Saratoga County Seeks Proposals For 2025-2026 Youth Program Funding

The Saratoga County Department of Aging & Youth Services is seeking applications for youth programming services from municipalities and nonprofit, community-based organizations for the program year.  Programs must reach the general youth population with quality recreation, social and/or skill-building programs.

 All 2025-2026 grant applications are due to the Department of Aging & Youth Services on or before July 31, 2025. Entities are advised to read the current local commissioners memorandum (LCM) attached within each funding stream for details on eligibility and requirements.

Four funding streams are available:

• Youth Development Programs (YDP): Grants will be awarded to programs for youth under 21 that provide free, direct services designed to improve youth and community outcomes.

• Youth Sports and Education Funding (YSEF): Grants will be awarded to programs that serve youth ages 6-17 and aim to foster educational connections and achievement; physical health and well-being; mental health and well-being; employment; and/or community cohesion.

• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA): RHY services are grounded in the Positive Youth Development framework and focus on supporting and developing healthy relationships to enhance youths’ existing strengths and resiliency, while incorporating youth voice and leadership into programming.

• Youth Team Sports (YTS): is grounded in the principles of positive youth development. YTS may be used to fund programming that provides opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities to learn and participate in team sports activities. This may include educational instruction necessary to prepare youth to participate in team sports.

Specific funding eligibility requirements are as follows:

• The program targets youth and families in Saratoga County.

• Your agency is a not-for-profit or a community-based organization with federal identification or charity registration number.

• Municipalities charging a fee for program participation must provide a written policy to accommodate youth who are unable to pay by either offering scholarships, a tiered fee schedule or waiving the fee.

• Insurance requirements will be met per contract.

• The program will operate and expend all funds during the contract period.

• Funded programs must have sufficient overhead to support the reimbursement-claiming process through completion.

• The claim for reimbursement and the annual report are due annually by October 10th.

• Entities are advised to read the current LCM attached within each funding stream for details on eligibility and requirements.

Funding is made available through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Required forms and additional information about funding eligibility requirements and grant eligibility criteria are available on saratogacountyny.gov/youth. For more information, please call (518) 884-4100