Youth Corps (15.243)
Youth Corps (Assistance Listing 15.243) is run by the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $62.6 million in 460 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $136,007 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $54,658. Half of the 460 awards fell between $28,120 and $149,537, and they ranged from $3,628 to $4.1 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$62.6 million
- Grant awards460
- Typical award$54,658
- Awarded in FY 2025$9.8 million
- Size rank959 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements (discretionary grants)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $9.3 million in fiscal 2021 to $9.8 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 959th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 99% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 15 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Corps (PLC)/Youth Program engages youth and veterans in hands-on natural and cultural resource projects that sustain the long-term health and productivity of America’s public lands. Through partnerships with qualified youth and veteran corps organizations, the program offers participants valuable field experience, professional development, and exposure to public service careers in areas such as natural and cultural resource management and wildland fire. Participants gain practical skills through projects including habitat restoration, trail construction, invasive species removal, riparian monitoring, recreation infrastructure improvements, and fire mitigation. These activities directly enhance ecological resilience and improve visitor experiences. Simultaneously, the program enables the BLM to accomplish mission-critical work efficiently by leveraging partnerships to complete high-impact projects that restore landscapes, protect wildlife, and foster community stewardship of public lands. By cultivating future land managers and promoting healthier landscapes, the PLC/Youth Program is a vital investment in both public lands and the next generation of their caretakers.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Any qualified youth or conservation corps that supports youth career training and development in the areas of appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation projects. A qualified service and conservation corps means any program established by a State, or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization.
What the money can and cannot pay for
All projects are restricted to lands administered by the BLM. Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. The Public Land Corps Act requires a recipient match of 25%. The Public Lands Corps Act stipulates that the BLM must share the costs of work performed by youth or conservation corps with non-federal sources. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1729, the Secretary of the Interior may not pay more than 75% of the costs of any appropriate conservation project carried out on public lands by a qualified youth or conservation corps. The remaining 25% of costs may be provided from non-federal sources in the form of funds, donations, in-kind services, facilities, materials, equipment, or any combination thereof. The 25% match shall be waived for Youth Program projects implemented with Inflation Reduction Act funding or through a Federally Recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native entity.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Past partnership projects have ranged from $2,500 to $250,000. Average amounts approximately $150,000 or less.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Youth Corps projects, as outlined in the youth funding opportunity notice, supported the goals of the PLC Program while also advancing the objectives of the Indian Youth Service Corps Program through targeted outreach to Indian tribes and tribal-serving youth corps organizations. These projects included: Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g. kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.). Monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data as well as timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest health. Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc. Development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational materials for visitors. Studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological excavation or stabilization, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc. Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures. Seed collection for restoration of lands affected by natural disasters Reduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and other public land ecosystems.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Youth Corps (15.243) awarded$62.6 million across 460 grant awards, an average of $136,007 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 93% of the money, colleges and universities 4.7% and state and local governments 1.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 419 | $58.5 million | 93% |
| Colleges and universities | 18 | $3.0 million | 4.7% |
| State and local governments | 9 | $1.2 million | 1.9% |
| Individuals | 1 | $330,000 | 0.5% |
By state
8 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 187 | $22.4 million |
| Arizona | 114 | $17.3 million |
| Nevada | 33 | $6.0 million |
| Montana | 31 | $5.4 million |
| Utah | 22 | $3.2 million |
| Oregon | 34 | $2.7 million |
| Virginia | 14 | $2.6 million |
| Idaho | 3 | $1.1 million |
| California | 5 | $697,843 |
| New Mexico | 7 | $495,326 |
| Washington | 4 | $442,185 |
| Texas | 1 | $244,333 |
| Alaska | 2 | $175,000 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $170,557 |
| New York | 1 | $40,000 |