Young Futures

The Lonely Hearts Club Funding Challenge

Funding Challenge Overview

*Applications now closed*

The Lonely Hearts Club Challenge is a $1 million commitment and open funding call for early-stage organizations and solutions focused on fostering meaningful social connection, teen belonging, and wellbeing in a tech-driven world. Galvanized by the work of the U.S. Surgeon General, and in partnership with the Foundation for Social Connection, this is the first of several high-need thematic challenges that Young Futures will issue over the next few years.

All challenges seek to help (pre)teens ages 10-19 thrive in a tech-driven world.

The first cohort of up to 10 grantee partners will be deeply committed to a youth-centered and empathetic approach to transforming the culture and norms of social connection and wellbeing in a digital age.

Access and download the full Request for Proposals (RFP) here.

The Young Futures Academy

Up to 10 grant recipients, aka Young Futures Innovators (YF Innovators), will join the foundational cohort of the Young Futures Academy (YFA), a six-month program designed to help level up their organization and amplify their impact.

YFA participants will receive leadership and organizational coaching, mentorship, access to a peer community, and media and communications support. YFA will culminate in a virtual Showcase, where YF Innovators will present their organization and solution(s) to an audience of funders, potential programmatic partners, and users. In addition, YF Innovators will receive travel and accommodation support to participate in an in-person retreat at the start of the program.

Applicants Must Be:

  • Organizations based in the U.S. and registered as a non-profit with 501(c)(3) or tax-exempt status, including those under fiscal sponsorship.
  • Organizations offering a solution or program that has already been piloted or deployed.
  • Organizations whose leadership is willing to actively participate in and complete the six-month Young Futures Academy (~10 hours a month).

WE GET FIRED UP BY ORGANIZATIONS AND SOLUTIONS THAT:

  • Foster meaningful social connection in today's tech-driven world in ways that are both equitable (accounting for the unique needs of (pre)teens with marginalized identities) and developmentally appropriate (accounting for diverse physical, behavioral, emotional, intellectual, and age-specific needs).
  • Engage youth in the design, execution, and evaluation of its solution(s).
  • Are transformative and impactful, significantly accelerating how (pre)teens foster social connection and improve their wellbeing, and define and measure impact using evidence (scientific or community input).
  • Are seeking to scale. Candidates are beyond the point of testing and require support, community, and learning to grow and scale their solution(s) beyond its initial use or location within the next two years. They may be building their solutions in their organization or within an existing institution as an intrapreneur.

Key Dates:

  • Application Period Open
    March 8-April 7, 2024
  • Prospective Applicant Info Session
    March 28, 2024
  • Finalist Interviews
    April 29-May 10, 2024
  • YF Innovators Selected
    May 2024
  • YF Innovators Announced
    June 2024
  • Young Futures Academy Programming
    June-November 2024
  • In-Person Retreat, Washington D.C.
    June 10-12, 2024
  • Virtual Showcase
    September 2024

How To Apply?

Applications are now closed. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on the Lonely Hearts Club challenge and future funding opportunities.

FAQs

How many grants will Young Futures award in this first round of funding?
Young Futures anticipates awarding up to ten organizations one-year grants for a total of up to $1 million.
What is the expected time commitment for participating in Young Futures Academy (YFA)?
Grant recipients, aka Young Futures Innovators (YF Innovators), will commit roughly 10 hours each month for six months (June-November 2024). Participants can expect structured programming, including masterclasses, mentor sessions, and peer circles. YF Innovators will attend a paid, in-person retreat in Washington, D.C., in June and present their organization and solution(s) to an audience of funders, potential programmatic partners, and users in a virtual Showcase in September.
Who qualifies for funding, and what kind of solutions will receive funding?

Young Futures makes grants to charitable U.S.-based non-profit organizations with an IRS determination of 501(c)(3) status. Organizations may be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3). We invite interested grant seekers to complete a short quiz to determine minimum eligibility.

Ideal candidates are early-stage non-profit organizations and leaders beyond the point of testing and require support, community, and learning to grow and scale their solution(s) beyond its first application or place within the next two years. Leaders may be building their solutions independently in their organization or within an existing institution.

Solutions can include activities, resources, and tools. They may be tech-driven (e.g., an app or platform), offered offline (e.g., community programs), or feature a hybrid approach.

Are there any restrictions on the use of funds?
Grant recipients cannot use funds for lobbying or political activities as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Can organizations apply more than once with different proposals?

No, organizations may only submit one proposal for each Young Futures funding challenge.

Young Futures will run multiple challenges centered on empowering (pre)teens to thrive in a tech-driven world, including a new $1 million challenge launching in October. If you feel you may be eligible for multiple challenge themes, we welcome you to apply to each challenge.

How and when will grants be awarded?

Following an internal vetting of applications by the Young Futures team, an external review committee will assess all eligible proposals using criteria outlined in our RFP. The review committee will comprise diverse experts and, most importantly, young people to ensure that all funding decisions are fair and informed.

The YF team will invite finalists to virtual interviews between April 29 and May 10, 2024.

The New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that is the fiscal sponsor of Young Futures, will then conduct due diligence to assess each organization's charitable status and financial health before administering awards starting in May. All applicants, including the first cohort of grant recipients, can expect to be notified of funding decisions in May of 2024.

Still have a question?

We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at team@youngfutures.org and we look forward to connecting.