The NYFF Development and Individual Grant Application is open for organizations and individual applicants can apply.
Application Deadline:
- 30 April 2026
- Results announced by end of July 2026
Tell Me About The Grant:
The Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), a five-year collaborative programme of LEAP Africa, MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Luminate Group, is calling for applications to its Youth Leadership Development Fund 2026. The grants aim to strengthen youth leadership, civic engagement, and ecosystem building in Nigeria, supporting both individuals and organizations working on governance, inclusion, and social change.
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Thematic Areas:
Proposals should align with one or more of the following:
- Policy & Advocacy: youth engagement in policy processes, reforms, legislative advocacy.
- Electoral Engagement & Democratic Participation: leadership development, electoral reforms, voter education, accountability initiatives.
- Accountability & Transparency: monitoring public expenditure, governance scorecards, strengthening institutions.
- Social Inclusion: gender equality, implementation of the Disability Act, inclusion of marginalized groups.
- National Cohesion, Peace & Security: conflict prevention, peacebuilding, civic-security trust, violence prevention.
- Cross-Cutting Priority: innovation, technology, media, arts, and creative expressions for civic engagement.
Grant Categories:
| Category | Amount ($) | Quantity | Target Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Grant | 1,000 | 100 | Young activists with youth-led initiatives |
| Development Grant | 10,000 | 60 | Grassroots/community-based youth-led organizations |
Who can Apply?
Individual-level applicants:
- Age 18–35 years.
- Proven track record in youth activism, project management, or community building.
- Strong integrity, creativity, and passion for social change.
- Must provide valid ID (e.g., NIN) and two referees.
Organization-level applicants:
- Must be formally registered (CAC or equivalent).
- Youth-driven civic/transformation organizations.
- Must have SCUML certificate, office address, corporate account, financial records, and two referees.
- Unregistered organizations may form a cluster and apply through a registered body.
What is the Benefit of the Grant?
- Financial support ($1,000–$10,000 depending on category).
- Strengthening youth-led initiatives across governance, inclusion, and peacebuilding.
- Opportunity to leverage technology, media, and creative arts for civic engagement.
- Support for marginalized groups, including PWDs and gender equality initiatives.
How Long Will the Grant Last?
- Grant cycle runs May–December 2026.
How to Apply:
- Sign up or log in via the NYFF online portal.
- Complete pre-application questions.
- Submit a concept note/proposal (max 3,000 words) using the official template.
- Section A: Background, challenges, initiatives, scope.
- Section B: Monitoring & Evaluation framework.
- Section C: Work plan, timeline, budget.
- Upload identification documents (NIN for individuals; CAC, SCUML, and organizational docs for organizations).
- Provide referee details (name, organization, portfolio, phone, email).
Important Notes:
- Grants disbursed in two tranches (50% + 50%), conditional on milestones.
- Zero tolerance for corruption; applications are free of charge.
- PWD-focused proposals are strongly encouraged.
- Applicants who have accessed NYFF funding more than twice will not be prioritized.
Contact for Enquiries:
👉 NYFF Fellowship & Grants – Official Portal
FAQ
What is the age range of the applicant?
The age range of the applicant is 18 to 35 years.
What is the age range of the implementation scope?
The grantee must be implementing projects targeting young people within the age range of 18 – 35 years
What is the duration of the grant cycle?
The cycle will run from May 2026 to December 2026.
Who funds this grant?
This grant is co-funded by MacArthur, Ford Foundation and Luminate Group.
Can my organization apply for more than one category of grant?
Yes, but you will only be granted one.
How will the selection be performed?
The selection will go through three selection rounds: First stage assesses compliance with the application procedures, the second stage assesses suitability of an application with the help of an assessment rubric, and the last stage is due diligence, where the NYFF team verifies the details provided in the application.
How will the grant be disbursed?
The grants will be disbursed in two tranches:
- Small and development grants (First tranche: 50% and second tranche: 50%)
- Catalyst grant (First tranche: 50% and second tranche: 50%)
The second tranche will be conditioned on the milestone achieved at the midterm of the project.
