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Monterey county mini grant application

Not located in Monterey County? Find the statewide mini grant application here.

2026 Monterey County Mini Grant Application

  • The Youth Creating Change Program is excited to open applications for the Monterey County 2025-26 school year mini grant program. The mini grant program facilitates participation in the organization’s annual film contest, Directing Change, and engages youth to learn about suicide prevention, substance use, mental health, and other critical health and social justice topics by creating short films that are used to support awareness, education, and advocacy efforts across the state, in their communities, and on their campuses. This free and evaluated curriculum has been implemented in California schools since 2012. Students have a chance to win cash prizes and participate in an award ceremony.

    Eligible Organizations: Middle school, high school, and college classes as well as community-based organizations and youth clubs located in Monterey County, California. Participating youth should be ages 12-25 or in grades 6-12. Public, private, and charter schools and districts are all eligible to apply.

    Mini Grant Funding: Up to $2,500

    Requirements:
    • Facilitate participation of Monterey County youth in the Directing Change program, resulting in at least 5 youth-created film submissions to the annual film contest (due March 1, 2026). Of the 5 films, a minimum of 3 need to be submitted in the substance use category.
    • Book a lesson with the Youth Creating change team.
    • Help youth plan a small and simple activity to showcase their projects, such as posting on social media, sharing with parents, or with other students.
    • Complete surveys about participation.
    • Submit a final report by June 1, 2026.


    Interested? Please fill out this form by October 10, 2025.

    The following information should be filled out by the lead person for the mini grant.
  • If not applicable, put N/A
  • First & Last
  • E.g., 10th grade English teacher, school counselor, film teacher
  • e.g., Film Production, 9th grade English, ASB Leadership
  • An estimate is fine – doesn’t need to be exact!
  • Please share what kind of event(s) you would implement if you received this grant.
  • Download a blank W-9 form here (we only need the first page): irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
    We recommend having an organization or school fill this out, rather than submitting a personal W-9.
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 1 GB.

    • Questions?

      Email Devin@youthcreatingchange.org or call: 858-324-4846