What's The Windward Youth Leadership Fund All About?
The Windward Youth Leadership Fund (WYLF) is a way for youth to apply for and "earn" up to $5,000 for their club or group activities by doing something positive for the community. You can apply if you are 18 or younger, your club or group is based in Windward Oahu, and you have at least three members. You also need a public school or nonprofit organization to sponsor your application.
In addition to engaging youth in community service, one of the primary goals of this small grants program is to help youth build their leadership skills. Although parents, coaches and teachers may provide guidance, the projects must be youth-driven. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate participation of youth in the project planning and writing of the proposal will most likely be denied.
What's the Big Idea?
Tired of the same old fundraisers? Had enough of Portuguese sausage tickets, car washes, donuts, and fishing for money at intersections? The Windward Youth Leadership Fund (WYLF) is an alternative way to raise funds for your activities while helping to strengthen our community.
Youth groups need money for things & uniforms, equipment, trips to the mainland, food for a big event, and more. Rather than thinking about what you can sell, the WYLF challenges you to think about what you can give. The youth in the group come up with a plan to make our Windward community a better place and the Foundation will give up to $5,000 to make it happen and to help organizations or clubs earn needed funds.
By doing a project, you do something good for the community, you show how youth make a difference, and you get the money you need for your activities.
Who Can Apply?
Groups with at least three participants up to age 18 may apply including, but not limited to:
Applicant groups must have a base in Windward Oahu and service projects should serve communities along the Windward coast from Kahuku to Waimanalo.
Applicants must be a public school or a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or have a sponsoring agency that is a 501(c)(3) organization that can receive the funds. 501(c)(3) is a designation given to nonprofit organizations by the Internal Revenue Service. If the applicant is not a public school, you will need the organization's 501(c)(3) Tax ID number for your application.
The service project must benefit the greater community or another nonprofit organization. Youth groups can not use the Windward Youth Leadership Fund to raise funds for their own group by doing a service project that also benefits their own group. Youth groups are also encouraged to undertake projects that broaden their horizons beyond the scope of their everyday activities.
What Can We Get?
You can request from $500 to $5,000 for your youth group depending on how much you need, how many volunteers you have, and how many hours you will put into the project. If you don’t need to fundraise for your organization, but you want help paying for a community service project, that’s good, too! Youth must plan and lead the community service projects, rather than the adult members, parents, or supervisors. The more hours youth put in, the more money you can request for your project.
For example, if your group is applying for $500, you need at least 50 volunteer hours. If your group is applying for $5,000, you need at least 500 volunteer hours. The more volunteers you recruit, the easier it is to get your volunteer hours. For example, 50 youth that each put in 10 hours equals 500 volunteer hours (50x10)! If you have 10 volunteers, each one needs to contribute 50 hours to achieve 500 volunteer hours. Please note that in order to encourage the youth-driven nature of this program, only volunteer hours contributed by youth will be counted toward the total number of hours.
How Do We Apply?
Please click here to submit an online Windward Youth Leadership Fund application. Please note that applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the start of the proposed project.
Who Gets Selected and Why?
Funds are limited, but the foundation will make every effort to help youth who want to help our community. The committee will weigh the following factors:
Tips for Proposing a Great Service Project
2008 Windward Youth Leadership Fund Grants FY2008 |
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Kalaheo High School - Culture Club (Project is still open) |
For raising cultural and environmental awareness through community service |
$5,000.00 |
2007 Windward Youth Leadership Fund Grants FY2007 |
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For beautification of the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden |
$5,000.00 |
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For provision of "Love in a Bag" to homeless families living at the Kakaako Shelter and Waimanalo Beach Park |
$400.00 |
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Boy Scout Troop 329 |
For improvements at the Windward Community College Bioprocessing Medicinal Garden Complex |
$5,000.00 |
Hawaii Warriors Baseball - Malama O Kaneohe Club (Project is still open) |
For volunteer time and services to several care homes and preschools within Kaneohe |
$ 0.00 |
James B. Castle High School - Track and Field Team |
For assistance with the Windward Special Olympics |
$1,800.00 |
For clearing out the mangrove that is overgrowing the Waikalua Loko Fish pond in Kaneohe |
$2,050.00 |
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Ka Huli O Haloa (Project is still open) |
For Hula Ki‘i performances to help audiences learn about the Hawaiian culture and history as it pertains to Hakipu‘u |
$0.00 |
For provision of school supplies for needy and/or homeless children of Windward O'ahu |
$5,000.00 |
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Kailua High School - Aquaculture Program |
For an Eagle Scout Service Project to support and improve the aquaculture program at Kailua High School |
$3,250.00 |
Kailua Intermediate School (Project is still open) |
For a performance program to encourage students to join school bands and orchestras |
$0.00 |
Kalaheo High School - Organization of Clubs |
For community service at Family Promise of Hawaii |
$3,000.00 |
Kailua Mustangs |
For beautification of two Kainalu elementary schools |
$3,990.00 |
Supporters of Kainalu Performing Arts, Inc |
For music performances for pre-schools and residents of nursing homes |
$4,160.00 |
Windward Soccer Club - U10 Boys |
For removal of litter and graffiti on the Lanikai/Ka Iwi Ridge Pill Box Hike |
$5,000.00 |
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2006 Windward Youth Leadership Fund Grants FY2006 |
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For a a blood drive for the Blood Bank of Hawaii |
$5,000.00 |
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For an underwater clean-up at Kailua Beach Park |
$5,000.00 |
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Kai Oni Canoe Club |
For a project to adopt Kailua Beach Park and keep it clean on a weekly basis for one year |
$5,000.00 |
For a 440-student community public art project for shelters and nursing homes |
$5,000.00 |
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Kailua High School - Paddling Team |
For an environmental clean up project on Maunawili Falls hiking trails |
$5,000.00 |
Michael Mackinnon Fund |
For a Kailua District Park Tennis Courts Extreme Makeover |
$5,000.00 |
Boy Scout Troop 113 |
For playground improvements at Benjamin Parker Elementary School |
$1,000.00 |
Waimanalo Teen Project - Baseball Team |
For a clean-up day at Waimanalo Teen Project |
$5,000.00 |
Windward Soccer Club |
For work with the City to “adopt a community” by painting out graffiti and stenciling storm drains |
$5,000.00 |
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