Do you know someone under 18 with an idea they’d like to grow? During Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter’s 2023 State of the County address, he introduced Acorn2Oak, a mini-grant program dedicated to empowering young minds, ages 8 to 18, to pursue their passions and talents.
The Board of Commissioners has allocated $250,000 for the program, and it is managed by Leadership Oakland, which not only represents schools throughout Oakland County but also will leverage its network of local leaders for grant awardees.
The program will provide grants of up to $1,000 in the following focus areas:
- Business and Entrepreneurial Development: Aimed at budding entrepreneurs who need resources to kickstart their ventures.
- Community Impact: For projects focused on starting or enhancing a social enterprise, nonprofit or community initiative.
- Educational Achievement: For students seeking support in academic programs, competitions, or specialized training.
- Extracurricular Investment: Assisting individuals in one-time investments in activities aligned with the program’s mission.
“These Acorn2Oak mini-grants will help show our young people that we are confident and optimistic about their future, I hope it will support, inspire and encourage personal growth, civic engagement and leadership development.”
Oakland County Executive, Dave Coulter.
Youth across Oakland County with minds brimming with creativity, ambition, and dreams now have access and are encouraged to apply for the mini-grants to nurture their dreams. Visit Acorn2OakGrant.com to get started. Applications are reviewed based on creativity, feasibility, impact potential, and alignment with the program’s goals. Applicants will be notified by the beginning of April for the first round of grants.
To learn more and apply for Acorn2Oak, click here.
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