2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest Kickoff

The 2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is officially underway, featuring a record number of 15 youth teams from across Greater Boston. It is the 4th edition of the youth development program, which is organized by Social Capital Inc. 

Across the 15 teams, around 100 youth are supporting their peers and communities through the development of youth-led, community-focused projects. Through seven coaching sessions scheduled during February and March, teams will be mentored by 35 dedicated volunteer Pitch Coaches and Team Liaisons who will guide the youth as they develop their projects and pitches. Following these coaching sessions, each team will have the chance to receive up to $2,000 in grant funding to implement their projects by the end of the year. 

On Saturday, February 2, SCI held an in-person event at The Nonprofit Center to kick off the program’s coaching sessions. At the SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest Kickoff Celebration, youth teams from across Greater Boston met the volunteers assigned to coach their team for the next two months. 

SCI organized the Kickoff Celebration to cultivate and bridge community connections among the 100 event guests. The excitement to meet fellow peers and supportive adults was apparent through the energizing conversations that filled The Nonprofit Center. “I had so much fun meeting people and sharing my ideas with them,” shared one youth team member. “My team really helped me break out of my shell.” 

The goal of SCI’s Youth Grant Pitch Contest is to provide youth with the opportunity to decide how to strengthen their communities while practicing valuable professional skills such as public speaking, project management, and community organizing. 

The program will culminate on April 5th at SCI’s in-person Pitch Event, where each team will pitch their projects to a panel of judges who will award up to $20,000 in total grant funds. Media are invited to attend the Pitch Event. Please contact SCI Program Manager Nicole Osborne for more information at nosborne@socialcapitalinc.org. Learn more about the SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest at socialcapitalinc.org/ygpc. 

This program is made possible by SCI’s sponsors, individual donors, and a Massachusetts state budget line item, thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Cindy Friedman.  The 2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is sponsored by Boston Bridges Initiative; The Boston Foundation; Winning Home, Inc.; M&T Bank; Berkshire Bank; Benefact4; and Kick It for a Cause. Major support for SCI youth programming is provided by Cummings Properties. The SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is supported by the service of an SCI AmeriCorps member. Social Capital Inc. is a proud member of the Massachusetts Service Alliance / AmeriCorps Network.