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Engaging Youth in Philanthropy

Across the country, young people are becoming involved in philanthropy in their schools, through their local community foundation or a local nonprofit and from local governmental programs. Many aspects of engaging youth are universal. Engaging youth in philanthropy prepares young people to be active, lifelong community citizens.

Community Benefits:
Youth philanthropy is beneficial for the students and the community. Many youth involved in philanthropy programs volunteer outside of their youth program, and some even serve on nonprofit boards.

Media Opportunity:
Engaging youth in philanthropy is an opportunity to tell the "good news" of philanthropy. Stories about young people raising money for charitable purposes, distributing grants, and giving their time as volunteers to the community attract significant positive media attention.

Materials

• Involving Family Members in Giving
  Ideas for involving family members in philanthropy.
• Teaching Children the Value of Giving
  Tips and resources for adults to learn how to instill the value of giving to the young people in their lives.
• Outreach to Youth
  Look here for information if you are thinking about developing or starting a youth philanthropy program or you’re looking for ideas to add spice and variety to your program.

Links

• Learning to Give
  Learning to Give seeks to perpetuate a civil society by educating children about the independent sector and philanthropy, being an active volunteer.
• Learning In Deed
  Launched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this organization's Web site offers tools and resources on service learning.
• The James Irvine Foundation
  The James Irvine Foundation's Children, Youth and Families programs strengthen California communities with educational and recreational programs for youth.
• Youth Grantmakers
  Michigan Community Foundation's Youth Project publishes guidelines and resources on how to establish a Youth Advisory Committees.
• The Active Element Foundation
  Their goal is to support youth leadership/activism development. They achieve this through grant making and donor partnership building.
• Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth (CCFY)
  The Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth (CCFY) is a network of community foundations in the United States dedicated to improved conditions for children, youth and families.
• Community Partnerships with Youth
  Among several offerings is a curriculum used to introduce the practice of giving, sharing and serving to youth.
• Young Sisters for Justice
  Young Sisters for Justice, an initiative of the Boston Women's Fund, is a paid internship for young women aged 15-21.
• Do Something
  Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who take action to change the world around them.
• Foundation Center/Youth in Philanthropy
  Youth in Philanthropy, run by New York's Foundation Center, is an information portal for young people and teachers.
• The Giraffe Project
  The Giraffe Project's mission is to "move people to stick their necks out for the common good." The site provides curriculum, speakers, workshops, and resources.
• Girls Incorporated
  Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
• Leadership, Volunteerism, and Giving: A Longitudinal Study of Youth Grantmakers (1993-2003)
  Learn about the long-term effects of engaging youth in grantmaking on their volunteering, giving and leadership activities from this Michigan Community Foundations' Youth Project study.
• National Youth Leadership Council
  The National Youth Leadership Council builds vital, just communities with young people through service learning.
• Resource Generation
  Resource Generation works with young people with wealth who care about social change, and offers a variety of donor education programs to help them get involved in giving.
• YouthBuild
  YouthBuild is a comprehensive youth and community development program as well as an alternative school.

Take Action

• Investigate Giving Circles
• Discover Racial, Ethnic, Tribal Philanthropy
• Read the Donors of the Future Trend Report (PDF)
• Explore Knowledge Centers