Defending Democracy Against Authoritarian Threat
Purpose
The purpose of the Generation Hope Project is to monetarily resource youth organizing efforts that defend democracy against authoritarian threats and build a future rooted in justice, care, and shared power. We will do so by offering two flagship funds: the Organizing Futures Fund and the Campus Futures Fund. These efforts prioritize the engagement of young people, ages 16-29, with the option to incorporate a multi-generational audience. Young people have historically led the charge to ensure our country delivers on its promises of freedom and justice for all, and are leaders in innovation and creativity. Through Generation Hope, the Alliance is underscoring our commitment to young people and ensuring they remain equipped with the resources to create the future of their dreams.
Why we are doing this
Authoritarianism is on the rise, and our movement must meet the moment. But it is not enough to simply fight back—we must build the power young people need to shape their futures. That means naming and challenging authoritarian threats directly, resisting censorship and repressive laws, protecting the communities most under attack, and confronting efforts to rig elections, undermine free and fair voting, and entrench power through hyper-partisan gerrymandering. At the same time, we must invest in year-round infrastructure that develops leaders, strengthens organizations, and sustains campaigns, while advancing a captivating and inspiring worldview and narrative where young people can see themselves prosper and define the future on their own terms.
What we will fund
The Alliance is excited to fund new ideas (including pilot programs), changes to current programs that allow for expansion into new geographies and/or constituencies, or a scale-up of current programming with a demonstrated track record of success.
Flagship Funds
Organizations may only apply for one of the funds below. Multiple applications from a single organization will not be accepted or reviewed.
Organizing Futures Fund
- Build Durable Organizing Infrastructure by developing leaders, sustaining campaigns, and constructing institutions that advance material change and systems that stabilize year-round organizing beyond election cycles. This includes membership programs, leadership pipelines, and base-building.
- Win the Narrative Battle by countering intimidation, surveillance, and right-wing disinformation with compelling stories that shape our future. This means investing in cultural and digital organizing, creator and gaming spaces that recruit new leaders (particularly men), and narrative work that proactively defines our worldview instead of only reacting to authoritarian attacks.
- Defend Democratic Terrain by supporting anti-suppression campaigns that advocate for fair maps and respond to other immediate threats to free speech and our right to protest. We are most interested in proposals that transform rapid response efforts to sustained organizing.
Priority Communities:
- Organizing in Campus Communities: Organizing students to base-build, develop year-round campaigns that transform student energy into lasting infrastructure for the democracy movement. We will also fund safety plans, anti-doxxing protocols, and other necessary measures for students to organize.
- Organizing in Digital Spaces: Utilizing digital hubs that function as organizing spaces, including initiatives within or that build niche digital communities; multi-platform and creator organizing efforts; and/or storytelling and narrative programs.
- Organizing in Indigenous Communities: Through base-building and leadership development that connects sovereignty, self-determination, and democracy defense.
- Organizing Young Men & Countering Right-Wing Influence: Organizing content creators and podcasts, gaming/sports/lifestyle cohorts, and other initiatives that bring young men into pro-democracy organizing.
- Organizing in Rural Communities: Linking rural and small-town struggles to national fights for democracy and justice.
Grant size: $100,000
Duration: 12 months (November 2025 – November 2026)
Campus Futures Fund
- Protect and Expand Civic Space on Campuses by resourcing safety plans, anti-doxxing protocols, student power tests, and campus-based digital networks that ensure safety is the floor and organizing is the norm.
- Strengthen and Expand College-Based Chapters by resourcing leadership development, base-building, and year-round campaigns that transform student energy into lasting infrastructure for the democracy movement.
Grant size: $25,000 – $75,000
Duration: 12 months (November 2025 – November 2026)
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- 501(c)(3) status: Registered 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored by one.
- U.S.-based work: Activities must occur in and directly benefit communities within the U.S.
- Community-accountable leadership: Priority for organizations led by young people and whose staff and board reflect the community they serve.
- Organizing focus: Projects must center on organizing and power-building (not one-time mobilization or direct service). Applications may use moments like mid-cycle redistricting as an anchor point, but must demonstrate how they sustain the momentum.
- Experience & Credibility: Organizations must have some sort of experience in the space their applications propose to organize in.
Grant Size and Duration
Organizing Futures Fund
- Grant amount: $100,000
- Duration: 12 months (November 2025 – November 2026)
Campus Futures Fund
- Grant amount: $25,000 – $75,000
- Duration: 12 months (November 2025 – November 2026)
Application Cycle
September 29, 2025 RFP Launched. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
October 20, 2025 Deadline to submit proposals at 11:59 pm PT.
November 5, 2025 Award notices will be sent.
To Apply
If you have questions, contact kiersten@allianceforyouthorganizing.org
Grant Portal Guidelines
1. Access the Alliance for Youth Organizing’s grant portal.
2. If this is your first time applying to a grant opportunity with the Alliance, complete the option to “Create New Account” before proceeding with your application. Sign in using the email and password credentials previously created.
3. Press the “Apply” icon next to the Home icon at the upper top left corner of the page.
4. The application for this grant cycle will then be visible as 2025 AYO Generation Hope Project. Click the “Apply” button in the upper right-hand corner of the application box.
Proposal Guidelines
1. Proposal (2-4 pages) – PDF
Please provide a clear and concise description of your proposed strategy that includes:
• Organization Overview
• Mission, vision, and values (2–3 sentences).
• Brief description of history and current programs.
• Proposed Project
• Indicate whether you are applying for the Organizing Futures Fund or Campus Futures Fund and the amount requested.
• Strategy or expansion being proposed.
•Priority space(s): Campus, Digital, Indigenous, Young Men, Rural.
• Goals & Impacts
• Top 2–3 goals.
• Key milestones with a short timeline.
• Expected outputs and anticipated impact.
• Capacity & Accountability
• Why your organization is positioned for this work.
• How staff/leadership reflect the community.
• If applicable, how the membership/base informs decision-making around campaigns.
• Partnerships
• Key collaborators and their role. What relationships do you have with your stakeholders that allows you to do this work effectively?
• How this projects tests a new idea, expands a proven model, or fills a gap.
• What lessons you hope to generate for the field.
• Sustainability
• How this work feeds into a long-term vision for the future.
• What would be needed to sustain impact beyond the grant period.
2. Budget – Excel Spreadsheet
Applicants must upload an organizational budget and proposed project budget. The budgets should include:
• Top three funders
• Personnel costs
• Programmatic expenses (e.g., materials, outreach, travel)
• Administrative/overhead costs
3. Financial Statements – PDF
Applicants must upload a Form 990 OR financial statements (profit and loss, balance statement), from 2024.
4. Proof of 501c3 Status – PDF
Applicants must upload articles of incorporation or another document that demonstrates proof of 501c3 status.
Submission Requirements
• Length: Proposal must be 2-4 pages (excluding budget, or supporting documents).
• Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11:59pm PST
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
• Mission & Vision: Does the organization’s mission align with building youth power, resisting authoritarian threats, and advancing justice?
• Strategy & Alignment: Does the proposal clearly align with our organizing futures strategy (building a durable organizing infrastructure, winning the narrative battle, or defending democratic terrain) OR our campus futures strategy (protect and expand civic spaces or strengthen and expand college-based chapters)?
• Goals & Milestones: Are the goals and milestones clear, measurable, and realistic within the grant period? Do they demonstrate potential for tangible impact?
• Priority Communities: Does the project engage with young people and one or more of the priority communities (Campus, Digital, Indigenous, Young Men, Rural)?
• Community Accountability: Does the organization demonstrate credibility, accountability, and leadership that reflect the community it serves?
• Positioning & Capacity: Is the organization well-positioned to lead this work based on experience, track record, and staff capacity?
• Partnerships: Does the proposal identify strong partners or collaborators who can deepen the impact of the work?
• Innovation & Learning: Does the project test a new idea, expand a proven strategy, or offer lessons that can strengthen the broader field?
• Sustainability: Does the proposal demonstrate how the impact will be sustained beyond this grant period (through infrastructure, leadership pipelines, or ongoing organizing)?
If you have any questions, please contact kiersten@allianceforyouthorganizing.org.