Powered by Germantown United CDC with support from the William Penn Foundation, this microgrant program funds youth-led anti-littering projects that use creativity, peer influence, and community partnerships to change behavior and build a culture of environmental stewardship across Germantown. Rather than focusing only on cleanup, this program invests in education, visibility, and youth leadership to address the root causes of littering- apathy, lack of awareness, and disconnection from public space.
With $15,000 in grant funding available, Germantown United CDC aims to support 14 total projects:
- 4 Youth Project Grants @ $2000/each: Focusing on school-based or large group projects with strong visibility
- 4 Creative Campaign Grants @ $1,000/each: Focusing on art, media, and messaging-focused projects
- 6 Mini Grants @ $500/each: Focusing on small group activations with quick turnaround
Eligible Applicants
Projects must take place in Germantown (19144/19138) and be youth-led or youth-engaged*, including:
- Students or student groups
- Local schools
- Youth-serving organizations
- Educators partnering with youth
- Small businesses partnering with youth groups
*There is no age limit to apply. Adult support is allowed, but youth must be visible leaders during the project. Please include a parent contact if applicant is under 18.
What We’re Funding: Below are some sample projects Germantown United CDC will consider funding. We encourage applicants to think creatively in ways to address litter in the Germantown community
- Creative Anti-Litter Campaigns:
- Youth-designed posters, stickers, or signage
- Social media or video campaigns
- Peer-to-peer messaging initiatives
- Youth-Led Public Art
- Murals with anti-litter themes
- Trash can beautification projects
- Interactive installations that promote clean streets
- Interactive Workshops and Events
- School or community workshops on litter and environment
- Creative sessions (art, storytelling, design)
- Youth-led presentations to peers or residents
- Business Partnerships
- Youth Teams working with local businesses to:
- Display campaign materials
- Host cleanup days
- Promote ant-litter messaging
Core Requirements
Every project must include all three elements:
- Education: Teach something about litter/environment
- Visibility: Public-facing (art, signage, campaign, etc.)
- Engagement: Involving other people, not just the applicant
Deadline
Applications will be open from Friday, May 15th until Monday, June 15th at 5PM. For questions or more information on this grant opportunity, please contact our office by email at info@germantowunitedcdc.org or by phone at 215-856-4303.