The goal of the Youth Career Pathways Initiative (YCPI) is to strengthen and sustain the ability of organizations to support volunteer work that allow youth to develop meaningful and tangible work-related skills and/or explore a variety of work environments and career options.
MSA awards matching grants of up to $20,000 for organizations to create, expand, and replicate promising models.
Read the current RFP here. Proposals for the 2024-2025 grant cycle are due November 1st, 2024.
Nonprofits and Volunteer Connector Organizations (VCOs)* working on new and existing youth career pathways programming are eligible to apply for a YCPI grant.
*Volunteer Connector Organizations include agencies that connect individuals with volunteer opportunities and support organizations in effectively using those volunteers to create meaningful change in local communities.
YCPI funds can be used for implementation of new programming, expansion* of existing programming, or replication of promising models that either:
*Program expansion may include new geographics area(s) not currently served by the program, engaging a new population of volunteers and/or youth, or building new partnerships with established organizations to deliver programming.
YCPI is currently funded by the Massachusetts Service Alliance's connection to AmeriCorps' Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF).
Contact Ian Whalen-Stone, MSA's Program Officer for Volunteer Initiatives, with any questions!