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Young Americans Optimistic About Creating Change, Survey Finds
By Philanthropy News Digest
Seven out of ten of young Americans are working to create positive change on a daily basis, a report from the YMCA finds.
Read MoreDecember 6, 2019
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Memo to Foundation CEOs: Get a Youth Council
By Robert K. Ross
Seven years ago, we launched a President's Youth Council (PYC) at the California Endowment, and it seems like a good time to tell you that the young people who've served on the council over those seven years have significantly influenced our programming as a private foundation, been a source of reality-checking and ground-truthing on how our work "shows up" at the community level, and have substantially increased my own "woke-ness" as a foundation executive.
Read MoreOctober 9, 2019
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Youth Want to Learn About Social Activism in Schools
By Jonathan Christie
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.
Read MoreJanuary 24, 2019
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How Are Youth Connecting Dots to Effect Change?
By Khya Carter
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.
Read MoreOctober 8, 2018
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Why Should Youth Care About Immigration?
By Katherine Muñoz-Amaya
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.
Read MoreOctober 8, 2018
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Why Should Young People Fund Environmental Causes?
By Robert Walton
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.
Read MoreOctober 8, 2018
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Youth Philanthropy, Trust Building, and Sharing Power
By Sheryl Seller
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.
Read MoreAugust 16, 2018
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The Future of Philanthropy
By Maria Miranda
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 40th anniversary celebration with a nod to the future – engaging the next generation of philanthropists, volunteers, and social sector leaders.
Read MoreApril 20, 2018
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How Can We Overcome Data Challenges?
By Erin Nylen-Wysocki & Jen Bokoff
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.
Read MoreNovember 6, 2017
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How Can You Harness the Power of Social Media for Your Cause?
By Brea Reimer-Baum
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.
Read MoreSeptember 19, 2017