Expired — September 8, 2026 deadline passed; no extension verifiedAtlas Opportunity Score 82/100
Vermont Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth — 2026
Vermont Community Foundation grants of $500 to $10,000 support youth-focused programs, activities, spaces and access for teens in the Bennington-area communities of Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury and Woodford. Applications are due September 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
Funding$500-$5,000 small grants; up to $10,000 for one large grant. Up to one large grant is awarded annually.
DeadlineSeptember 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET
Last verifiedSeptember 14, 2026
Required next action2026 cycle closed. Do not initiate new applicant outreach or package work. Monitor the Vermont Community Foundation for a 2027 Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth cycle or a formal reopening.
Broad Eligibility
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, grassroots organizations and community groups serving teenagers entering or enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury or Woodford. Groups without 501(c)(3) status may apply if a tax-exempt organization, school or municipality serves as fiscal sponsor, subject to Vermont Community Foundation general applicant requirements.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. The 2026 Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth cycle closed September 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM. No extension or reopening is published on the current controlling Vermont Community Foundation page. The program was a strong youth and education funding opportunity for the five Bennington-area communities, but it is no longer open. N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 2/100. No direct-vendor or new applicant-outreach path is active for the closed 2026 cycle.
The Vermont Community Foundation’s Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth supports youth-focused programs in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford. The fund prioritizes projects that bring teens together, create or expand gathering spaces, improve access for youth facing hardship, and strengthen belonging and inclusion.
Small grants range from $500 to $5,000. The fund may also award one large grant of up to $10,000 for a capital project, new program, or significant program/capital expansion. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, grassroots and community groups, with fiscal sponsorship available through an eligible tax-exempt organization, school, or municipality where required.
Deadline
Applications are due September 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. This is a useful youth and school-community funding opportunity, but it is not a healthcare-technology procurement and has essentially no direct N9+ vendor pathway.
Source verificationReferenced source · vermontcf.orgAtlas last verified this record September 14, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
