SYPF 2026 – Updated August 2025
Summer Youth Programs are supported through the Summer Youth Program Fund, a collaboration between The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate, and eight other funders in Marion County. For summer 2024, the fund awarded $3.9 million to support 242 programs, with an average grant size of $16,155. Since 1995, the funding collaborative has awarded more than $58 million to support summer youth programs for Marion County youth.
Summer Youth Programs focus on providing safe and positive experiences for children and teens, ages 4 to 24, at little or no cost to families. Grants support overnight programs, day programs, academic and artistic enrichment, and youth employment. Recipients represent religious congregations and area community centers to theaters and parks that offer sports, overnight camping, arts, community service, and tutoring.
The Indianapolis Foundation and Lilly Endowment Inc. manage its grantmaking and other activities.
Funding partners include: Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Inc., City of Indianapolis DMD, Cummins, Lilly Endowment Inc., Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, The Clowes Fund Inc., The Indianapolis Foundation, and The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund
How It Works
The Summer Youth Program Fund collaboration makes things simpler for grant-seekers, funders and grantees. Grant-seekers apply once to reach all nine funders; grantees submit one final report that all nine funders review. Applying through the Summer Youth Program Fund is an opportunity for organizations to elevate their programming to new funders, and saves the time of applying to each funder separately.
Each funder makes its own funding decisions according to its priorities and notifies its grantees separately. Some programs receive grants from more than one funder. Funders collaborate in the allocations process to close as many gaps as possible. Most applicants receive some funding; the majority of applicants in 2023 received 50% or more of their funding request.
SYPF Timeline for 2026 Grantees
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
| Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. | Applications open. |
| Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Orientation for 2026 programs will be at Martin University. To see the full agenda and RSVP, click this link. Doors open at 9 a.m., and orientation will be followed by optional workshops from Noon – 1 p.m. Registration is required. |
| Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 4 p.m. | Applications close. Completed applications for 2026 funding must be submitted by 4 p.m. |
| Week of Feb. 2 – 6, 2026 | Applicants notified. |
| May – August 2026 | Summer youth programs take place. |
| Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026 | Final reports for 2026 programs due by 5 p.m. |
Available Grants
Two types of grants are available, program support and capital support.
PROGRAM GRANTS
Program grants support summer programs for Marion County youth that provide safe spaces to study, read, learn, connect with friends, play sports, and engage in emotional and educational enrichment. Programs must be for the exclusive benefit of Marion County youth. Grants can support costs such as staffing, program materials, healthy meals and snacks, scholarships that keep programs free or low-cost, and more. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt or have a fiscal sponsor. This PDF overviews funder priorities and the elements of what makes a strong proposal.
CAPITAL GRANTS
The Lilly Endowment Inc., makes special grants available for modest capital equipment purchases and projects. Please note that capital grant recipients must have received SYPF grants in two of the last three years (in 2023, 2024, or 2025) and must also be a 2026 grant recipient. This PDF includes full 2026 criteria, the application, and directions on how to submit.
How to Apply
You will use CICF’s Smart Simple platform to submit a program grant application. If your organization does not have a Smart Simple account, you will first need to create one. If you already have a Smart Simple account, please make sure to update your organizational profile before starting your SYPF application. This How-To Guide includes a detailed overview of how to set up an account in Smart Simple.
To help you with your application, we have created the following resources:
- List of application questions (PDF)
- Short video overviewing SYPF, how it works, and timeline
- Short video walking through Smart Simple steps
- Short video on preparing the budget section of the application
When the application opens in August, log in to Smart Simple and select the call for 2026 SYPF applications (see the short video for a walk-through of these steps). You can save and return to your application as many times as necessary before the deadline.
To be notified of when the grant cycle is opening and closing, sign up here.
Final Reporting
- Final reports for 2025 programs are due Tuesday, Sep. 30, at 5 p.m.
- Final reports must be submitted via Smart Simple.
- This video overviews how to access and complete your SYPF final report in Smart Simple.
- All grantees are required to sign and upload a document certifying that all information in the final report, including financial information, is complete. The form to download and sign is here.
- For technical assistance with accessing or using Smart Simple, contact GrantSupport@cicf.org. All other questions should be sent to Jenny Menelas (jennym@indianapolisfoundation.org).
Questions
If you have questions about Summer Youth Program Fund, please contact Jenny Menelas, Community Leadership Officer (jennym@indianapolisfoundation.org). For technical assistance with Smart Simple, contact GrantSupport@cicf.org.
Check out Learning Opportunities FREE for Grantees and Applicants
Reminder as a benefit to SYPF grantees and SYPF applicants, you can access many of MCCOY’s trainings at no cost. This benefit is available to all employees within the organization as well as board and volunteers.
Grantees: Share a Summer Success Story!
We want to share in your triumphs and successes in youth work! Submit a success story and nominate a program, event, or leader in youth work to be featured on our social media.
If you have a link to a job posting or a flyer you would like shared for your summer program, don’t hesitate to reach out! Email dj.cleveland@mccoyouth.org and ask for it to be shared on SYP social media.