Mentoring at Risk and Rural Youth

Program contacts:

Bonita Williams
Bonita.Williams@usda.gov
202.340.9386

Andrea Wikiera
Andrea.Wikiera@usda.gov
816.400.8959

Grants.gov contact center:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Self-service knowledge base

The Mentoring at Risk and Rural Youth (MARRY) program offers grants to Cooperative Extension agencies to expand opportunities for rural youth, juvenile justice-involved youth, and youth at risk of juvenile justice involvement by providing mentoring services through 4-H programming.

The mentoring services and curriculum must promote positive behaviors, attitudes, and outcomes for youth and reduces risk factors associated with delinquency and juvenile justice system involvement, such as poor school attendance, school failure, and alcohol and drug abuse.

Projects must involve mentees in 4-H activities and events, apart from the mentoring experience. For example, mentees will participate in and complete hands-on 4-H projects in areas such as health, science, agriculture, STEM, leadership, workforce development, mental health, community service, drama, computer literacy, reading literacy, or civic engagement. Mentees are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Projects are encouraged to implement the 4-H Thriving Model.

Eligible applicants are Cooperative Extension agencies at Land-grant College or Universities, including 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions.

Award ceiling: $358,333
Award floor: $308,333
Project period: 3 years
Estimated number of awards: 5
Estimated total program funding: $1,900,000

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov and the USDA website.