Community-based Youth Action Council
Investment Strategy & Performance
Community-based Youth Action Council
The community-based Youth Action Council (YAC) is a hands-on grantmaking program comprised of youth from numerous MetroWest communities. They are entrusted with reviewing and granting up to $10,000 in funds to nonprofit organizations serving children and youth.
In 2010-2011, YAC distributed $8,700 to three organizations. They are:
$2,600
Funding will support Homework Power Hour a program which rewards and encourages children with their homework assignments. It offers homework help, tutoring, and provides other resources and guidance for children.
$2,500
To provide funding for a child to attend this camp which serves children with debilitating psychological and learning problems.
$3,600
Working with Minuteman Arc's Early Intervention program, this funding will allow them to implement language curriculum and training for their program serving children with hearing loss and their families.
YAC, a part of the Youth in Philanthropy program, teaches youth about the needs of our community, what a nonprofit organization is, how to evaluate a nonprofit for funding, fundraising strategies, and working with others to make an impact on our community.
The activities that YAC engages in are:
- Grantmaking: After training, YAC members evaluate requests for grants that support local programs serving children and youth. Youth visit the organizations applying for funding and, as a group, decide which ones they wish to fund. Members present the grant recommendations to Foundation for MetroWest’s Distribution Committee.
- Retreat: We will spend part of a Saturday in the fall getting the year started off with some fun and philanthropy.
- Service Days: YAC members spend one or two Saturdays doing hands-on volunteer work with local nonprofit organizations.
- Giving Ceremony: YAC members present grant checks to the nonprofit organizations they choose to fund at a ceremony in the community.
- Fundraising: As a group, YAC members collectively raise $1,000 towards their grantmaking budget. The remaining funds are provided by donors to Foundation for MetroWest.
This year 20 youth from 11 communities gathered at the MetroWest YMCA Family Outdoor Center in Hopkinton to take part in a variety of activities designed to build trust and encourage respect for each others’ opinions.
The first service day doing clean-up at Pegan Cove Park on Lake Cochituate provided some interesting finds for 2011-2012 YAC members.
If you have questions, please email Jennifer Ubaldino at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
See our calendar, for upcoming YAC dates and events.
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Join the Community-based Youth Action Council
The application period for the 2011-2012 session is now closed.What is YAC?
Download our information sheet>
Support Our Youth in Philanthropy Program
We have established the Youth in Philanthropy Endowment Fund to finance this wonderful program. When you give to this fund, you are contributing to a service program that not only helps local constituencies in need, but makes a mark on the next generation of MetroWest residents.Make a Gift to the YIP Endowment Fund >
Participating in the Program?
Keep up to date with what’s going on in the YIP program.View our YIP Events Calendar >
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