The Journey
Forecasted
The Journey supports Indiana youth work professionals through personal renewal, retreats, leadership development, and certification support to strengthen their work on behalf of young people.
This grant was recently updated
The “applications are now open” announcement has been replaced with notice that the 2027 Journey Fellows will be announced soon. The nomination link was removed; an application link remains.
Funder: Lilly Endowment
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Personal renewal stipends, certification support, and paid program expenses (travel excluded)
Summary: The Journey supports personal renewal, professional development, and community-building for full-time youth work professionals in Indiana.
Key Information: Full retreat participation, including day and night attendance, is expected; educators eligible for other renewal programs are excluded.
Description
The Journey is a fellowship program of Indiana Youth Services Association, supported by Lilly Endowment. It brings personal renewal and leadership development opportunities to professionals who serve young people in Indiana. Through retreats and learning experiences, fellows explore their personal and professional identities, build connections with other youth workers, and strengthen their belief in what they can accomplish on behalf of young people.
The fellowship places personal growth alongside professional development rather than funding a research project. Participants choose between two cohorts with different schedules, each offering renewal stipends, professional networking, retreat experiences, and support for Child and Youth Care Certification. Events take place across Indiana, and Journey membership lasts a lifetime.
