City Launches New Youth Enhancement Grant
Published on August 02, 2026
The City of Aurora’s Youth Services Division has launched a new, one-time grant opportunity for local non-profits and specific taxing bodies to enhance existing, after-school programs and youth initiatives across the City.
The Youth Programs Enhancement Grant will provide $206,000 in total, including $166,000 for after-school programming, equipment purchase grants, and programming scholarships combined, along with $40,000 for portable soccer fields, in an effort to amplify youth programs across the City.Individual organizations may receive up to $20,000 to enhance youth engagement and existing programming, not fund new programs.
Established non-profits that have continuously provided services in Aurora, with demonstrated outcomes, local partnerships, and the capacity to manage a grant are encouraged to apply for the after-school programming, equipment purchase, or programming scholarship portion of the grant. Taxing bodies, such as libraries, park districts, and local townships, can apply if they provide direct youth programming themselves. Aurora-based school and park districts can only apply for the portable soccer field portion of the grant, and must submit a formal letter of intent to be considered. Both after-school programming and equipment purchase portions of the grant must serve a group that consists of at least 51 percent Aurora residents. Programming scholarships will be awarded based on need. The portable soccer fields must be used for Aurora residents and/or on Aurora-based properties.
The grant is funded entirely by donations collected during the City’s annual Festival of Lights celebration at Phillips Park from 2021 to 2025. Funding for this grant is not drawn from the City’s general operating budget or property tax revenue. The grant will not be available in future years; it is a one-time opportunity for current entities to enhance their already existing youth programming.
The City’s Youth Services Division will be hosting a virtual applicant workshop, set to take place on Tuesday, August 11 from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. The Division will also offer dedicated office hours to accept calls and answer questions regarding the grant. On Tuesdays from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M., interested organizations can call (630) 256-3416 with questions, and on Wednesdays from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M., organizations can call (630) 256-3402. The grant’s application period runs from August 3 to August 31. All applications and supporting documentation should be emailed to youthservdiv@aurora.il.us by Monday, August 31 at 5 P.M. Staff will review applications and prepare recommendations on awards during the month of September and is set to come before Aurora’s City Council in October to seek approval for finalized grant agreements.
For more information on the Youth Programs Enhancement Grant, please visit www.aurora.il.us/EnhancementGrant.