We want to improve the quality of life in Fort Collins through efforts to strengthen the future of our youth (eligible projects must primarily serve youth ages 18 and under). We will work to enrich the lives of our youth to create an environment where they see themselves as a success, and to create opportunities for them to function as productive, contributing citizens. We look for agencies and programs that have clear, strong evaluation systems with high expectations for youth, are responsive to backgrounds, interests and needs of youth and families, and serve a broad cross-section of youth.

Create opportunities for youth to function as contributing citizens and appreciate the community around them. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Service-learning/philanthropy
• Cultural participation
• Community understanding
• Leadership experiences/youth organizing

Support youth at all social and economic stages in the areas of education, sense of belonging, self-esteem, and dignity. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Support for at-risk youth
• Youth mentoring
• Multiculturalism
• After school academic and enrichment activities
• Promoting youth potential
• Support for basic needs
• Modeling positive relationships
• Promoting positive messages about youth, generating community support
• Finding appropriate groups to identify with and belong to

Align systems that strengthen healthy youth development. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Wellness support/education
• Teen pregnancy
• Suicide prevention
• Substance abuse and prevention
• Child abuse/neglect treatment & prevention

Support Parent/Child interaction and promote family self-sufficiency. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Support for families finding places where they can learn from one another, build supportive communities, and meet their needs
• Help families act on their own behalf
• Educating and involving parents in their children's development and providing parents with skills to advocate effectively for their children

We want to educate our citizens and inspire them into action. We see the healthy, educated, creative individual as essential to community improvement.

We look for agencies and programs that are vocal, innovative, and resourceful when promoting issues of public awareness.

Support projects that promote issues currently facing our community and require greater public awareness. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Utilizing research or information and making it more useful and accessible to the general public or to explore community issues

Inspire citizens into action. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Projects that encourage citizens to identify issues, formulate solutions, and resolve challenges related to community improvement
• Providing forums for dialogue
• Encouraging community members to come together in new networks across racial, cultural, and religious lines for conversations and activities that will move the community toward creating a shared understanding of an issue and provide an avenue to work together

See Pharos Fund Guidelines and Pharos Fund FAQs for further guidance.