Grant Announcement: La Colaborativa and YouthBuild Boston Receive $90,000 Grants
April 2025
La Colaborativa and YouthBuild Boston have been selected for grants by funders participating in GMA Foundations’ 17/25 Fund for Young Adults. The two $90,000 grants will support the addition of no-strings-attached monthly cash payments for more than 40 young people in Boston-area training programs for jobs in solar installation, HVAC, and the building trades.
The 17/25 Fund aims to increase financial stability for young adults at a critical point in their lives. La Colaborativa will expand upon its Youth Employment Initiative by providing stipends to 12 participants for over 12 months and YouthBuild Boston will provide a monthly allowance to a cohort of participants this fall, supplementing an existing stipend. Young adults who complete the programs will graduate with new skills and industry-recognized certifications that position them for upward mobility in high-demand, well-paying jobs.
These grants build on a growing national movement to provide unconditional cash assistance along with training and mentorship, giving young people the flexibility to manage real-life demands while building meaningful, financially independent futures.
Why Guaranteed Income?
Research indicates that alternative pathways—like those offered through employment and training programs—can significantly improve outcomes for young adults with inadequate support systems. But financial insecurity remains one of the biggest obstacles to completion. Is guaranteed income a critical component of success?
Pilot programs across the country suggest the answer is yes. Direct cash assistance provided consistently at pivotal points in a young person’s life can be transformative. Learn more about initiatives like The $50 Study and YALift! Or visit Mayors for a Guaranteed Income to read about the movement.
About La Colaborativa and YouthBuild Boston
La Colaborativa delivers culturally-competent and accessible services, advances equitable public policy, and cultivates grassroots leadership in Greater Boston’s Latinx community. Their youth programs serve over 200 young people annually with job training, leadership development, and paid internships and empower youth to build pathways to economic mobility and success.
YouthBuild Boston works to expand employment opportunities and economic mobility for young adults from Boston’s marginalized communities. They believe that employment is a pivotal element of emotional well-being. Along with training for construction jobs, they help youth cultivate a sense of purpose and foster community connections.
About GMA Foundations’ Funder Community
The 17/25 Fund for Young Adults is a short-term pooled giving and learning experience managed by GMA Foundations under the fiscal sponsorship of Philanthropy Massachusetts. Funders participating in the 2025 Fund deepened their learning together over four-months, hearing from national experts and local practitioners about effective strategies to support young adults on pathways to economic independence.
The 17/25 Fund for Young Adults digs into innovative and effective strategies to support young adults in Greater Boston and Gateway Cities through their transitional years. This age group, particularly the segment who are neither working nor in school, has received proportionately little philanthropic investment and requires resources, supportive relationships, and opportunities to reach their potential.
Fund Participation
GMA’s six-month pooled giving and comprehensive learning experience accepts grants from funders eager to identify and fund community-driven solutions to a large-scale problem affecting young adults across the country.
2025 Participants: The A.M. Fund, Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, Castle Square Tenants Organization Trust, Devonshire Foundation, Fuller Foundation, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Mable Louise Riley Foundation, Nordblom Family Foundation, and individual donors.
Contact Us
Read more about GMA Funder Community here. For more information about the 17/25 Fund, research on guaranteed income, or the nonprofit organizations involved, please contact GMA Senior Program Officer Rachel Rifkin by phone 617-391-3097 or email rrifkin@gmafoundations.com