Fresno Seeks Nonprofits to Run $50K Youth Scholarships for Teens

Fresno city leaders unveiled a $50,000 youth scholarship grant at Fort Miller Middle School as a targeted effort to reduce financial barriers that keep teens from private sports and enrichment programs. The Youth Sports Scholarship Program, funded through Measure P, will provide scholarships of up to $300 per child and is intended to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds access activities such as sports, dance and martial arts.

The city is soliciting one to three qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to manage the program. Applications opened January 22 and are due by February 11, with the city expecting funds to be distributed by March. Selection committees will review proposals and finalize grant agreements in the coming weeks.

Mayor Jerry Dyer, Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and Jesus Garcia, CEO of High Performance Academy, spoke at the Fort Miller gym to encourage local nonprofits to apply. Councilmember Maxwell framed the initiative as part of a larger youth investment strategy aimed at addressing long-term community challenges including crime, homelessness and poverty. Principal Eugenia Raynor said campus programs and partnerships at Fort Miller are already improving engagement and attendance, highlighting local demand for structured out-of-school activities.

The scholarship program prioritizes youth ages 12 to 17 and sets specific eligibility criteria. Families must meet income requirements or participate in public benefit programs such as CalWORKs, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or PG&E CARE. Caregivers of foster children and families living in city-designated high-needs neighborhoods also qualify. At least 50 percent of the grant funds must be used for age groups or activities not currently offered through city programs.

A notable operational detail distinguishes this model from many municipal programs: scholarships will be paid directly to leagues or organizations upfront rather than reimbursing families after payment. The city will provide up to an additional $7,500, or 15 percent of the grant, for program administration. Recipient nonprofits will be required to track participation data and submit regular updates to Fresno’s Parks Department.

The upfront payment structure is designed to remove the barrier of families needing to cover costs out of pocket before reimbursement, a common obstacle for low-income households. For local nonprofits and service providers, the grant offers both an opportunity to expand access and an administrative obligation to demonstrate outcomes through participation tracking.

For Fresno residents this means a potentially quicker path to enrollment in extracurricular programs for eligible teens and a new funding avenue for nonprofits that can demonstrate capacity to manage distribution, data tracking and reporting. Nonprofits interested in applying should obtain application materials from the city before the February 11 deadline; city officials will announce selections and finalize grant terms in the weeks that follow, setting the stage for scholarships to start reaching Fresno youth by March.