that support youth leadership, and inspire replication of model in other contexts or sectors.
Our Grant Process Simple, Fast, and Supportive
Application
Initial Review
Dive Dive
Committee Review
Decision
We’ve designed our process to be respectful of young founders’ time and accessible to those without grant-writing experience. Funding decisions are made within 6-8 weeks, and initial funding is disbursed within 2 weeks of signed agreement—dramatically faster than traditional philanthropy.
Beyond the Grant: Holistic Support for Success
Mentorship Matching
Each grantee organization is matched with an experienced mentor—a social entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or sector expert who provides strategic guidance, connections, and support. Mentors volunteer their time and expertise, meeting monthly with their matched organization(s).
Cohort-Based Learning
Grantees are organized into cohorts that go through the grant period together. Cohorts meet virtually quarterly to share experiences, learn from each other, troubleshoot challenges, and build peer relationships that extend beyond the grant period.
Capacity-Building Resources
YSF provides access to workshops and training on key topics including fundraising, financial management, governance, program evaluation, strategic planning, and communications. We also provide templates, tools, and connections to pro bono service providers.
Lasting Network & Community
Beyond the grant period, YSF maintains relationships with alumni organizations, facilitating ongoing connections, collaboration opportunities, and continued learning. The YSF network becomes a lasting resource for young founders navigating social change work.