Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford

Call for Proposals (2026):

“Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford”

Purpose

The Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford is a youth-led initiative to build youth leadership to improve health outcomes in New Bedford. Through this opportunity, we are granting up to $355,000 in flexible funds over a period of one to two years. Grants will be made to support organizations who advance youth leadership development, youth civic engagement, and youth organizing among youth ages 14 to 22 in New Bedford. Youth leadership activities should relate to one or more of six youth-identified community health priorities.

Grantees will be selected and funds will be allocated by a Youth Investment Council comprised of New Bedford youth, and convened and facilitated by the Women’s Fund South Coast. The Youth Investment Council will determine the awardees, including the number and the dollar amount of awards.

Overview

We aim to close the gap in life expectancy in Eastern Massachusetts. Since 2025, we have funded youth-led efforts to identify community priorities that could improve health outcomes in New Bedford, including a survey of youth by youth and youth focus groups. This new funding opportunity builds on that that effort by making funding available to organizations that advance youth leadership development, youth civic engagement and youth organizing, and that address at least one of the community priorities identified through the youth engagement process (substance use, transportation, mental health, community violence, youth jobs/economic security, and housing).

We recognize that collaboration and partnerships are essential for creating enduring impact. In the application, we thus ask applicants to name organizations that they will collaborate with, if selected. Applicants should encourage their collaborators and partners to apply for this opportunity; each organization must submit a separate application to be considered.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations must be 501c3 public charities (or be fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 public charity), headquartered in Eastern Massachusetts, and must have a physical presence in New Bedford.

For more details on eligibility, please review the Call for Proposals.

Use of Funds:

The total available through this program for all grantees is $355,000. Funds may be requested to be used over a period of one to two years. Funds are intended to be distributed between one and seven grantees, who can expect to receive between $50,000 to $355,000, depending on the number of selectees granted. The amount of requested grant funds per year may not exceed 50 percent of the applicant organization's total annual operating budget.

The intention of this opportunity is to provide flexible support to grantees. As a result, a budget is not required as part of the application submission but may be requested as part of the interview or final award process. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or for political activities.

How to Apply:

Applications must be submitted via our grant portal by October 28, 2026 at 12 PM ET. For questions, email grants@atriusfoundation.org.

Key Dates

Please check back regularly for updates and links.

  • Application Opens: September 28, 2026

  • Informational Webinar: October 6, 2026 at 2 PM. View slides.

  • Office Hours: October 13, 2026 at 2 PM.

  • Closing Date for RFP Questions: October 20, 2026 (email questions to grants@atriusfoundation.org)

  • Final Update to FAQs: October 22, 2026

  • Application Closes: October 28, 2026 at 12 PM

  • Finalist Interview Dates (TBD): The Youth Investment Council may request to interview finalists. These interviews are anticipated to be held on January 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Applicants are requested to hold this date.

  • Awardees Notified (estimated): end of February 2027

Application Materials