Grants for At-Risk Teenage Girls

A study found that between 2002 and 2007, truancies and suspensions among girls in Illinois rose 47 percent.

At-risk youths can be part of several vulnerable populations. They include children who lack interest in their education, are truant, have unprotected sex, take drugs or abuse alcohol, are disconnected from family and friends, come from a cycle of poverty or have been arrested. Many programs that reach out to troubled youths operate at a local or grassroots level. For initiatives that focus on at-risk teenage girls, there are grants available.

Scholarships

Scholarships can touch the lives of girls in a very individualized manner, making the dream of a college education seem possible and helping to break the cycle of poverty or risky behaviors. The Simon Youth Foundation provides educational opportunities to at-risk youths who live in Simon Mall communities through their Education Resource Centers. Graduates of ERCs who plan to attend a two-year or four-year post-secondary institution are eligible for the Simon Youth Academy Scholarships. The Los Angeles County Commission for Women awards the Girls-At-Risk Scholarship. These awards help recipients pay for their education as well as supplies, child care and medical insurance.

National Foundations

National foundations that support community improvement projects can be a grant resource. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds local projects that improve the lives of Americans, including vulnerable populations and at-risk communities, including teenage girls. The foundation awarded the Freedom Foundation of West Orange, New Jersey, a grant for programs that encourage at-risk urban girls to abstain from illegal drugs and sexual relations. The foundation also created The After School Project in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco to provide students in low-income neighborhoods after-school recreational programs. The foundation believes that risky behavior, such as drug abuse, most often occurs outside school hours.

Sports Grants

Participating in sports programs can help build self-esteem, encourage healthy habits and provide an alternative to risky lifestyles. Organizations that provide grants for athletic programs can be a source of funding such initiatives. Dream Big is a Boston nonprofit supporting girls from low-income or homeless families by awarding equipment grants to Massachusetts groups that bring athletic activities to this population. The Embrey Family Foundation of Texas funds initiatives that help empower individuals and families. In 2010, the foundation awarded a $750,000 grant to The Women's Foundation of Colorado for programs that encourage at-risk girls to graduate high school through mentoring and sports.

Local Foundations

Local foundations can have a profound impact on initiatives to improve the communities they serve. The Rees-Jones Foundation provides funding to organizations that benefit the citizens of North Texas. The foundation has six focus areas of giving including youth programs, education and community improvement. In 2011, the foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the Camp of the Hills program in Marble Falls, Texas, to fund camperships for at-risk youths. In 2010, the foundation gave $75,000 to the Girl Scouts of North Texas in support of their Girl Scouts Direct program that serves girls from high-risk communities.

References

• At Risk Youth Programs: What is an At-Risk Youth
• Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority: Examining At-risk and Delinquent Girls in Illinois; Jessica Ashley; May 2009
• Simon Youth Foundation: Scholarships
• Simon Youth Foundation: About Us
• Robert Woods Johnson Foundation: Vulnerable Populations
• Robert Woods Johnson Foundation: Drugs, Sex, HIV: Programs Teach At-Risk Urban Girls How to Play it Safe; September 2008
• Dream Big: Equipment Grants and Scholarships
• Dream Big: About Us
• The Rees-Jones Foundation: Recent Grants Approved
• The Rees-Jones Foundation: Grants

Resources

• National Council on Crime and Delinquency Center for Girls and Young Women
• Michigan State University Libraries: Grants for Nonprofits Youth and Children
• The Gainesville Sun: Fundraiser Helps PACE Aid Girls; Kimberly Moore; November 2010
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: Kids Count
• At Risk Youth Programs: Everything You Need to Know
• The Los Angeles County Commission for Women: Girls at Risk Scholarship Reception
• PR Web: The Women's Foundation of Colorado Receives Funding Gift for At-Risk Colorado Girls: November 2010
• Embrey Family Foundation: Community Granting Guidelines
• The After School Project: About the Project