California public benefit foundation · Verified programs · Foundation-controlled delivery

Music, sports, and academics youth development — Acts of Kindness Foundation Youth Talent & Development Awards

Program type

Nationwide · Merit-Based

Payment method

Direct to Provider

Youth Talent & Development Awards

Your child's talent deserves a real opportunity.

Acts of Kindness Foundation helps talented young people access lessons, camps, tutoring, private coaching, classes, equipment, and enrichment by paying verified providers directly when an award is approved.

Parent or guardian application
Merit-based review
Paid directly to verified providers
Get started

Two ways to participate

For parents & guardians

Apply for help with lessons, camps, coaching, tutoring, classes, or equipment.

If your child shows promise in music, sports, arts, academics, STEM, or another development area, tell us their story and the opportunity they need.

Start the Application

For supporters

Help fund opportunities for talented young people.

Your gift supports the Youth Talent & Development Fund, helping the Foundation pay verified providers directly when awards are approved.

Donate Now

Donors do not select recipients. The Foundation reviews applications and controls award decisions.

What support may help cover

What a Youth Talent award may help pay for

Awards are paid directly to verified schools, coaches, studios, camps, tutors, leagues, and vendors — not as cash to families.

  • Piano, violin, voice, and music lessons
  • School camp, summer camp, academic camp, and STEM camp
  • Private tutoring, coaching, and enrichment classes
  • Sports league fees, training, camps, and equipment
  • Dance, acting, painting, and creative programs
  • Instruments, supplies, uniforms, materials, and studio access

Music, sports, arts, academics & STEM

Young violinist practicing — Youth Talent music track

Music & Performing Arts

Piano, violin, voice, lessons, and camps.

Young soccer athlete — Youth Talent sports track

Sports & Athletics

League fees, training, camps, and equipment.

Young artist creating — Youth Talent arts & creative programs track

Arts & Creative Programs

Dance, acting, painting, and creative programs.

Student studying with engineering and STEM materials — Youth Talent academics track

Academics & STEM

Tutoring, robotics, STEM camps, and enrichment.

Who should apply

Parents and guardians can apply when cost is blocking opportunity.

If your child shows promise in music, sports, arts, academics, STEM, or another development area, tell us what they need and why this opportunity matters. You will share your child's story, the provider or program, and required talent proof — links, videos, or photos — so we can see who they are and understand their circumstances.

Apply for Your Child

Shows commitment

Your child practices, attends, or actively pursues their talent area.

Has clear potential

Talent, promise, or natural ability is visible — at any level.

Needs financial help

Cost is genuinely blocking access to lessons, programs, or opportunities.

How the program works

How it works

01

Apply

A parent or guardian submits the child's story, the opportunity needed, and supporting proof.

02

Review

The Foundation reviews the application based on talent, need, program fit, and available funding.

03

Provider verification

If the application moves forward, the Foundation verifies the school, coach, studio, camp, tutor, league, or vendor.

04

Award payment

If approved by the Board, payment is made directly to the verified provider — not as cash to the family.

Every application is reviewed carefully. Awards are not guaranteed, but every story is considered with care. Donors do not select recipients.

Before you apply

Have these ready

Gathering these details ahead of time makes the application faster and helps the Foundation review your child's story more completely.

Apply for Your Child
  1. Your child's name, age, and area of talent
  2. The specific class, lesson, camp, tutor, coach, league, or program
  3. The provider's name, website, or contact information
  4. The estimated cost
  5. A short explanation of why this opportunity matters
  6. Required: links, videos, photos, awards, recommendations, or examples of your child's work — so we can see who they are and understand their circumstancesRequired
Parent application

Apply for your child

The form below walks you through four steps — child info, your contact, the program they need, and talent proof. Tap Next after each step. If an award is approved, we pay the provider directly — not cash to families.

Start with step 1 below. You can go back to earlier steps anytime.

Applying does not guarantee an award. Merit-based review nationwide.

Step 1 of 4: Child & talent

Completed steps are tappable if you need to go back and edit.

  1. Child & talentName, age & track
  2. Your contactParent or guardian
  3. Program & providerOpportunity & cost
  4. Talent proofRequired to submit

Step 1 of 4

Child & talent

Select their talent area, then enter their name, age, and grade.

Where does your child shine?

Choose the path that fits them best — tap a card to select.

Start here — pick the talent area that fits your child.

Application only. Does not guarantee an award.

Parent and child applying together — Youth Talent & Development Awards

Foundation-controlled

Awards paid directly to verified providers

For supporters

Donate to the Youth Talent Fund

Your gift supports the Youth Talent & Development Fund — lessons, leagues, camps, and enrichment for talented students nationwide.

Donors do not select individual recipients
Foundation reviews and controls all award decisions
Payments go directly to verified providers
01

Choose your gift

Enter an amount and complete secure checkout — cards, digital wallets, or PayPal.

02

Support the fund

Your gift goes to the Youth Talent & Development Fund. Donors do not select individual recipients.

03

Foundation delivery

The Foundation reviews applications and pays verified providers when awards are approved.

Donors do not select recipients. The Foundation reviews applications and pays verified providers when awards are approved.

Foundation-controlled support path

Complete your gift

Enter your amount, then Continue.

Prefer PayPal or Venmo?

Use this secure donation option for quick mobile giving. Opens PayPal in a new browser tab when you’re ready.

Your gift is to Acts of Kindness Foundation. Cards and digital wallets run through a secure Stripe-powered checkout (PCI DSS–certified). We do not collect or store complete card numbers on this site.

Employer matchingYour employer may match this gift. Check with your HR or benefits team to see if Acts of Kindness Foundation is eligible for a matching donation through your company's giving program. Learn more

Tax-smart giving note: Acts of Kindness Foundation is a recognized tax-exempt public charity under IRC §501(c)(3). Donors should consult their tax advisor regarding deductibility. Beginning in 2026, some donors who take the standard deduction may be eligible for a limited charitable deduction for qualifying cash gifts, subject to IRS rules. More ways to give · Donation disclosures

Ways to giveDonation disclosuresTransparencyContact

This page is general information only—not legal, tax, or financial advice.

Charitable disclosure

Gifts are made to Acts of Kindness Foundation and remain subject to the Foundation's full discretion and control.

Acts of Kindness Foundation is a California public benefit foundation (nonprofit public benefit corporation). This program is administered as charitable assistance. Program and campaign descriptions communicate mission intent and public context, not donor-directed control over distributions. The Foundation retains full discretion over the use and distribution of funds, which may support charitable assistance, program delivery, verification, reporting, and related operations.

Acts of Kindness Foundation administers all awards with full discretion. Submitting an application does not guarantee an award. Donors do not select recipients. Apply at /youth-talent/apply.

All gifts on this site are made to Acts of Kindness Foundation and remain subject to the Foundation's exclusive control and discretion.

Open hosted donation page →Parent or guardian? Apply for your child
Common questions

FAQ

Quick answers for parents and supporters.

ParentsWho can apply?

A parent or legal guardian may apply on behalf of a child. Applications are open to families across the United States.

ParentsWhat can support help pay for?

Lessons, school camps, private coaching, tutoring, enrichment classes, sports training, league fees, equipment, instruments, supplies, and verified program costs.

ParentsDoes applying guarantee an award?

No. Every application is reviewed carefully. Awards are not guaranteed, but every story is considered with care.

EveryoneHow are awards paid?

If approved, the Foundation pays the verified provider directly — not as cash to the family.

ParentsWhat proof should I include?

This is required — not optional. Share a short video or photo, a teacher or coach recommendation, a link to a performance or project, or other examples of your child's work. We need to know who your child is and understand their circumstances before we can help.

SupportersCan donors choose a child?

No. Donors support the Youth Talent & Development Fund. The Foundation controls review and award decisions.

Take the next step

Your child's next opportunity may be one application away.

Tell us about your child's talent, the opportunity they need, and the provider or program that can help them grow.

Acts of Kindness Foundation administers the Youth Talent & Development Awards program with full discretion. Applying does not guarantee acceptance or an award. Awards are subject to review, provider verification, Board approval, program capacity, and available funding. Donations support the Youth Talent & Development Fund; donors do not select individual recipients. Approved awards are paid directly to verified providers whenever possible.