Youth in Philanthropy

“My son has learned
so much through this program.
He has become involved in the needs within his own community and
has developed a greater sense of compassion and understanding.”

For more than ten years, the Foundation for MetroWest has offered the Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program to MetroWest communities.

Youth in Philanthropy is a hands-on program that teaches high school students the fundamentals of grant making, fundraising and the nonprofit world. YIP programs can currently be found in five Concord schools and the Foundation also runs the community-based Youth Action Council, which takes high school students from across the region.

One student told us, “This program is a good way to learn about your community as well as ways you can benefit your community while making friends from different towns.”

In the program, students learn about the needs of their local community, about nonprofits and how to evaluate them for funding, and how to work with others to make a difference. They do a few community service days at local nonprofits, and are responsible for raising part of their grant-making budget.

After training, students evaluate requests for grants that support local programs serving children and youth. They visit organizations applying for funding and then decide which ones to fund. After making their decisions the youth have to present their decisions to the Foundation’s Distribution Committee, and end the process with a grant ceremony where they get to present the grants to the organizations.

“The most beneficial piece of information I have learned in this program,” wrote one student, “Is that the problems that exist in our community can be solved with a combination of the tools we have learned and a will to help.”

In the last six years alone, almost 500 students have awarded over $300,000 in grants to deserving organizations. Nonprofits that have received recent YIP grants include:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of MetroWest
• Resiliency for Life
• Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest
• More Than Words

Each program has its own application process. If you have a high school student, not attending a school with an existing program, who would be interested in applying, please email Jennifer Ubaldino, the Youth in Philanthropy Coordinator at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).