“Oops!…AI Did It Again” Challenge

Overview

Notice: Due to the close sponsor deadline, this is available as a first-come, first-served opportunity. Limited Submissions will administratively review submitted applications.
The challenge addresses the urgent need to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to navigate AI, which is rapidly reshaping their learning, creativity, relationships, and mental health.

The initiative comes at a critical juncture when over half of young people (51%) report using generative AI, primarily for information gathering and brainstorming. Research from Young Futures’ Youth Listening Tour and from partners in the digital wellness space reveals that teens often use these powerful tools alone, in secret, and without clear guidance, leading to anxiety, uncertainty, and missed opportunities for support.

The “Oops!…AI Did It Again” Challenge is seeking applications for solutions across four key themes:

• Youth-Powered AI: Projects where teens build, challenge, or creatively remix AI tools.
• AI in Learning, Work, and Creativity: Resources that help youth use AI to learn and create without sacrificing critical thinking or originality.
• AI in Relationships and Mental Health: Programs that help youth navigate AI companionship and mental health tools safely and critically.
• Intergenerational Guidance: Projects that equip adults to have supportive, informed conversations about AI with the young people in their lives.

Organizations may only submit one proposal for each Young Futures funding challenge. Young Futures will run multiple challenges centered on empowering pre-teens and teens to thrive in a tech-driven world, including a new $1 million challenge in April 2026. If you feel you may be eligible for multiple challenge themes, we welcome you to apply to each challenge.

Award: Young Futures anticipates awarding up to ten organizations, one-year grants ranging in size from $25,000 to $100,00; a total of up to $1M. Award amounts will vary based on scope. The grant term will be April 2026–March 2027.

Access and download the full Request for Proposals (RFP) here.