The Fight for Our Future Starts Now
While recent reports show that one-third of young people are open to authoritarian alternatives, this moment also presents a powerful opportunity to help a generation see themselves as leaders, trust their collective voice, and engage fully in shaping the future. In 2026, we can strengthen the connections, skills, and confidence that will sustain inclusive civic life for decades to come.
Through our grantmaking efforts, we’re making a $15 million investment to accelerate youth civic engagement, advocacy, and organizing power. Over the 2025-2026 cycle, we will fund targeted efforts to build strong membership bases, mobilize young voters, protect the integrity of elections, and advance key issues facing young people today.
Why It Matters
Addressing the oversight
Young voters continue to be marginalized in our democracy, with their needs and aspirations frequently overlooked. This neglect has left a critical gap in the youth civic engagement ecosystem, one that must be urgently addressed to unlock the full power of the youth vote. Young people are positioned to shape the outcomes of federal and state elections. But mobilizing them requires more than ads and slogans—it demands sustained, authentic engagement that reflects their lived experiences, values, and vision for the future.
redefining engagement
Mobilizing young voters requires more than one-time outreach or election-year hype. It demands sustained investment in the people, infrastructure, and strategies that build long-term power. This strategy recognizes that engagement must go deeper than registration and turnout; it must create real connection, build trust, and reflect the issues young people care about most.
Our Strategy
To build sustainable youth civic engagement, our strategy focuses on targeted, coordinated efforts that connect grassroots organizing with research, education, and culturally relevant outreach. We aim not only to increase election participation but also to strengthen youth-led infrastructure across the country. By combining rigorous research, strategic planning, and innovative media engagement, we equip young voters and organizers to influence public policy and shape healthy civic habits now and in the future.
Key elements of our 2025-2026 funding strategy include:
- Creating and executing aligned civic engagement plans across our Network to expand youth participation and build resilient local and state-level organizing infrastructure.
- Supporting engagement and educational efforts for elections in 2025 and 2026.
- Launching a research and communications information center with strategic polling, data-driven insights, and accessible digital content to inform, engage, and inspire young people to participate in civic life.
- Investing in youth electoral infrastructure and civic engagement infrastructure in emerging states to deepen long-term impact and sustained youth participation.
- Supporting election protection efforts to ensure young people can cast their ballots freely and fairly, including poll watcher training, accessible campus polling locations, and assistance with voter documentation.
If you are a donor with the capacity to contribute 501(c)(3) funds and are interested in supporting our grantmaking efforts, we encourage you to contact us at development@allianceforyouthorganizing.org. We are eager to discuss your investment strategy and goals in further detail and explore how your contribution can significantly impact our grantmaking strategy.
Note: We do not accept unsolicited proposals.