Young Futures 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.

• Table of Content
• About Young Futures
• Funding Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of Funding Challenge
• Requirements for Funding Challenge Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Funding Challenge

Aim and Benefits of Funding Challenge

Young Futures anticipates awarding up to ten organizations, one-year grants ranging in size from $25,000 to $100,00; a total of up to $1M. Award amounts will vary based on scope. The grant term will be April 2026–March 2027.

Requirements for Funding Challenge Qualification

• 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, we welcome organizations that are helmed by leaders of all ages.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Young Futures Funding Challenge webpage