Our Grantmaking Approach
Who We Are
1. YFF Leadership. YFF is led by four siblings who serve as Directors. Julie Younger Aleman serves as YFF’s Executive Director and her father, Bill, as Founding Director. As a family and as friends, we are committed to thoughtful philanthropy, building stronger relationships while leveraging our expertise in areas such as management, fundraising, investing, research and leadership.
2. Giving as Connection. We view our philanthropy as both a tool for impact and a practice of connection. Our giving deepens our relationships—as family, with grantees, and across generations—strengthening the bonds that sustain this work.
3. Intergenerational. We honor the values, vision, and faith of those who came before us, while trusting each generation to lead in its own way.
4. Christian Commitment. Rooted in the Christian tradition, we believe God works through people of all and no faith backgrounds to restore justice and renew what is broken in the world. We support many nonprofits whether their work is motivated by faith or by other restorative commitments.
How We Give
5. Family Driven. We are intentionally lean, relational, and family-driven. Our model prioritizes trust, humility, and simplicity—favoring meaningful connection and direct engagement over layers of infrastructure.
6. Unrestricted. We believe in providing flexible funding that trusts organizations to allocate resources where they’re needed most. When we have confidence in the leadership and direction of an organization, we offer unrestricted support and remain open to capacity-building investments that strengthen their ability to grow, adapt, and lead effectively.
7. Multi-year. We know that strong grantee partnerships are built on trust, which takes time to develop. Our initial grants are for one year, with the possibility of transitioning to multi-year (typically three-year) commitments. We regularly reassess our priorities and grant portfolios to ensure alignment with our mission and Advisor interests. Every three years, we evaluate partnerships based on demonstrated results, shared learning, and alignment over time.
8. Dynamic. We approach our philanthropy with a spirit of experimentation. Through piloting, iterating, and reflecting, we stay flexible and open to learning—adapting our strategies as we grow alongside our partners.
Who We Support
9. Compelling Leadership. We identify and back bold leaders early and give them the space to grow big ideas without heavy oversight. We prioritize investing in visionary leaders with integrity, clarity of purpose, and the ability to navigate complexity.
10. Resilient Organizations. We support organizations with a clear mission, a compelling vision, and a proven ability to deliver meaningful results. We look for operational strength, strategic focus, and a track record of impact that signals long-term sustainability. Where possible, we look to make catalytic grants for organizations at an inflection point in their growth.
11. Those with Lived Experience. We prioritize organizations led by people who are from, or deeply connected to, the communities they serve. We look for leadership teams that practice authentic community engagement and incorporate lived experience into their strategy and governance.
Our Grantees
In 2025, we’re only making new grants within our focus areas of spiritual formation, Lyme disease and juvenile arthritis diagnostics, and child welfare.
See the lists below of active and former grantees of the YFF, organized by focus area.
Where Grantees Operate
Our giving reflects where we live, work, and have deep ties — focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area and Oxford, UK - while thoughtfully supporting global initiatives that align with our values and vision for wider impact.
See maps of where our current grantees operate internationally and within the United States.
This includes multiple regions for a single grantee.
Newer Applicants
(up to 2 years of funding)
Timeline: MARCH-JUNE FOR GRANTEES WHO RECEIVED ONE YEAR OF FUNDING the previous year.
In 2025, first-time applicants will only be invited on a case-by-case basis and we aren’t hosting a typical grant round. If invited, note the grant application is intended for the leader to complete, although support from other staff is welcome.
Typically, if you received a 1-year YFF grant, you may apply for 1-2 years of funding the following March. After completing the application, there will be a reflective report for the leader to complete. Grant decisions are usually communicated and released by mid-June.
On average, the application took applicants 9 hours to prepare/complete and the report took 3 hours to complete.
Current Grantees
(2+ years of funding)
Timeline: SEPTEMBER - octoBER, 2025
Application sent: September 2025
Application due: October 2025
Progress Report due: The following February of each year funding was granted.
After the grant period is over, applicants must be invited by the YFF to apply again for a multi-year grant of up to three years. After completing the application, we have a reflective report for the leader to complete. Grant decisions will be communicated and released in January 2026.
Fall Grant Process
September
Invitation to Apply
October
FOLLOW UP with applicants
October
YFF Due Diligence
November
Family Consideration
January
Grant Decision
February
Report Due From previous year
Responsive Grants: The Executive Director’s Initiative Fund (EDIF)
Timeline: 2020 - 2025
In 2025, we gave $40K to 4 grantees focused on the immediate needs of victims of the fires in the Los Angeles, CA area. We also gave $925k to 8 grantees impacted by government funding cuts.
In 2023, we gave $415K to 7 grantees focused on the immediate needs of refugees from the war in Ukraine.
In 2022, we gave $550K to 7 grantees focused on the immediate needs of refugees from the war in Ukraine.
From 2020-2021, we gave $1.6M to 17 grantees focused on immediate needs from the pandemic and long term mental health and socio-economic learning of young people related to school closures.