Audible Open Call to Support Youth Development (United States)

Audible Open Call to Support Youth Development (United States)

Audible has announced an open call for nonprofits across the United States to integrate audio storytelling into youth development programming. The initiative aims to use listening experiences to expand how young people perceive themselves and the world, fostering imagination and discovery as they shape their futures.

The program targets small to mid-sized nonprofits that provide direct programming to 150 to 300 underrepresented youth between the ages of 12 and 18. To be eligible, these services must occur in structured, recurring settings outside of formal school environments, such as community centers, youth development organizations, or after-school programs. While K-12 institutions are generally ineligible, those with 501(c)(3) status and the ability to accept private funds may apply.

Selected organizations will receive grant funding between $20,000 and $40,000, with the final amount determined by the reach of the youth and the scope of the program. Applicants may include overhead costs of approximately 10% of the total grant request. Beyond funding, grantees will receive access to Audible for the youth in their programs and public recognition during the official program launch.

Audible is seeking organizations that can incorporate the service into existing programming through guided exploration, listening sessions, and workshops. The company requires a minimum of biweekly touchpoints to ensure lasting engagement. Notably, nonprofits do not need prior experience with audio content to apply; Audible will provide onboarding support and resources.

The company defines "underrepresented youth" as those who self-identify as part of the following communities:

• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Asian/Asian American, Latinx/Hispanic)
• LGBTQIA+
• Woman-identifying
• Youth with disabilities and/or neurodivergence
• Youth who do not identify as part of the majority community in their place of residence

Measuring impact is a core requirement of the collaboration. Organizations must be committed to collecting and sharing data on youth outcomes and engagement using a shared metrics framework. Additionally, applicants must have data protection and privacy protocols that comply with COPPA for the secure handling of youth data. Organizations with primary religious or political affiliations that would direct the use of grant funds are ineligible.

The application process consists of two stages: a full proposal submission and a 60-minute conversation with the Audible team for finalists. Applications opened June 12, 2026, and will close July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. Notifications for selected organizations are expected by late August, with programming scheduled to begin in October 2026. Audible intends to transition successful collaborations into multi-year partnerships based on measurable impact.

Parallel Career Exploration Initiatives

Separately, the Audible Global Center for Urban Innovation has launched the Career Exploration Grants 2026. This distinct initiative provides $10,000 grants to a cohort of five organizations focusing on career readiness for young people ages 16 to 24. Unlike the national youth development call, these grants are limited to organizations located in or serving youth in Newark, NJ, Culver City, CA, or Cambridge, MA.

These career grants are distributed by Array and its national nonprofit Prelude. The program focuses on innovative methods to help underserved youth access meaningful career pathways. This effort is part of a broader commitment by Audible, an Amazon company, to invest in emerging creators. This includes the Audible Creator Development Program in Newark, a free three-day intensive for narrative-driven creators facilitated by ABF Creative.

Other current global efforts by the company include the Indigenous Writers' Circle in Canada, the Audible LAB in Spain for university students, and the Off-Mic program in the UK. Audible also collaborates with Audio in Color to support romance authors and the Entertainment Community Fund to provide financial wellness webinars for storytellers.