Financial Support

Community Resources for Youth

 

Interested in connecting your youth to an activity or opportunity that costs money? Don’t let money be a barrier! There are many funding options available that can be used to fund part or all of something. Before you consider applying for funding, make sure you:

  • Call up the venue or organization to see if they offer any discounts or sliding scale opportunities.

  • Communicate with your youth about their interest and their caregiver about the sustainability of the activity, including transportation, distance from the placement, scheduling, etc.

  • Communicate with the social worker to get approval; it’s important to make sure you don’t access a funding opportunity for your youth that the PSW was planning on utilizing for them later.

  • Secure any gear or equipment that might be needed.

  • Don’t forget to keep your case supervisor in the loop!

Ready to apply for funding? Use the chart below (click to enlarge) to determine which funding options are right for you and the needs of your foster youth. 

Funding Opportunities

CASA RESOURCE GRANT PROGRAM

  • Funder: Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF)
  • Who: Foster youth aged 0-21
  • What: $250 grant to support the critical needs of foster youth; you are eligible to receive one per year
    • Acceptable requests include: eyeglasses, clothing, tutoring
    • Unacceptable requests include: reimbursements, graduation-related expenses, grants that cost too little (around $60 or under) or are significantly more than the grant amount maximum (unless you can show that the remaining funds are going to be secured through other funding channels)
  • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • How: Create a one-page application with the following information and then email it to your case supervisor:
    • Date and “CASA Resource Grant” notation
    • Your name, title, email, address, telephone number
    • Description of the child and the reason the funding is needed
    • Total amount requested, including itemization
    • Who to make the check payable to (checks can be made payable to the social worker, CASA, or sometimes directly to a vendor) application must have signature of your supervisor

San Francisco Foster Youth fund (SFFYF)

  • Website: http://www.sffosteryouthfund.org/
  • Funder: Human Services Agency
  • Option 1: General Fund
    • Who: Foster youth aged 0-21
    • What: Grants of up to $400 to cover most needs ($500 available for graduating seniors for graduation-related expenses); youth are eligible to receive one per calendar year
      • Acceptable requests include: activity lessons, school-related activities, athletics and uniforms, summer camps, prom and school dance items, graduation-related expenses, travel (sometimes)
      • Unacceptable requests include: clothes, shoes, spending money
    • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
    • How: Complete the provided application and email it to your Case Supervisor.
    • Additional Notes:
      • Reimbursements are acceptable, but not guaranteed
      • Include documentation when possible
      • SFFYF will fund part of a larger need, but will want to see how remaining funding will be covered
  • Option 2: Technology Fund
    • Who: Foster youth aged 12-21
    • What: Grants of up to $300 for youth to receive a cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc.; youth are eligible to receive one per year
    • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
    • How: Complete the provided application and email it to your Case Supervisor
    • Additional Note: Buy-in from foster parent is required to prove a cell phone bill, internet, etc. is covered financially
  • Option 3: Scholarship Fund for NMDs
    • Who: Non-minor dependents attending community or four-year college
    • What: Financial support for the living expenses for up to 20 foster youth for each year they are in college
    • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
    • How: Complete the provided application and email it to your Case Supervisor
    • Additional Notes:
      • Youth just have to pass each semester and re-enroll in 12+ credits the following semester to qualify annually
      • If student is in community college, they have to complete one semester prior to being approved initially

Youth Opportunity Scholarships

  • Website: Youth Opportunity Scholarships
  • Funder: Lampert Byrd Foundation
  • Who: 5th-12th grade students
  • What: Scholarships of up to $500 (disbursed in two installments) given to a youth to explore a new extracurricular activity; youth are eligible to receive one scholarship. For summer programs, scholarships can be issued in one installment. Refer to this list for ideas, youth can also select other programs.
    • Acceptable requests include horseback riding lessons, cooking classes, summer camp
  • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • How: Complete the online application (includes short answers to be written by your youth) and email the full application to your Case Supervisor. To receive your 2nd installment, the youth has to complete a short progress report.

PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

  • Funder: City Youth Now (CYN)
  • Who: Juvenile justice youth and foster youth age 0-21
  • What: Grants of up to approximately $100 to support a youth’s educational, extracurricular, or emergency needs
    • Acceptable requests include: summer camp, clothes, holiday gifts, extracurricular activities, college items, any type of team-building activity; reimbursements are accepted with prior approval
    • Unacceptable requests include: items like skateboards and bikes; cell phones, laptops, appliances or furniture, amusement park passes, family trips, Clipper card
  • When: Applications are due by the 15th of each month (response time is 2-3 weeks)
  • How: Submit the provided application and keep your Case Supervisor updated
  • Additional Notes:
    • CYN has school supplies, toys, and some gently used clothing available year-round
    • CYN has a partnership with Dress for Success to receive professional clothing for youth; to access, simply email info@cityyouthnow.org

CITY YOUTH NOW COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Funder: City Youth Now (CYN)
  • Who: Former or current juvenile probation youth and foster youth in college
  • What: Three different scholarships to go towards a student’s college expenses
    • Sari Wade Scholarship: $1,500 award for a foster care youth
    • Jesse Williams III Scholarship: $1,500 award for a current or former juvenile probation youth
    • Joan Coyne Memorial Scholarship: $3,000 award for a foster care or probation youth
  • When: Applications open in January and are due in spring of each year
  • How: Youth completes provided application form and submits it to CYN staff

SUNSHINE FUND

  • Funder: SFCASA
  • Who: All SFCASA youth aged 0-21
  • What: Grants to bridge funding gaps or emergency needs
  • When: Ongoing
  • How: Work closely with your case supervisor to determine whether this is an appropriate funding option; if it is, your case supervisor will request the funds on your behalf

San Francisco ILSP

  • Funder: San Francisco ILSP
  • Who: ILSP eligible youth (15 ½ to 21)
  • What: various stipend programs:
    • Baby stipend: $400 to cover baby supplies (Target gift cards); one time only; mother must be in 3rd trimester or baby must be 3 years or younger; must show proof of pregnancy or parenting (birth certificate or proof from doctor)
    • Book stipend: covers cost of 1 college book per semester, with a request deadline; can be a reimbursement; must show proof of enrollment (class schedule, grades from previous semester, and cost of books)
    • Education stipend: helps to cover school fees not covered by financial aid, including registration fees, health fees, late payment fees, etc.
    • Emancipation stipend: $150-$500 stipend for youth aging out of AB12 (amount is dependent upon their engagement and participation in SFILSP); youth must have completed intake and attended workshops, events, or drop in services
    • Emergency fund: provides up to $500 to cover an unmet need, such as a bill, to cover rent (one time), car maintenance, etc.; must show proof (submit cost of need, receipts/invoice)
    • Employment expense stipend: provides up to $500 to cover job-related items like uniforms, materials, equipment, etc.; must show proof (submit proof of employment, letter from employer, work schedule)
    • Moving expense stipend: provides up to $500 to help cover moving expenses, including storage, a moving truck, boxes, security deposit, etc.; must show proof (invoice)
  • When: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, except for book stipend deadline
  • How: Be in touch with SFILSP staff for application details

One Simple Wish

One Simple Wish is a wish-granting platform that has partnered with SFCASA to grant wishes for the young people we serve.

This is a chance for the young person you serve to wish for one big ticket item they've been wanting! 24 SFCASA youth have received laptops, electric scooters, tablets, gaming systems, mattresses, amusement park tickets, and more from One Simple Wish already!

One Simple Wish accepts wishes up to $500, and has a Big Wish program for wishes up to $5,000.

Wishes cannot be: Over $500 with tax/shipping included On sale Partial payment (must be wholly purchased by OSW) Ongoing payments (bills, etc)

Advocates should submit the wish, a link to the item, and two blurbs about the youth, to Program Assistant at programassistant@sfcasa.org

One blurb should be 5-7 sentences describing your youth, and another 3-5 sentences explaining why they would like the item, both leaving out any identifying information.

Here’s instructions and examples from One Simple Wish:

Tell us as much as you can about this child or young adult. This is your chance to tell the world why they are so special.

Example blurb 1: M is an amazing young man who is currently living in a foster home without his 3 siblings. Though foster care has been tough on M he has remained hopeful and very focused on school. His favorite subject is science and one day he hopes to become a teacher so he can make learning fun for other kids. He is always kind and well-mannered and everyone who meets M says his smile lights up a room.

Example blurb #2: M would like a new bike so he may get to and from school with more freedom. M says a bike would allow him more time to eat breakfast n the morning and do homework n the afternoon without waiting for the bus. M would prefer a mountain bike so he can go onto trails and interact with nature as well.

Wishes are then posted to the One Simple Wish website, where individuals have the opportunity to grant the wishes (purchase the item for the youth through the site). Wishes are usually fulfilled within a week to a few months.

EDUCATION

Education Travel Reimbursement

OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

  • Wishbone: Summer program support for low-income high school students.
  • SF Parks and Recreation: (and similar city park and recreation divisions outside of San Francisco): Between 50% and 100% off program costs for low-income families. Although it is not listed on the website, foster youth are eligible for the 100% scholarships. Contact Lillian Bautista, the Scholarship Coordinator, at 415.823.2717 for more information on how to apply.
  • Chalk: $5,000 grants to support a youth-led social justice-oriented project.
  • Bay Area Inspire Awards: $5,000 grants for youth ages 18+ with an innovative idea to help advance social equity within their community.

Know of other funding opportunities? Let your case supervisor know!

Nora Landis-Shack