A recent survey our Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) program conducted with the Scottish Youth Parliament found that more than 80% of young people believed activity focused on philanthropy and social activism should be part of the core secondary curriculum.

Over the past two years, I have been on a journey to become a philanthropist through the Youth Grant Committee at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. When I joined my freshman year after a competitive application process, I was amazed at how many new people I met. We have a very diverse community and I loved stepping out of my comfort zone and connecting with other students.

Last year, I applied to join Seattle Foundation’s Youth Grantmaking Board (YGB) because I wanted to make a difference in my community and give back the way my mother and grandmother do. While I was familiar with the idea of helping one’s community, philanthropy was a foreign concept to me. I always thought of it as rich and old (but very nice) white guys who gave money to charities—like in the movies. But through my time on the Youth Grantmaking Board, I discovered the incredible and life-changing power of philanthropy to help others, just as my grandmother and mother helped those they love.

The environmental movement has been steadily gaining ground as people realize how important it is to take action in the face of ever-growing environmental concerns. Organizations across the country have tried to address problems in different ways, from looking into the science behind climate change, to starting grassroots campaigns that shift our behavior towards the earth. While there are countless approaches to helping our environment, rather than choosing one strategy over another, we need a collective effort that includes many tactics.

Despite the growing number of youth philanthropy programs in the United States, a 2002 survey found that “only 48 percent of adults believe it is important to seek young people’s opinions when making decisions that affect them.” As Katie Richards-Schuster, a professor at University of Michigan stated in 2012, “In general, American society, through its policies and practices, tends to focus on the construction of youth as vulnerable and at risk at best, and as problems at worst.” However, we know that through youth philanthropy programs where young people are given decision-making power as well as provided with mentorship, communities thrive.

On a clear spring Saturday in downtown Cleveland an intergenerational group gathered for Foundation Center Midwest’s Youth Philanthropy Summit. The Summit wrapped up its year-long 40^th anniversary celebration with a nod to the future – engaging the next generation of philanthropists, volunteers, and social sector leaders.

When using data in your youth grantmaking work and beyond, you will undoubtedly face challenges. We don’t want roadblocks to set you back, so let’s address some of the most common challenges to help you anticipate and overcome them.

Ah... the world of social media. Can't live with it, definitely can't live without it. In a world where supporters are on their phones on a near-constant basis, nonprofit groups need to stay current on social media trends to retain and gain support. Here are a few useful tips I learned along the way.

Few people would argue the good intentions of philanthropic programs that engage and empower young people as key decision-makers and change-makers…but good intentions don’t always add up to meaningful outcomes and long-term impact for society. How can we evaluate the outcomes and impact of our youth philanthropy programs?

We’ve all heard “when you’ve seen one foundation, you’ve seen one foundation.” This familiar saying makes light of the many different ways foundations operate.  The same is true for how family foundations engage their next generation.  There is no “one size fits all” or magic bullet that ensures successful participation by younger family members.  And with so many models to choose from, how do you decide what’s right for your family foundation?