The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation's Youth Initiative aims to support direct service programs that promote resilience, stability, and psycho-social health for youth ages 14 to 21 who have experienced trauma because of exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). 

Program Requirements 

We will only consider programs that meet the following requirements: 

1. Serve youth ages 14 to 21 whose ability to flourish has been significantly inhibited by trauma from exposure to ACEs. 

2. Offer age-appropriate therapeutic interventions, activities or services that promote resilience, stability, and psycho-social health in traumatized youth. 

3. Use trauma informed practices and policies, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing trauma training for involved staff. 

4. Be a new program for the organization, or a new component to an existing program, currently in development or within its first year (from the date of application submission) of implementation. 

5. Provide services that go beyond crisis intervention and the establishment of initial safety. Short-term shelter-based or crisis-oriented programs will not be funded. 

6. Include a plan for evaluating program effectiveness, with quantitative and/or qualitative indicators of the program’s impact. 

7. Enhance the relationship between the youth and at least one significant adult, such as a parent, primary caregiver or other adult with whom the young person has a meaningful and ideally long-term relationship.

Program Priorities 

The Foundation gives priority to programs that: 

1. Actively solicit input from program beneficiaries in ways that guide the design, delivery, and refinement of the program. 

2. Collaborate with other organizations to enhance the program curriculum, measure outcomes, or share knowledge in ways that advance the impact of trauma treatment. 

3. Take a multidisciplinary and multidimensional approach, treating individuals holistically, and consider existing social and cultural contexts. 

4. Educate significant adults (e.g., parent, foster parent, teacher, coach) in order to better serve participating youth. 

5. Serve youth segments that historically have less access to services, including BIPOC youth, youth from rural communities, youth involved with state systems, refugees, LGBTQ youth, and those who have experienced sexual exploitation.

Multi-Year Funding 

The Foundation intends to support programs for up to three years. While the Foundation will not commit funds for the second or third year without an annual review, it is our intent to continue funding successful programs. Because programs will not be funded for more than three years, you are encouraged to plan for the long-term sustainability of the program. Organizations requesting second- and third-year funding must submit a Progress Report and Renewal Application.

Restrictions 

The Foundation will not consider proposals for: 

• Emergency and/or short-term shelter-based programs 

• Ongoing programs or general operating support 

• Capital projects, including land acquisition or the construction of buildings 

• Grants or scholarships to individuals 

• Lobbying is prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code 

• Conferences 

• Endowments 

• Start-up costs for new organizations.

The Foundation requires that letters of inquiry (LOIs) and applications be completed via our online application system.

Letter of inquiry opens: May 1, 2026.