Mott Foundation Youth Choice Awards

Youth Choice Awards recipients carry a ceremonial Charles Stewart Mott Foundation check for Glow Up & Give Back while walking through a school hallway.

En español.

Earlier this year, to help celebrate our 100-year history, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation launched the Youth Choice Awards and invited young people in Flint to decide how to invest in the future of their schools, youth organizations and community.

Flint kids and teens, with the support of an educator or adult advisor, were asked to help award 100 grants of $1,926 each. Fifty grants already have been awarded, and now round two is open for applications.

Eligible participants include K-12 students who:

  • Attend a school within the city limits of Flint.
  • Attend a school that’s part of the Network for School Excellence.
  • Participate in a program at a community-based organization in Flint that has 10 or more actively enrolled students and 501(c)(3) status.

The deadline for applying is Oct. 9, 2026!

Schools and nonprofit organizations can apply for support for up to three projects. Those that received grants in the first round are eligible to apply again.

In keeping with the Foundation’s focus on engaging young people in decision-making, the awards will operate as relay grants. The winners chosen from the last week of the first round will choose the first set of winners for the second round. And then those participants will choose the next projects, and the cycle will continue until all grants are awarded.

Grant recipients will be notified each week on Wednesday. If your project is selected, you will receive an email notification by 5 p.m. Winners will then have until 5 p.m. on Thursday to choose the next week’s recipient. In-person check presentations will take place between 2 and 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Delivery of the prize check is contingent upon winners submitting their selections for the following week’s winners by the Thursday deadline.

An adult advisor or teacher must submit each project. By completing the application below, you confirm that you meet the program requirements. If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected].

"*" indicates required fields

Please use the official name of the school/district or organization name as it appears on their website.
Example: ABC School is a public school academy located on the east side of Flint that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers a STEM-focused curriculum and enrolls 250 students, most of whom reside in Flint. In addition to its academic programs, ABC School provides a variety of extracurricular activities aimed at enhancing student engagement and development. Another example: XYZ Program is a non-profit organization established in 2000 with the goal of offering youth ages 5-17 a safe environment to learn, socialize, and grow. Based on the north side of Flint, the organization’s primary mission is to help young people develop skills essential for their future success.
Please enter the Tax ID or EIN in the format XX-XXXXXXX
School/organization address*
Email for teacher or advisor*
Example: Mrs. Jones’ third-grade class with 25 students participating.
Please describe in a few sentences what the project is and what you hope to accomplish.
Example: Cost of item A, cost of item B and cost of item C, etc., equals $1,926.
Anticipated start date and anticipated completion date.
By filling this out, you are confirming that your principal or executive director has approved of this project.
Email for the principal or executive director*

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