The Skillman Foundation

The Skillman Youth Council (SYC) is now accepting grant applications from Detroit-based and/or Detroit-serving organizations offering afterschool programming to middle and high school-aged youth focused on one or more of the following:

• Academic Support (ex: tutoring)
• Mentorship (ex: supportive role models, community connections, etc.)
• Mental Health (ex: wellness, awareness, resources, etc.)

While all Detroit-based and/or Detroit-serving organizations offering afterschool programming to the above areas will be considered, the SYC is particularly interested in programs that also:

• Provide continuous engagement across key youth transitions (For example: middle school to high school, high school to post-secondary career, or opportunities to hold leadership positions)
• Take a holistic approach to supporting youth (For example: resources related to basic needs, wraparound support, etc.)

In the past, Skillman Youth Council grant amounts have ranged from $5,000 to $20,000, with an average of $10,000.

Eligibility Requirements

There are some eligibility requirements to keep in mind before you consider applying for a SYC grant. Your organization must:

• *Be a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity with a designation of 509(a)(1) *please note: use of a fiscal sponsor or fiduciary is permitted.
• Be based in Detroit or serve Detroit youth.
• In policy and practice, offer opportunity and service to all, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

How the Youth Council Developed the Fund

This grant fund and its priorities were developed through a process of learning, listening, and reflection, starting with building a shared understanding of how grantmaking can be a powerful tool for change.

Council members participated in a focus group facilitated by the SYC Grantmaking and Research Committee, where they reflected on their lived experiences in education and identified common challenges, needs, and opportunities facing young people in Detroit. The Research Committee then reviewed community research data to better understand and validate the themes that emerged.

Through this process, the council identified guiding values that helped shape their priority areas:

• Active Listening, Collaboration, and Presence
• Resilience and Fulfillment
• Purpose and Direction

Council members worked with staff to develop the grant application, scoring rubric, outreach materials, and group decision-making approaches.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by the Council members using a combination of rubric scoring and group discussion. The Council will develop their recommendations for grant awards, with final approval provided by our President and CEO. Grant award notifications will go out in August 2026.

While the SYC adult advisors support the process, decision-making power for the grant recommendations ultimately lies with the Council members.

How to Apply

The application is open now and closing at 11:59pm on Wednesday, April 22^nd, 2026.  Applications can be submitted via the following link below. Click here to download a word document of the application.

Questions? Please reach out to SYC adult advisor, Mikala Cox, mcox@skillman.org.