social capital noun. the value of our social networks & relationships

SCI is seeking 15 youth teams passionate about supporting their community and peers for the 2025 Youth Grant Pitch Contest!

Application Deadline Extended to Monday, December 9th!

About the SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest

Social Capital Inc.’s (SCI) Youth Grant Pitch Contest empowers young leaders to develop, pitch, and implement community projects that address pressing issues affecting their peers and community members.

Participating youth teams develop their project ideas through in-depth coaching with local professionals, before pitching their project to a live panel of judges at the culminating Pitch Event with an opportunity to receive $1,000-$2,000 in grant funding!

The SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest provides youth in Greater Boston with:

Visual graphic of 2025 Youth Grant Pitch Contest Program Timeline: 1. Youth teams develop their project pitch with the guidance of 2 coaches and support from SCI in February-March 2025. 2. Youth teams present to a panel of judges at the Pitch Contest in April 2025. 3. Selected youth teams are awarded $1,000 - $2,000 grants to support their community projects. 4. Youth teams implement projects and advisors submit final report by January 2026

SCI’s Youth Grant Pitch Contest is open to youth teams with members between the ages of 11-19, who are based in Greater Boston communities (within Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk & Suffolk counties).

Interested youth teams can apply to pitch community projects that fit into the following focus areas:

  1. Social Impact → projects providing community service, arts & culture access, peer support and/or addressing mental health
  2. Bridge-building* → projects that bring together youth (and others) from different communities or different identity groups through cultural exchange and social engagement.

*The Bridge-building focus area is a new funding track in 2025 established and supported through funding provided by Boston Bridges Initiative.

How YOU can Get Involved!

  • Volunteer Application SIGN UP TODAY!
    • Pitch Coach: Need up to 30 volunteers to provide strengths-based strategic guidance and motivational support to Youth Teams in the areas of pitch development and public speaking.
    • Team Liaison: Need up to 15 volunteers to provide strengths-based motivational support and hands-on assistance to the Youth Team during and between coaching sessions.
  • Pitch Event Volunteer Interest Form (1-day) → Coming in 2025!

2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest – Timeline

Image Logo for Boston Bridges Initiative

Presenting Sponsor | 2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest

Founded in 2020, the Boston Bridges Initiative seeks to facilitate cultural exchange and promote meaningful social interaction between city and suburban families and within racially diverse communities in the Greater Boston Area.

The 2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is supported by Boston Bridges Initiative, M&T Bank, Winning Home Inc., Kick It For a Cause, the AmeriCorps Agency, Massachusetts Service Alliance, and a Massachusetts state budget line item (thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Cindy Friedman). Major support for SCI’s youth programs is provided by Cummings Properties.

Learn more about how you can support the program today!

The SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is more than your typical funding competition

…it’s a launchpad for youth empowerment, skill-building, community impact and life-changing connections.

Youth not only enhance key skills but also gain self-confidence and cultivate authentic relationships with peers and adult mentors from a range of industries. Likewise, Volunteers and Advisors get to support the next generation of change-makers while expanding their own personal and professional networks!