Funding Opportunities for Schools & Community Organizations
The Let's Talk About Me (LTAM) Guide for Teen Girls is a prevention-focused educational resource designed to help girls develop the confidence, knowledge, and practical life skills needed to navigate today's increasingly complex social environment. While this curriculum has not yet undergone formal empirical evaluation, it is grounded in current research, recognized prevention strategies, and best practices in youth development, personal safety, healthy relationships, and social-emotional learning.
Because LTAM addresses critical topics such as self-worth, boundary setting, bullying prevention, online safety, grooming awareness, stalking prevention, healthy relationships, situational awareness, and personal safety, it aligns with the goals of many federal, state, local, and private funding initiatives that support violence prevention, youth empowerment, school safety, student wellness, and family engagement.
Schools, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, community agencies, and youth-serving programs may be able to use a variety of grant opportunities and community funding sources to purchase curriculum materials, train facilitators, implement prevention programming, and expand access to students and families. The funding opportunities outlined below represent some of the most promising options for organizations seeking to invest in proactive education that helps prepare teen girls to recognize risks, make healthy decisions, and build safer, more confident futures.
FUNDING RESOURCES
-
1. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grants
Best for: Schools, nonprofits, victim service organizations, youth agencies
These grants often support:
- Teen dating violence prevention
- Healthy relationship education
- Community awareness
- Youth safety initiatives
- Parent education
LTAM aligns with:
- Healthy relationships
- Boundary setting
- Grooming awareness
- Stalking awareness
- Personal safety
Official Website:
Office on Violence Against Women (VAWA Grant Programs)
2. Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
Excellent fit for:
- Victim prevention
- Child safety
- Community education
- Youth awareness
Your guide focuses heavily on prevention, making it attractive as an educational resource.
Official Website:
Office for Victims of Crime Funding & Awards3. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
Supports:
- Teen dating violence
- Domestic violence prevention
- Prevention education
- Community partnerships
Official Website:
OVW Funding Opportunities4. CDC Violence Prevention Funding
Supports:
- Protective factors
- Healthy relationships
- Youth development
- Risk reduction
- Prevention education
Schools frequently partner with local health departments.
Official Website:
CDC Violence Prevention5. State Departments of Education
Many states have annual funding for:
- School climate
- Student wellness
- Bullying prevention
- Safety initiatives
- Social-emotional learning
- Parent engagement
LTAM fits naturally into these priorities.
Directory of State Education Agencies:
Council of Chief State School Officers (State Education Agencies)6. Title IV-A Student Support & Academic Enrichment (SSAE)
One of your strongest opportunities.
Funds may be used for:
- Student safety
- Mental health
- Violence prevention
- Character education
- Digital citizenship
- Social-emotional learning
Almost every public school receives some Title IV-A funding.
Official Website:
U.S. Department of Education Title IV-A Program7. Safe and Supportive Schools
Supports:
- Bullying prevention
- Violence prevention
- Positive school climate
- Student safety
- Mental health
Official Website:
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments8. Community Foundation Grants
Local community foundations frequently fund:
- Girls' programs
- Youth leadership
- Safety education
- Parent engagement
- Mentoring
Typical awards range from $5,000–$50,000.
Find Local Foundations:
Council on Foundations9. United Way
Many United Way organizations fund:
- Youth development
- Family strengthening
- Prevention education
- Community wellness
Official Website:
United Way Worldwide10. Junior League
Often funds:
- Girls' leadership
- Mentoring
- Community education
- Safety initiatives
Official Website:
Association of Junior Leagues International - Teen dating violence prevention
-
11. Rotary Clubs
Rotary clubs regularly sponsor:
- Schools
- Youth education
- Community safety
- Leadership programs
They may purchase curriculum for schools or community organizations.
Official Website:
Rotary International12. Kiwanis Clubs
Excellent fit because they focus on:
- Children
- Education
- Leadership
- Community development
Official Website:
Kiwanis International13. Lions Clubs
Many chapters fund:
- Youth education
- School programs
- Community awareness
- Family initiatives
Official Website:
Lions Clubs International14. Walmart Spark Good Grants
Supports:
- Local nonprofits
- Youth programs
- Community education
Typical awards range from $250–$5,000.
Official Website:
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants15. Target Community Giving
Supports:
- Youth development
- Education
- Safety
- Community outreach
Official Website:
Target Corporate Giving16. Bank Foundation Grants
Many banks fund:
- Financial literacy
- Youth leadership
- Education
- Community safety
Examples include local foundations associated with regional banks and national institutions such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, PNC, Huntington, Fifth Third, and U.S. Bank.
Example:
Bank of America Charitable Foundation17. Hospital Community Benefit Programs
Nonprofit hospitals often fund:
- Violence prevention
- Mental health
- Child safety
- Injury prevention
- Community education
Many hospitals are required to invest in community health improvement initiatives.
Learn More:
American Hospital Association Community Benefit Resources18. Juvenile Justice Programs
Funding often supports:
- Prevention
- Youth diversion
- Healthy decision-making
- Life skills
- Protective education
Official Website:
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)19. Faith-Based Grants
Many denominations and faith-based foundations support:
- Girls' ministries
- Family strengthening
- Community outreach
- Prevention education
Funding Directory:
National Christian Foundation20. Corporate Community Grants
Many corporations fund:
- STEM
- Education
- Youth leadership
- Safety
- Community engagement
Examples include:
- Utility companies
- Health systems
- Insurance companies
- Manufacturing companies
- Local employers
Grant Search Resource:
Candid Foundation Directory & Grant Resources - Schools
How Let’s Talk About Me (LTAM) Fits Across Implementation Settings
Let’s Talk About Me (LTAM) is intentionally designed as a setting-flexible, prevention-focused educational program that can be implemented with fidelity across schools, community organizations, and ministry-based environments. While the delivery context may vary, the core learning objectives, evaluation framework, and instructional safeguards remain consistent.
1. Implementation in Schools
Where LTAM Fits in the School Day
LTAM integrates seamlessly into existing school structures without displacing core academic instruction. Common placement options include:
- Advisory or homeroom periods
- Health education or wellness courses
- SEL blocks or character education periods
- Electives or enrichment programs
- After-school or extended learning programs
Why LTAM Works in Schools
- Aligns with SEL, Health Education, and Safe Schools standards
- Addresses non-academic barriers to learning (peer pressure, safety concerns, emotional stress)
- Uses non-disclosure, skills-based evaluation aligned with district ethics and privacy policies
- Supports attendance, focus, engagement, and school climate goals
School-Specific Safeguards
- No personal disclosures required
- No student risk labeling
- Data collected in aggregate, de-identified form
- Facilitator-led, trauma-informed instruction
School Framing Language (Approved):
“LTAM functions as a prevention-focused educational support that strengthens the social-emotional and decision-making skills necessary for academic engagement and student well-being.”
2. Implementation in Community Organizations
Where LTAM Fits in Community Settings
LTAM is well-suited for organizations that serve youth outside the traditional school day, including:
- Youth development programs
- After-school and summer programs
- Mentoring organizations
- Nonprofit prevention initiatives
- Girls’ empowerment or leadership groups
Why LTAM Works in Community Organizations
Modular session design allows flexible scheduling- Scenario-based learning is highly effective in group settings
- Supports organizational goals related to youth safety, empowerment, and prevention
- Complements mentoring and wraparound services without replacing them
Community Organization Benefits
- Strengthens protective factors for at-risk populations
- Provides a structured, evidence-informed curriculum
- Supports grant reporting with built-in evaluation tools
- Enhances staff capacity with facilitator guides and fidelity tools
Community Framing Language:
“LTAM provides a structured prevention curriculum that equips youth with practical safety, boundary, and decision-making skills in a supportive, community-based environment.”
3. Implementation in Ministries and Faith-Based Settings
Where LTAM Fits in Ministry Contexts
LTAM can be implemented within ministries while maintaining its educational and prevention focus, including:
- Youth group programming
- Girls’ ministries
- Faith-based after-school programs
- Community outreach initiatives
- Parachurch or nonprofit ministry partners
Why LTAM Works in Ministries
- Values-aligned focus on self-worth, responsibility, respect, and care for others
- Emphasizes wise decision-making, accountability, and seeking trusted guidance
- Can be delivered as a standalone educational series or alongside existing youth programming
- Maintains grant-eligible structure when used in publicly funded initiatives
Important Distinction for Ministries
LTAM:
- Is an educational prevention program, not religious instruction
- Does not require theological teaching to be effective
- Can be offered with or without faith-based discussion, depending on funding source
Faith-Based Framing Language:
“LTAM equips youth with practical life skills that support wise choices, personal safety, and healthy relationships, reinforcing values of respect, responsibility, and care for self and others.”
4. Consistency Across All Settings
Regardless of implementation setting, LTAM maintains:
✔ The same core learning outcomes
✔ The same prevention-focused instructional design
✔ The same trauma-informed, non-disclosure safeguards
✔ The same evaluation and reporting framework
✔ The same standards alignment
This ensures program fidelity, grant compliance, and comparable outcomes, while allowing organizations to meet youth where they are.
5. Why This Multi-Setting Fit Strengthens Grants
Funders and districts view cross-setting adaptability as a strength because it:
- Expands reach without increasing cost
- Supports sustainability beyond a single site
- Allows collaboration between schools, nonprofits, and ministries
- Increases community-level protective impact
“LTAM’s flexible implementation model allows the program to be delivered with fidelity across school, community, and faith-based settings, ensuring broad access while maintaining consistent outcomes, evaluation standards, and ethical safeguards.”