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.

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?

In 2006, I joined the Junior Board of the Frieda C. Fox Foundation and began learning about what it meant to be a philanthropist. At the time, it was almost unheard of for young people to be engaged in this way, and I remember craving interactions with people my age doing similar work. There weren’t resources to connect with others, and it was very easy to feel alone and isolated in this field.