Best Practices in

Written by Pam Garza and Pam Stevens Contents

1 Foreword 2 Acknowledgements 3 Report Overview 4 Realizing Positive Change: An Introduction to 7 Best Practices in Youth Philanthropy 7 I. Build Structure and Capacity Best Practices: • Create organizational structures to support the program • Build a youth-friendly environment • Build on community assets to support lasting change 14 II. Develop Youth-Adult Partnerships Best Practices: • Engage youth as decision-makers • Connect adults as partners 16 III. Create Connections Best Practices: • Involve youth from different cultures and backgrounds • Expand and promote leadership roles for youth in the community • Develop partnerships with community organizations 22 IV. Develop Skills and Knowledge Best Practice: • Provide program training and support 25 V. Plan For Sustainability Best Practices: • Develop sufficient and sustainable sources of funding • Involve youth in fund development • Assess program activities and outcomes on a regular basis • Communicate program accomplishments 32 Program Development Questions 35 Appendices: Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy A. Publications B. Major Initiatives and Resource Organizations 41 Notes 43 About the Authors 44 About the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth.

This publication is available online at www.ccfy.org. 1 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

Foreword

Imagine a society that values young people for their What makes youth philanthropy effective? This present worth, not their future value. Envision document probes the lessons learned from a decade of communities where young people routinely make and experience to extract what qualities youth philanthropy inform decisions of consequence — to neighborhoods, programs have in common. It does not advance any to schools, to the environment, that address issues such single model or prescribe a set of activities. Rather, the as race and violence — in short, decisions in aid of the aim is to provide a framework for understanding the greater good. This vision is a reality, but it exists in principles that underlie sound practice and sound pockets of opportunities available for miniscule program design decisions. By looking at what’s best numbers of youth. It is not nearly enough. It is not the and what’s promising, we hope to stir new, renewed norm…but it could be. and deeper commitment to the investments needed to This document — which we hope you will use, not support quality youth philanthropy opportunities. merely consign to your estimable list of good intentions This document is the product of many months of — was inspired by the 1999 White House Conference visits to youth philanthropy sites; interviews with youth on Philanthropy. Youth and adults extolled the virtues grantmakers, their adult advisors and others; input of involving youth in philanthropy to an enthusiastic from a wonderful group of advisors; review of program audience that included the President and First Lady. guides, curricula and other materials (the best of which The White House and several national foundations are assembled in the Resource section); and analysis. sponsored a series of follow-up meetings, culminating in The Coalition thanks study authors Pam Garza and a request to the Coalition of Community Foundations Pam Stevens and all those who contributed their time for Youth, a national organization of 200 community so generously and enthusiastically to this project. foundations, to organize next steps. We believe this The Coalition is deeply grateful to the Ewing Marion document is a step in the right direction, but what you Kauffman, Charles Stewart Mott, and David and do with it will determine if it in fact has traction. Lucile Packard foundations for their financial support In advocating for youth philanthropy, the Coalition of this project. is motivated by two values: We are honored to be part of the youth philanthropy movement, and join the White House • Philanthropy as a means of mobilizing society’s Conference organizers and participants in the hope assets for the betterment of all is enhanced by that resources such as this will galvanize the providing authentic opportunities for expansion of youth philanthropy. and influence; and • Young people are a current — not a deferred — source of insight and knowledge about issues Cindy Sesler Ballard affecting community well being. Youth Executive Director philanthropy contributes to community now as Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth well as in the future. July 2002 2

Acknowledgments

It was our pleasure to work and talk with many Our greatest pleasure came from the opportunity to remarkable people during the course of this project. meet scores of youth grantmakers and their adult The information they shared was invaluable and their advisors. Our thanks and deepest admiration to: enthusiasm for youth philanthropy infectious. • Young people and adults involved in youth We extend particular thanks to the members of the philanthropy in Indiana, including representatives Working Consortium who advised this project. Their from the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana, dedication to building the field of youth philanthropy the Center for Youth as Resources’ Midwest shaped the direction of this report. Without their Program Development Office, and Youth as generous contribution of time, insight and materials, Resources programs in Indianapolis and Boone, this report would not have been possible. The members Hamilton and Marion counties. include: • Members of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Kevin Armshaw, program coordinator, Building ’s Youth Advisory Board, in Kansas City, Communities Together; Marilyn Bassett, former along with Bridget Hardgree, program associate, executive director, Center for Youth as Resources; and Lynn Leonard, senior program officer. Robert S. Collier, president, Council of Michigan Foundations and Coalition of Community Foundations • Youth advisory council staff and youth participants for Youth board member; Jerry Finn, consultant, in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids and Community Partnerships with Youth; Marvin King, Kalamazoo, Michigan. former project coordinator, Michigan Community We also extend our thanks to the many others who Foundations’ Youth Project; Amy Fox McNulty, provided significant information to us over the past project associate, Formative Evaluation Research year, particularly Carla Danziger and Michelle Von Associates; George Rice, executive director, Center for Fange, Center for Youth as Resources; Anne Hoover, Youth as Resources; Matt Rosen, director of youth Community Partnerships with Youth; Joel Orosz, philanthropy, Institute; Karin E. former program director for Philanthropy and Tice, partner, Formative Evaluation Research Volunteerism, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Teddy Gross Associates; Janet Wakefield, co-director, Community and Chris Keeney, Common Cents; Vicki Perkins, Partnerships with Youth; and Shepherd Zeldin, Inland Foundation; and Willis Bright and Susan Wisely, assistant professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lilly Endowment.

Pam Garza Pam Stevens 3

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Report Overview

The purpose of this best practices report program providers, it is not a step-by-step is to identify, assemble and interpret the guide to setting up and implementing a lessons learned from the rich reservoir of youth philanthropy program. Excellent practice and the emerging body of research tools, including “how to” manuals, can be in youth philanthropy. It documents the found in the Resources section of this best practices from a variety of youth report, along with information about philanthropy program models and youth philanthropy organizations and provides examples, tips, and questions that Internet resources. can help inform decisions about strategies, structures, and activities for existing and The report is divided into three parts: new programs. These best practices reflect the best Best Practices in Youth Philanthropy knowledge available from experience, describes the benefits of youth theory, research, evaluation and judgment. philanthropy and identifies five categories They are derived from interviews with of best practices that are essential to leading practitioners and researchers in effective youth philanthropy programs: the youth philanthropy field, observation • Building structure and capacity of youth philanthropy programs, and • Youth-adult partnerships review of research, manuals, tool kits and • Building skills and knowledge other materials. • Connecting to the community “Best” does not mean that there is only one way to achieve a desired result. • Planning for sustainability Indeed, this project transcends any one Each best practice discussion includes model and identifies the common threads descriptions of practices, examples, and that run through quality programs. It suggestions from existing programs. focuses on the principles that guide best practices — shedding light on the Program Development Questions offers a reasoning behind each youth philanthropy list of questions for strengthening or program decision. designing a youth philanthropy program. This document was designed to help users look at the big picture when Selected Resources includes a sampling of planning a new program or thinking youth philanthropy program manuals, about changing an existing program. It curricula, and other publications as well as can also be used to gauge a program’s descriptions of the major youth quality by comparing it to other philanthropy initiatives and resources for experienced programs. While this report obtaining more information, technical contains practical information for assistance and training. 4

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Realizing Positive Change: An Introduction to Youth Philanthropy

Youth philanthropy means different by the traditions of “Before the project, things to different people — from personal many cultures and we felt that people giving and , to belief systems that didn’t see youth as activity, to organized grantmaking — all encourage their making a difference. approaches demonstrating a generous members to share As the project took impulse by young people to help their their money, time, off, it seemed as if neighbors. For purposes of this and services to people’s attitude publication, we define youth improve the quality about the youth “Being a member of the YAC [Youth philanthropy as “those of life for all. People changed and many Alliance Committee] has given me the programs and initiatives in in this country adults wanted to opportunity to become an active which youth develop routinely give their help us out.”5 member of the community through knowledge of and participate money to causes and California youth grantmaking. It has also allowed me to in the formal practice of organizations of philanthropy grantee come into contact with dynamic youth philanthropy, specifically importance to them, who are determined to make a positive grantmaking.”2 such as religious institutions, cultural impact on their community.”1 Since the emergence of organizations, and individuals. Mutual aid Michigan youth grantmaker, youth philanthropy in the groups, voluntary associations, nonprofit speaking at the 1999 White House mid-1980s, more than 250 organizations, community foundations, Conference on Philanthropy youth philanthropy united funds, and other philanthropic programs have been organizations provide an array of options identified in the United States and several for channeling individual resources to other countries (e.g., Canada, New address important issues and help other Zealand, Poland), and new programs are people. Young people, too, are part of the on the drawing board in countless culture of giving and serving — whether communities.3 The benefits of these they are donating their allowance to buy programs are just beginning to be coats for homeless people or volunteering documented — but it is to read books to elderly becoming clear that residents at a local church. “The only thing required is a youth philanthropy can Underlying the best of willingness to see young make philanthropic youth philanthropy is a set people as full citizens, and values, principles and of common values about the courage to put aside old traditions come alive encouraging, respecting assumptions and to fully for youth and and recognizing the explore how young people communities. contribution of young can reach their full Philanthropy in the people and the potential through helping United States has a long responsibility of all citizens communities reach their full and varied history, a to contribute to the social potential.”4 history made up in part health of the communities Minnesota youth activist 5 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Realizing Positive Change: An Introduction to Youth Philanthropy

in which they live. What distinguishes organizations, community residents, and youth philanthropy from other forms of decision-makers to change the way they charitable activity is that young people perceive and interact with youth — participate at a decision-making level — providing a view of youth as positive identifying community priorities, making contributors and caring members of the grant decisions. But youth philanthropy is community. about more than giving This project has found that exemplary “Philanthropy is no longer the exclusive away money. It integrates youth philanthropy programs set goals province of the blue-blooded and gray- philanthropic tradition that will lead to change at multiple haired. Teenagers are moving into the and values with the levels, specifically: nonprofit world’s boardrooms as grant- principles of youth • Promote positive youth development makers, making difficult decisions, development — young by engaging young people in often asking tougher questions than people capably and meaningful activities that build their their adult counterparts.”6 actively involved in their skills and capacity own social, emotional, Syndicated columnist Neal Peirce • Build the interpersonal connections intellectual and physical between youth from different development — and backgrounds and experiences, and community development — human and between youth and adults capital assets harnessed to make life better for community residents — to create new • Enhance the operations of community options for developing young people and organizations and institutions in the enhancing community life.7 human services, philanthropic, , and government sectors by Why youth philanthropy? engaging youth voice Youth philanthropy programs provide • Strengthen communities by utilizing authentic opportunities for young people to the strengths and resources found in develop skills and knowledge that will the community make them better students and citizens in • Help communities view young people the present and increase the chances that in a positive light they will continue to play active roles in the Evidence from over a decade of community in the future. Youth research has begun to identify and philanthropy programs promise to have a document youth philanthropy’s benefits, lasting effect on the young people and outcomes and impacts. A comprehensive adults involved in them. They push study of the Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project9 over a ten year period found positive outcomes at Youth Development Framework the individual, organizational, community According to a framework prepared by the Youth Development and regional levels:10 Institute of the Fund for the City of New York, all young people need • Youth philanthropy is an effective five conditions for a healthy adolescence and successful adulthood:8 means of youth development. Youth • a one-to-one caring relationship with an adult develop skills, knowledge, confidence • a safe environment and leadership abilities. They start to perceive of themselves as leaders • engaging activities who can make a difference in their • opportunities for contribution communities. • opportunities to make decisions with real • Youth continue to volunteer their consequences time, donate money to charitable 6 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Realizing Positive Change: An Introduction to Youth Philanthropy

causes and serve in leadership What investments are required to achieve positions at higher rates than the such results? This project has found that a general population long after they number of best practices are common to stop serving on the Youth Advisory quality youth philanthropy models and Committees. programs. By following the best practices • Many grantees are starting to change outlined in this publication, youth the way their organizations involve philanthropy efforts can implement high- youth in their work. Youth are required quality youth development programs, to develop and implement the grants engage young people and adults in making received from youth grantmakers. a positive impact on their organizations • At the State level and communities, and youth grantmakers “ We now know we can combine their efforts worked to pass a new maximize the development with others to make a law allowing youth of our youth as civic and difference in the larger ages 16 and older to community change leaders nonprofit sector. be voting members on only if we foster and nonprofit boards. expect their fullest participation in the social problem solving occurring in communities.”11 Forum for Youth Investment 7 7

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity Successful youth philanthropy programs are supported by organizations and structures that have the capacity to effectively engage young people in leadership and grantmaking.

Best Practice: Create organizational structures to support a youth philanthropy program Best Practice: Build a youth-friendly environment Best Practice: Develop a grantmaking program that builds on community assets to make lasting change

Organizations must have the supports, systems, and attitudes in place to successfully implement a youth Best Practice: Create organizational structures to philanthropy program.12 This may require support a youth philanthropy program changing the behaviors and expectations of adults within the organization or A good home changing the current way of doing Each organization that decides to create business. Many types of organizations a youth philanthropy program brings are capable of successfully providing strengths and challenges to this job. Youth homes to youth philanthropy programs. philanthropy programs excel when their According to the Michigan Community host organizations exercise their strengths Foundations’ Youth Project data base, on the programs’ behalf and recognize community foundations, national areas where they need to seek help. foundations, private and public high For example, community foundations schools, youth-serving organizations, can provide a youth philanthropy program United Ways, 4-H, Urban League with expertise in grants administration, chapters, and city governments are access to funds, convening capacity, and among the many homes for youth knowledge about a range of program philanthropy, with the majority located interests. However, traditionally, at community foundations.13 community foundations have not had Whatever the organization, diligent experience staffing youth programs or preparation and commitment are needed recruiting young people. Youth to build capacity and secure the development organizations, while enjoying knowledge and skills necessary to lead a a solid track record of working with youth successful program. and helping them develop leadership skills, may not know how to solicit and evaluate proposals, or manage, distribute and administer grant funds. One promising approach to building on strengths in different settings has been to 8 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity

develop partnerships between two or more expand opportunities for young people organizations to share responsibility for and adults to work together. program management and The youth board’s primary responsibility Summary of Host implementation. In East Palo is making decisions about the use of grant Organization Alto, CA, for example, the funds. In some programs, the board or Responsibilities Community Foundation Silicon youth advisory committee is responsible for The responsibilities of the organization TIPS Valley and New Perspectives, the final decisions on grants; in others, the include the following activities: a local youth-serving committee makes recommendations to the Hiring new staff or assigning current organization, jointly implement board of the host organization for final staff to work with the program the Youth in Philanthropy approval. It carries out this task by Supervising all phases of the Program in that community. assessing community assets and needs; program The foundation is responsible establishing funding priorities and for such tasks as handling procedures; advertising the availability of Recruiting and training youth participants and adult volunteers intake of grant applications grants; and evaluating grant proposals, and financial management; including interviewing applicants or making Developing partnerships with local New Perspectives recruits site visits. Other activities performed by organizations and institutions to market the program youth participants and assists the board include assessing funded projects, them in running the meetings, recruiting new members, and marketing the Convening youth in the program on conducting outreach activities, program. Young people may serve on the a regular basis, including providing meeting space and administrative and developing skill-building board or advisory committee for one or support for program activities activities. more years (in some instances, all four years Formal operating partnerships of high school). Longer terms permit Providing financial support for program activities and/or leadership are by no means a prerequisite greater continuity and the opportunity for for fund development activities to successful youth philanthropy experienced youth grantmakers to mentor programs. They are but one new grantmakers. Shorter terms allow a Handling financial management and creative solution to program greater number of young people to have grantmaking, including making grant payments, investing funds, and demands that cross disciplines. the opportunity to serve. reporting to funding sources on the In all cases, host organizations use of the money need to review their ability to A grantmaking program. Each youth Participating in grantmaking support the essential elements of philanthropy program adopts a set networks, training, or other activities a youth philanthropy program. of rules and procedures to guide its to support skill development for grantmaking process. This includes setting participants and strengthen program Building blocks grantmaking priorities, developing operations Youth philanthropy programs a grants budget, establishing grant Publicizing youth philanthropy to its by definition need to implement: guidelines and eligibility14, making grant constituencies recommendations and creating procedures Promoting opportunities for youth A governing board. A cadre for post-grant evaluations. Annual grant voice within the organization and the of young people, usually budgets and the grant award amounts community adolescents, and one or more vary from program to program, largely adult staff and volunteers form dependent on fundraising capacity. Grant a governing board — also known as a awards vary from as little as $100 to as youth advisory committee (YAC), youth much as $10,000. advisory council, and youth board. Board make-up can be all youth, supported by The right staff adult advisors, or youth with a minority of Youth philanthropy programs need to be adults as members. The approach taken staffed. Programs further benefit from the should accomplish two things: promote presence of at least one additional adult youth leadership and decision-making, and advisor. Choosing the right adult staff to 9 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity

work with the program is crucial to its success. The host organization may need to hire new staff, reassign its current staff, Best Practice: and possibly recruit adult volunteers to Build a youth-friendly environment work with the youth board to design and Perhaps the most important capacity manage the program. Many youth issue is attitude. For a youth philanthropy philanthropy programs have successfully programs to be successful, its host engaged young people in recruitment, organization needs to believe in the value interviewing and selection of staff. of youth in decision-making and be willing The role of the staff person is to to provide the resources, make the coordinate with the host organization, accommodations, and exercise its influence manage the program, and support youth to facilitate successful programs. in their roles as grantmakers and The host organization must be decision-makers. Each youth philanthropy committed to promoting youth decision- program needs to develop its own making within its own organization. This division of labor between staff and youth commitment is demonstrated in two around the many tasks that need to be ways. First, the organization is willing to performed. However, to maximize a make appropriate adjustments in program’s youth development potential, organizational routines and procedures. the role of staff should be to help young Second, adults in the organization — people to develop the skills and capacity staff, trustees, and volunteers — must be to assume program responsibilities, not to open to learning to work with youth in do for young people. positions as decision-makers. A recent study found that positive outcomes accrue to youth-serving organizations that have engaged youth in significant leadership roles: increased clarity of the organization’s mission; improved responsiveness to youth that leads to improved programming; and increased credibility in the community and with funders.16 These benefits of youth Characteristics of an voice in decision-making can lead to effective adult advisor: important changes in how an organization Ongoing assessments of youth philanthropy programs in Michigan have operates as a whole, not just within its identified several characteristics of an effective adult advisor:15 youth philanthropy program. The impact is systemic. According to the • Have group facilitation skills • Have the ability to encourage program director of a community • Be patient and motivate others foundation that operates a youth • Be flexible • Have an open mind and be philanthropy program, “Adding youth willing to learn from youth voices can change the culture of • Be able to think on one’s feet • Have good communication skills foundations [and] enhance their reputation • Have an understanding of and for listening to the community.”17 willingness to work with young • Have good personal boundaries people • Relate well to youth and be Policies and procedures • Be willing to learn about willing to learn their language Beyond embracing youth-friendly philanthropy, volunteerism and • Be a good role model attitudes, the host organization needs to the grantmaking process look critically at its policies and 10 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity (cont.)

procedures to accommodate working with ✮ ✮ ✮ young people. Long-established routines Responding to youth voice may no longer make sense in light of this new way of doing business. Here are The Ewing Marion Kauffman examples of how organizations have made Foundation illustrates how one themselves more youth-friendly: organization has adjusted its policies over time as a result of a youth philanthropy • Change building security hours to program. Initially, the Kansas City-based hold meetings at night or on Saturdays recruited participants when youth are not in school for its youth grantmaking board • Change current procedures for primarily from the urban area. To gain a considering grant recommendations. wider perspective on youth needs across For example, if a youth philanthropy Kansas City, the target area expanded to program’s grantmaking priorities include the outlying areas around Kansas include support for youth-led projects City. However, grantmaking was in area high schools, the host restricted to organizations or projects in organization may want to adjust its the urban area — a requirement applied grant review schedule to consider to all of the foundation’s local grant recommendations monthly or grantmaking activities. When the young by semester during the school year people began to make grants, they • Get approval to use administrative realized that meeting the needs of youth funds to pay for food (one of the and the community would not be essentials of any !) successful without attention to Greater Kansas City. Therefore, youth board Introducing the concept members advocated for involving An early challenge in many settings is suburban and rural youth as grantseekers. educating staff and trustees about the As a result of the youth board’s persuasive benefits of involving youth as rationale, the geographic boundaries of its grantmakers and leaders. grantmaking now include outlying areas.18 “I would have to say that the best thing The best preparation is to ✮ ✮ ✮ about being a board member is the expose adults at all levels experience of being such a large part within the organization to of my community. That act of youth serving in capacities providing youth like myself with traditionally reserved for Best Practice: opportunities is incredibly rewarding. adults. This first-hand Develop a grantmaking program that It is amazing to go on site visits and experience can set the stage builds on community assets to make see what our hard work has created.”19 for organization-wide lasting change California youth grantmaker ownership and belief in the potential and value Tying priorities to of youth philanthropy. program goals Conducting training led by youth and Like traditional philanthropy, youth adults, inviting youth as observers and philanthropy programs pursue a range participants in larger organizational of program priorities, according to the meetings, and holding receptions for overall program goals of each. For example, youth and adults to share their stories a program that has embraced youth and backgrounds are useful techniques development and goals might for bringing together the two groups. focus grants on youth issues and programs and encourage proposals for projects that are youth-initiated and youth-led. 11 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity

Youth philanthropy programs also vary • How do people in the community in their types of grants. Some youth use react to the issue or problem? their financial resources and influence to Some youth philanthropy programs advocate for system improvements, such as capitalize on existing information. Sources public transit policies and fare structures such as the United Way, city and county affecting students. Others focus on project government planning offices, and local or direct-service grants, such as funding foundations can provide helpful after-school activities for children and peer information. mediation programs. Other programs conduct their own community assessment process. One way Identifying community issues to find out about assets and issues is to use Whatever the fundamental direction, a “community mapping” or “asset effective youth philanthropy programs mapping” process, which trains youth to develop grant priorities and make grant collect, analyze and graphically display decisions based on an information about local resources. The “Writing the grant helped me realize understanding of available resulting “map” of strengths and assets that I have the right to express what community resources and helps participants to better understand the I feel about our school system… when assets as well as important community.23 Whatever process is chosen, I first started writing I felt a little community issues. This it needs to include mechanisms such as scared but when I finished the information is used to develop youth surveys or focus groups to provide application I was relieved and program goals and carry out a an opportunity to include youth opinions confident about what I had relevant grantmaking process about community priorities and issues. accomplished. I went home and that emphasizes lasting change After collecting community wrote about the experience in my in the community. Further, by information, the board or committee journal as one of the biggest deals in engaging others in the inquiry analyzes that information as a group and my life.”20 process, youth philanthropy comes to consensus on the most California youth grantseeker provides a conduit for important areas in which to concentrate engaging others — youth and its grantmaking strategies. adults — in community improvement. The community assessment and priority Assessing and prioritizing community setting process is undertaken at the issues are essential to good grantmaking beginning of the project and at regular and to the ability to develop responsive intervals. This allows the grantmaking community projects. Involvement in a strategies to be assessed in light of new community assessment process also helps information about community assets and youth develop research and analytical needs, and as the youth and adults benefit 21 skills. Youth Leadership Institute , a San from their experiences in reviewing grant Francisco-based youth development and applications over time. youth philanthropy program provider and training organization, suggests ✮ ✮ ✮ using the following basic questions when considering the problems or needs of Proactive grantmaking in a community:22 Ann Arbor • What seems to be the issue or Concerned with the lack of organized problem? activities for teens in the area, the of the Ann Arbor Area • Who is most affected by the issue? Community Foundation helped fund a • How widespread is the issue or collaborative, community-wide needs problem? assessment. The Youth Council formed an 12 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity

Making Grants to Influence informal advisory awareness programs. Daily, it hosts up to Community Change group, which 70 teens after school, and more than 200 Encourage applications from throughout the included youth during weekend events. The 28 TIPS community by publishing and broadly representatives from teens on the Teen Advisory Council remain disseminating grant guidelines at public the police the heart and voice of the center and libraries, community centers, schools, youth- department, United the efforts to create and improve programs serving organizations, faith-based institutions, 24 youth events, media outlets and web sites; Way, Chamber of and resources. and making presentations at community Commerce, religious ✮ ✮ ✮ gatherings and orientation sessions for community, potential grantseekers. University of Putting goals into practice in Encourage other youth to take leadership in Michigan, Junior Indiana identifying community assets and addressing League, Hands-On community problems. One way to accomplish Museum, and When the Paul Ogle Foundation made a this is to give priority to youth-led projects that community $150,000 grant in 2001 to create and will involve many other youth. foundation staff. endow youth philanthropy councils in Analyze proposals to ascertain whether the The assessment Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties tasks and activities provide logical clearly indicated a through the Community Foundation of approaches to addressing the determined Southern Indiana, it did so to encourage need. need for a place where youth could young people to learn about philanthropic Analyze budgets to consider how funds will go for activities. The tradition and to involve them in a be used and whether the requested amount meaningful way in their communities. is appropriate given the scope of activity. Youth Council determined that the These fundamental youth development and Develop multiple ways of analyzing the next step was to youth-adult partnership goals have been project, such as conducting interviews or site carried out in all aspects of the youth visits. research how other communities funded councils’ grantmaking policies, priorities Evaluate how grants were used to make and organized teen and procedures. They are reflected in the community change through post-grant site centers or other programs’ common grant application form. visits and use the results to make adjustments They are incorporated into grant priorities, in grantmaking priorities ways to provide a central location for specifically those for projects that provide Periodically bring funded groups together to youth activities. opportunities for youth to give back to the discuss what they have learned and share community; that are designed and carried strategies for addressing common issues After discussions, surveys, public out by young people with meaningful adult meetings, and interaction; that bring together diverse volunteer work on the part of the Youth groups; and that promote marketable skills. Council, the long-awaited teen center Several of the criteria included in the opened its doors, fueled by broad proposal scoring sheet employed by the community support, a $25,000 Youth youth boards rate proposals according to Council challenge grant, and more than youth development principles, such as: $50,000 in . The youth • Does the project promote healthy center, now called the Neutral Zone, development of young people and continues to expand its innovative and provide youth a safe environment? vibrant teen-driven offerings and • Does the project provide opportunities programs. As of 2001, the Neutral Zone for young people to give back to the offered more than 20 programs and community in meaningful ways? resources, including mentoring, arts and • Does the project involve youth and writing classes, community service adults in project planning, grant projects, leadership opportunities, business writing, and implementation? and career programs, and race and cultural 13 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY I. Build Structure and Capacity

• Does the project bring together diverse people and organizations in proposal and project development? • Does the project develop skills in young people? • Does the project promote positive relationships between youth and adults?25 ✮ ✮ ✮

See the Resources section (page 35 of this report) for several excellent manuals, guides and websites that describe youth philanthropy models, program design, structures and activities. Also included are guides to proactive grantmaking and youth-initiated projects.

> Where does your organization stand? ExploreBuild Structure and Capacity further by reviewing program development questions on page 32. 14

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY II. Develop Youth-Adult Partnerships Successful youth philanthropy programs form partnerships between youth and adults in which young people have significant decision-making roles.

Best Practice: Engage youth as decision-makers Best Practice: Connect adults as partners

Youth-adult partnerships view people of capacity to make a “[Being a youth all ages as resources, based on the difference. By providing grantmaker] assumption that both young people and quality experiences for strengthened my adults bring intellect, unique experiences, youth, youth leadership skills, and perspectives to the table. Successful philanthropy enables introduced me to programs create a balance of power them to develop the grantmaking, between adults and youth, and allow them skills, knowledge, and educated me on to learn from each other and appreciate attitudes to meet their issues affecting what each brings to the partnership. own personal, teens in my academic, vocational, community and got and social goals. It me volunteering.”27 engages young people Michigan youth Best Practice: in the civic life of their grantmaker Engage youth as decision-makers communities, helping Involving youth in philanthropy means them to make important connections to making a conscious decision to engage their schools, community organizations, youth as decision-makers — including employers, and other supportive adults. decisions about grantmaking Youth philanthropy aims to engage “Our staff and trustees couldn’t have priorities, organizations to young people in the ‘real’ action of really imagined the full impact this fund, the appropriate amount community building with adults. This program would have on the larger of funding, and how to dynamic process fosters healthy organization, but we soon found out evaluate the results of the relationships across generations with that the young people weren’t funding. Such decision-making reciprocal commitments to share satisfied with a role only on the responsibility by young people information, experience and resources. The youth advisory committee. They provides them with the kinds of resulting networks establish a pervasive were interested in how the larger essential youth development sense of community membership, organization worked. Now we have opportunities and supports that community pride and trust between youth youth on the foundation board and are consistently shown to help and adults. the board committees, and have young people achieve mastery, Both adults and youth bring crucial 28 helped other organizations, such as compassion, and health. resources to the partnership. Those Junior Achievement and the local Youth philanthropy has the involved in youth philanthropy point out arts council, add youth members to potential to increase youth’s the enthusiasm, fresh outlook, risk-taking, their boards. It has made all of our knowledge of how the and determination that many young work better.”26 community works, deepen their people bring. As discussed in other parts of Michigan community foundation social skills, ignite their passion this publication, youth become committed program officer for giving, and cultivate their 15 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY II. Develop Youth-Adult Partnerships

“We developed new connections to bringing about significant change • Adults are energized and feel increased with adults because they have through their grantmaking; are often commitment to the organization. skills we don’t have. I think more effective fund raisers than • Adults feel more connected to the adults thought of things that we adults; become effective leaders in community. other community organizations; and never thought of and we had • Adults’ perceptions of youth are strong spokespeople on behalf of ideas that the adults never competency improve. thought. So, it was a nice youth and community issues on the • Adults improve their competency combination.”29 program, organizational, community working in partnership with youth. Building Community Together and national level. youth grantmaker Youth-adult partnerships require intentional preparation and comprehensive support. See the > Where does your organization stand? discussion about youth-adult partnerships ExploreDevelop Youth-Adult in Part IV: Build Skills and Knowledge. Partnershipsfurther by reviewing program development questions on page 32. Best Practice: Connect adults as partners Successful youth philanthropy programs Building decision-making engage adult partners who believe in the partnership between potential of youth. Adults provide valuable youth and adults Consider the following for building TIPS information and create opportunities for working partnerships between young people, while learning from youth and adults: “Youth take the responsibilities and alongside them. Adult partners consistently consider ways to Include sufficient time in training and seriously — that surprises adults. orientation to address how I was impressed with the position youth in active leadership partnerships work and continue thoughtfulness of the questions roles. Adults can open doors that these dialogues as part of asked when I attended their have been historically closed to supervision and coaching. meetings. I think an important young people, advocate on their Emphasize building an environment lesson is that youth can do that behalf, challenge them to succeed, where both youth and adults feel and maybe can do it better than and prepare them to interact as comfortable discussing difficult issues. we do because they don’t have equals with adults in a variety of the years of experiences and public settings. Find ways for youth to assume a biases that guide us.”30 Working in partnership with youth variety of leadership roles, e.g., facilitate meetings, review proposals, Building Community Together requires changes in attitudes and conduct training, make presentations, adult advisor behaviors on the part of many adults. and visit potential grantees. Adults may need to challenge their stereotypes about the capabilities of Involve youth and adults in reflection about how the youth and model leadership that is partnerships are working and make collaborative rather than authoritative. necessary changes. Adults benefit from the kind of shared decision-making inherent in quality youth Provide opportunities for youth and adults to examine their respective philanthropy programs. According to a roles within the group and organize recent study, which looked at youth their roles to take advantage of philanthropy, youth on boards, youth court, individual skills and knowledge. and other youth in decision-making models, Listen with an open mind to fresh positive outcomes for adults include:31 ideas and approaches. Use consensus-building to make important decisions. 16

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections Successful youth philanthropy programs open avenues for connections between youth and their peers, youth and adults, and youth and other community organizations. Best Practice: Involve youth from different cultures and backgrounds Best Practice: Expand and promote leadership roles for youth in the community Best Practice: Develop partnerships with community organizations

Youth philanthropy programs are by the setting recruitment goals and adopting nature of their work involved with recruitment strategies that reach a broad different community organizations. range of young people. Successful programs enlist their The youth interviewed for this report connections for many credit youth philanthropy with giving purposes — to recruit them the opportunity to interact with “My experience with YAC taught me the value a diverse group of people who may be different in some ways of diversity, something I have tried to young people to from themselves.33 integrate in all organizations I have since participate as However, having a diverse group does been a part of.”32 grantmakers and not ensure that diverse viewpoints will be Michigan youth advisory committee alumna grantseekers, to represented. Adults and youth will likely extend leadership need help in learning how to work in opportunities for diverse settings if they are to tap the rich youth to other organizations, to create potential diversity offers in terms of more partnerships that make the best use of informed decision-making and alternative community resources. Key to these ways of exploring issues and ideas. This activities are the connections between requires a willingness to engage in frank youth and their peers and youth and other conversation that examines assumptions caring adults in the community. and stereotypes. The skills needed to participate in such discussions and activities should be addressed as part of the ongoing training and coaching for Best Practice: youth and adults. Involve youth from different cultures Programs need to develop goals for and backgrounds involving diverse young people and Youth and adults involved in youth regularly review who is currently philanthropy programs are enriched by the involved in the program. The Center for opportunity to interact with people from a Youth as Resources34 recommends using broad range of backgrounds, perspectives existing demographic data from the local and cultures. And youth philanthropy chamber of commerce, city government programs are more sensitive and or United Way to help set goals for responsive to community issues when they participation of diverse individuals and involve a cross-section of the community. then compare the actual make-up of the Successful programs are intentional about group to determine whether the youth 17 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections

and adult participants reflect the Kalamazoo Youth United Way. Many of community as a whole. the youth advisory committees in Sometimes the logistics of a program Michigan have adopted this activity to unintentionally create barriers to determine where additional recruitment is participation. Meeting locations need to be needed. A few times each year, members of accessible by public transportation or the Youth Advisory Council take the time transportation should be arranged for youth to assess the program’s accomplishments, who need it. Meeting times need to consider revise strategies, and plan for the next year other youth commitments, such as part time of work. A regular topic on the agenda is jobs. For example, one youth philanthropy how to recruit new youth to participate. program that met during the school day This is especially important at the end of suffered from a very limited pool of the school year as current participants potential participants because in that school graduate or move on to other endeavors. only students in the honors program were To increase the likelihood that the group eligible to be excused from class to attend. will mirror the diversity in the community, the youth advisory council uses an exercise ✮ ✮ ✮ to help determine its recruitment goals for A commitment to diversity the program. First, a list is made of in Kalamazoo different groups or types of young people. This list might include: An illustration for being accountable for - high school seniors, juniors, sophomores recruitment goals comes from the and freshmen - middle school youth - honor roll students Recruiting Go beyond the traditional networks of school Youth principals and counselors to find interested - youth who are not in school Grantmakers youth. Talk with teachers and aides who - youth who attend public schools

TIPS and Grant work with youth from targeted groups Applicants - youth who attend private schools The methods youth Increase contact with other programs and - youth who have part time jobs agencies such as homeless shelters, after philanthropy - youth who are African-American programs employ to school youth agencies, religious recruit young people organizations, sports programs, and public - youth who are white housing projects — whether as - youth who are Latino/a grantmaking board Ask organizations in neighborhoods of the student council members members or as target population to announce the program - “jocks,” “nerds” or other types of applicants — greatly during youth activities or other meetings school cliques affect their success in attracting a diverse Hold a meeting at a community center to talk - youth involved in other extracurricular group of young youth-to-youth about the benefits of programs participation people. Consider the Then the current youth participants put following strategies Ask youth grantmakers or grantseekers to check marks by the categories in which for recruiting and revise materials to make them more they fit. After this is done, the students involving youth as interesting to target groups or to create grantmakers or different types of materials to appeal to talk about other characteristics or grantseekers: different audiences categories that they can think of (e.g., college-bound youth, youth in vocational Make calls or distribute fliers to faith-based groups, community development training) and add check marks if they fit organizations, community centers and into the additional groups. Once this housing projects exercise is completed, the youth examine Write articles for the local newspapers or the list to determine which groups are not produce public service announcements for radio stations popular with young people 18 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections

represented in the current group and community organizations, civic groups, develop strategies for reaching more and municipal policy boards, and within their different types of young people. schools. For example, ✮ ✮ ✮ • A number of youth who have been appointed to the Indiana Youth Commission for Service and Leadership are there as a result of Best Practice: their involvement in youth Expand and promote leadership roles philanthropy programs, such as for youth in the community Youth as Resources. Youth Youth philanthropy is an effective portal Commissioners are appointed by the to broader youth leadership opportunities Governor of Indiana to connect youth in the community. The skills youth learn as in each of 50 senate districts. Youth grantmakers and board members can Commissioners actively plan service easily extend to leadership in other civic projects on the state and local level as capacities with multiple well as serve as conduits of benefits — adding youth information to the governor on issues Expanding Opportunities voice more broadly in the for Youth Leadership facing young people. Youth and Visibility community; expanding commissioners began as reviewers of young people’s networks AmeriCorps grants but, as adults TIPS Participate in community meetings and sense of community; and planning bodies. Young people came to appreciate what youth could increasing the visibility of can speak at community forums, contribute, their role has broadened municipal meetings, and other venues youth as contributing to include fundraising, service, and to share their opinions and expertise. members of society; and legislative advocacy. Host organizations can look for providing youth additional • The Center for Youth As Resources opportunities to engage youth in their opportunities to hone their broader work (e.g., advisory (CYAR) includes young people and skills. Quality youth committees, community planning adults on its national board. “Being a process). philanthropy programs national board member,” a youth co- promote such opportunities. Provide training for other youth, chair explained, “is about using your Research indicates that educators, or community groups. experiences on the local level to help more than 70% of Youth can help others learn about build policy and procedures on the youth-adult partnerships, decision- nonprofits surveyed in Ann national level and to inform those at making, consensus building, Arbor, MI, felt that the fundraising or other skills they are the national level of problems that Youth Council’s using and learning as grantmakers. may be occurring at local sites.”36 grantmaking and leadership CYAR’s newsletter, Outlook, Create events or products that efforts helped them to see highlight youth leadership for the regularly publishes articles and new opportunities for media, such as press releases and columns written by young people. public service announcements. Youth involving youth in their can also meet with the editorial board own organizations.35 Adult • In Michigan, young people of a local newspaper and speak on allies can accelerate the participating on youth advisory radio talk shows or news programs. shift in community attitudes councils were advocating to join their Write articles for the host about youth by opening sponsoring organizations’ boards of organization’s or grantee doors to important trustees when they discovered that organizations’ newsletters and institutions and increasing state law prevented anyone under the websites. the visibility of youth age of 21 from serving on nonprofit Make presentations to their boards of as leaders. boards. Youth successfully lobbied directors on their grantmaking and its Youth grantmakers are for a change in state law to permit impact. assuming roles in board membership by youth as Review proposals for other youth- related grantmaking in the community. 19 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections

young as 16. Since then, many ✮ ✮ ✮ Michigan community foundations Promoting youth leadership have added young in Baltimore “I guess they’re shocked! It took them all people from their The Youth as Resources program at the that time to get where they are and here youth advisory Baltimore Community Foundation actively we are, just kids, and already making councils to their supports youth leadership opportunities in presentations to the Chamber. Presentations boards and other initiatives. With the growth of the that are real, important and from a committees. Some eight-year old YAR program, area youth perspective that they never thought of...”37 have hired youth as and adults have been exposed to youth-led Missouri youth grantmaker interns. The Council after speaking before the annual of Michigan philanthropy and community problem Chamber of Commerce banquet Foundations, a solving. As a result, outreach and statewide association leadership opportunities have increased of grantmakers and home to the and YAR youth board members are in Michigan Community Foundations’ great demand as proposal reviewers and to Youth Project, has also provided train both their peers and adults on how ongoing roles for young people who to successfully engage youth in community have served on youth councils. Many development. During 2001-2002, youth college-age youth council alumni board members facilitated 36 workshops have been hired by the Council to and seminars. In addition, YAR has been provide training and technical contracted by the Family League of assistance to other youth Baltimore to provide youth development philanthropy efforts around the state technical assistance in eleven after-school and nationally, and they are routinely program sites. For several years, YAR recommended to serve as youth have participated in the grant review representatives on state-level process for an out-of-school time grants commissions and panels. initiative and for a neighborhood small grants program. In 2002, YAR board Youth grantmaker participation in members helped review proposals for a other leadership settings offers benefits new academic enrichment and social back to the youth support initiative for middle philanthropy program. school youth and their families Young grantmakers become and will also provide youth knowledgeable about Youth development technical community resources, assistance for the initiative.38 including information philanthropy ✮ ✮ ✮ sources and potential grantmaking partners. is an When promoting effective expanded opportunities for Best Practice: youth leadership, advocates portal to Develop partnerships with should be mindful that new community organizations youth-adult partnerships broader youth Youth philanthropy require the same kinds programs are strengthened of support and training leadership when they establish working described in this report opportunities relationships with other to support youth community organizations. philanthropy. in the The multi-state Building community. 20 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections

Community Together39 (BCT) initiative associated with University of Wisconsin Extension begins its work in each community by developing local coalitions. BCT is finding that broad- based coalitions tap into the strengths of a variety of organizations and greatly Partnerships increase the likelihood of successful Partnerships — informal and formal — complement the strengths of implementation. These formal coalitions participating organization while addressing gaps in their skills, networks assure access to community resources, and knowledge. Here are examples of ways in which youth philanthropy TIPS facilitate community buy-in to the programs and community organizations are enhancing their day to day mission, and avoid turf issues.40 work through partnerships with local organizations: Obtain training for adults and youth. A youth services provider can ✮ ✮ ✮ help a grantmaking organization learn how to work with youth as decision-making partners. A foundation or regional association of Partnering with AmeriCorps grantmakers can provide training in grantmaking to a school-based A partnership between AmeriCorps and youth philanthropy program. Youth as Resources (YAR) programs, Secure grant administration and money management services. A through the Center for Youth as Resources, community foundation or bank’s trust department can assist a youth has extended the reach of some local YAR philanthropy program by managing its grantmaking funds. programs and has given AmeriCorps Recruit youth and adults to serve on the youth philanthropy board. members an opportunity to work in youth Partnerships between a host foundation and multiple youth-serving philanthropy programs. YAR has provided organizations increase access to a range of young people and AmeriCorps volunteers extensive experience adults who enjoy working with youth. with youth-adult partnerships, youth Attract grantseekers. Ongoing connections with schools, religious grantmaking, and youth-led service projects, institutions and nonprofits spread the word about the program to and has introduced new skills in leadership, potential grantseekers. The deeper the connections with the community, the more likely grants will be sought by a broader group organization and communication. In turn, of organizations. AmeriCorps volunteers, whose participation is supported with federal funding, have Develop access to funding sources, opinion leaders, and media outlets. A youth philanthropy program can utilize their partners’ provided valued support for local YAR networks to reach new audiences. program activities. Provide strategic partners for addressing grantmaking priorities. Other benefits of the AmeriCorps-YAR A youth philanthropy program that has identified low-cost partnership include: housing as a priority can work cooperatively with a community development corporation to develop grant strategies, reach out to • AmeriCorps members model the potential grant applicants, and provide service opportunities for service ethic to YAR program neighborhood youth. participants; Collect data about community needs. A youth philanthropy program • AmeriCorps and YAR together link can work with the local planning agency or United Way to identify community development and youth available information that can be used in community assessment. development in a unique way; Receive services and in-kind . A local business or • AmeriCorps’ collaboration attracts nonprofit might design logos or print a brochure for the youth notice and local funding streams to philanthropy program. build program sustainability; Promote youth leadership in partner organizations. When other organizations see firsthand the benefits of youth in leadership • Experience with YAR educates positions, they will be more likely to try it with additional support or AmeriCorps members in the training from the youth philanthropy program. 21 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY III. Create Connections

effectiveness of youth-adult partnerships and youth-led service.41 ✮ ✮ ✮ Connecting youth philanthropy and school-based initiatives Through a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and Youth as Resources, programs were established in nine District high schools to promote service learning.42 Each is managed by a board of directors composed of a minimum of 16 students and charged with distributing $4,000 in mini-grants to student-led, designed, and implemented service-learning projects from neighboring schools. Board members review grant proposals, interview applicants, award grants and monitor funded projects. The student-led service projects address a real school or community need through academic learning and through direct service or advocacy/organizing efforts. Students, working within their classroom, identify a need, issue or problem, define a strategy, and implement a service project. Students also engage in evaluation, reflection and celebration. Students participating on the grantmaking boards and in YAR-funded classroom initiated projects may use their experiences to meet the district’s mandatory service-learning requirements.43 ✮ ✮ ✮

> Where does your organization stand? ExploreCreate Connections further by reviewing program development questions on page 33. 22

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY IV. Develop Skills and Knowledge Successful youth philanthropy programs build the skills and knowledge of youth and adults to design, implement and manage the program.

Best Practice: Provide program training and ongoing support

training and when youth and adults serve as coaches for one another. Best Practice: Provide program training and ongoing Learning about philanthropy support and grantmaking Training for adults and youth is a critical Helping participants understand the factor in the success of youth philanthropy purpose and operation of philanthropy is programs. Training develops the an early priority. An orientation to knowledge, skills and confidence necessary philanthropy’s history and values, the for young people to assume grantmaking different types of philanthropic and leadership roles, for adults to support organizations, and the ethics of youth, and for adults and youth to share grantmaking helps participants recognize decision-making. Such preparation builds a their new leadership roles and foundation for active youth board responsibilities and appreciate our society’s members and adult volunteers philanthropy traditions. who are committed for the long “[Youth philanthropy] taught me how Training in grantmaking skills provides run. Further, skill-building, to write and carry out a proposal... analytical tools that participants can carry whether through formal to be more confident interacting with into other areas. Topics include training, ongoing coaching or people. And that when I have a goal understanding the grants process, experiential learning through I must work hard to achieve it.”44 researching community assets and needs, service on a grantmaking board, California youth grant applicant budget analysis, assessing work plans, is also fundamental to achieving presenting recommendations, evaluation, youth philanthropy’s youth and the interpersonal skills to work development goals. effectively with grantseekers. High-quality youth philanthropy programs prepare youth and adults for Learning how to seek grants their roles beginning at recruitment and Many youth philanthropy programs find continuing throughout their involvement in it beneficial to extend training the program. Youth and adults need to opportunities to those seeking grants. learn, at a minimum, the basics of Orientations and proposal writing grantmaking, an understanding of workshops for potential applicants community’s resources and needs, decision- improve the quality of proposals and making skills, techniques for working in increase the number of applicants. More groups, and the fundamentals of effective advanced training also teaches applicants youth-adult partnerships. Effectiveness is how to identify community issues and enhanced when youth share responsibility design, budget and manage projects to for designing, conducting and evaluating address them. Some youth philanthropy 23 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY IV. Develop Skills and Knowledge

programs train youth workers and Youth philanthropy programs greatly teachers in grantseeking skills, essentially benefit when they are linked to regional “training the trainers.” A few programs or national youth philanthropy networks. offer workbooks or other written tools These networks may provide conferences, describing a step-by-step process for youth networking opportunities, newsletters, grantseekers to follow. training, technical assistance, and other resources to effectively prepare youth Learning about board service and adults. and youth-adult partnerships For example, the Michigan Community For most participants — adults and Foundations’ Youth Project (MCFYP) youth — youth philanthropy presents provides access to materials and layers of their first experience working in a setting training and technical assistance to youth where young people and adults share philanthropy programs in Michigan. decision-making authority. Effective Trainers meet with trustees, staff and youth-adult partnerships require a volunteers at participating community conscious investment in training to foundations to explain the requirements develop working relationships and to for youth philanthropy programs. MCFYP combat the effects of negative stereotypes also holds annual meetings for adult about young people.45 advisors to promote information sharing Attention must also be given to the more and knowledge transfer as well as traditional aspects of board service. These leadership institutes for youth participants topics include understanding board to promote skill development and cross- responsibilities and procedures; group group networking. In addition, MCFYP process techniques such as consensus matches new adult advisors with more building; working with diverse groups and experienced advisors to serve as mentors active listening; making presentations, during their first year with the programs. facilitating discussions, Without adequate running meetings, preparation neither youth planning projects; and nor adults will be able to fund development and adequately implement or grant writing. Training develops manage youth the knowledge, skills philanthropy programs. Training Preparation begins as early resources and confidence as recruitment and a Youth philanthropy comprehensive approach programs can tap into necessary for includes training, many existing resources young people to mentoring, coaching, to prepare participants. practice, specific feedback Host organizations and assume grantmaking and consistent reflection partner community on performance and organizations can share and leadership roles, results. Preparation their expertise. Former remains a constant process youth members are for adults to as new learning invaluable in leading support youth, opportunities continue portions of training, with each new group and and existing members and for adults and set of grants. can act as coaches See the Resources and mentors. youth to share decision-making. section of this report for a 24 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY IV. Develop Skills and Knowledge

sampling of useful training resource for proposal process, review of proposals; organizations, curricula and other the role of site visits; youth leadership; and materials. Topics include youth-adult team building. Youth actively lead portions partnerships, youth on boards and in other of the orientation and continuing members leadership roles, philanthropy, are assigned as mentors to new members grantmaking, and grantseeking. to support them throughout the year. New members go through the most ✮ ✮ ✮ comprehensive preparation during the An investment in training year, while continuing members receive further preparation in youth leadership The Ewing Marion Kauffman and presentation, media, and networking Foundation conducts three tracks of skills. Retiring members get support in training for its Youth Advisory Board: one creating a personal vision statement and for new members, one for continuing assistance in deciding on future leadership members, and one for retiring members. activities such as serving on a board of All members attend a two-day orientation directors of a community-based retreat each year, which is the first organization.46 occasion that the 30-member board will ✮ ✮ ✮ come together for the year. The orientation includes background on the foundation’s history and operations; the vision, mission, values and beliefs of the foundation; > Where does your outcomes; youth development; the organization stand? ExploreDevelop Skills and concepts of giving back and philanthropy Knowledge further by reviewing versus ; the grantmaking process program development questions on including grantmaking strategies, request page 33. 25

BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability Successful youth philanthropy programs develop mechanisms and resources to increase program stability and longevity.

Best Practice: Develop sufficient and sustainable sources of funding Best Practice: Involve youth in fund development Best Practice: Assess program activities and outcomes on a regular basis Best Practice: Communicate program accomplishments

Sustainability is developed by creating gaining financial security for youth ongoing funding sources, evaluating philanthropy programs. Endowments are program effectiveness, and ensuring that permanent investments of money where the lessons learned are used both earnings or some portion of the earnings “In designing the Michigan Community to implement programs that are designated for specified priority areas, Foundations’ Youth Project, the have lasting benefit and to organizations or programs. They are influence other youth Kellogg Foundation wanted to make administered by community foundations, philanthropy and related sure that the community foundations financial services institutions, such as banks, efforts. It requires institutional in Michigan would have the skills and commitment to implement best or managed and invested directly by resources necessary for a long-term practices and a strong level of nonprofit organizations. In order to commitment to the youth support from community preserve the endowment, most endowed philanthropy programs. Our strategy members — youth, adults, and youth philanthropy programs place a limit had two key components: helping organizations — to maintain on the annual amount that can be used for establish endowed funds that would the quality and relevance of grantmaking and program expenses, support the programs in perpetuity, the program over time. typically an amount equal to four to six and enhancing the capacity of the percent of the endowment’s total value. statewide grantmakers’ organization Youth philanthropy endowments have to provide technical assistance and been created from different sources of training to local groups. With these Best Practice: funding, including challenge grants from in place, we were confident that the Develop sufficient and private foundations, matching federal sustainable sources of work would continue long beyond funds, and donations from individual funding the Foundation’s financial donors. The strategic use of “matching Reliable and sufficient support.”47 funds” has leveraged other funds and funding is an ongoing objective Joel Orosz, former Program Director, created community buy-in for many for most nonprofit Volunteerism and Philanthropy, W.K. programs. The most widespread effort to Kellogg Foundation, and Professor, organizations and institutions. date to establish sustainable youth Dorothy Johnson Center on Youth philanthropy programs Philanthropy, Grand Valley State philanthropy programs is the Michigan have been funded by public and University (MI) Community Foundations’ Youth Project. private sources via grants, During the late 1980s and 1990s, the individual gifts, and fundraising W.K. Kellogg Foundation offered challenge activities. Most funding sources are time- grants to create and expand community limited. The development of endowment foundations across the state. To qualify for funds has become the chief strategy for a Kellogg grant of up to $1 million dollars 26 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability

for a youth endowment fund, a community promote civil rights and diversity, and Blue foundation needed to raise up to $2 million Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation dollars for unrestricted or field of interest provided matching grants for youth endowment. Communities throughout advisory committees to support anti- Michigan found that donors responded to smoking campaigns for youth. both the idea of a permanent youth fund as well as a challenge grant that leveraged local ✮ ✮ ✮ giving. Today, the 86 Michigan community Incorporating youth philanthropy foundation-based permanent youth funds into larger initiatives have endowments ranging from $250,000 to The sustainability strategy for Youth as $2.5 million, which support youth Resources (YAR) programs operating in grantmaking and youth philanthropy central Minnesota is to utilize local program training and operations. resources, identify the gifts of local Another source of endowment funds are residents and encourage intergenerational individual donors, particularly those decision-making. More than five years ago, interested in connecting young people to the the Initiative Foundation developed the experience of philanthropy. The Freeborn Healthy Community Partnership (HCP) Fund for Youth Philanthropy was program — a multi-year training and established at the Fairfield County assistance project designed to help build Community Foundation by a resident of the capacity of local citizens to respond to Stamford, CT, to “help young people change in a positive and strategic fashion. understand philanthropy and build their The Initiative Foundation suggested the social conscience.”48 In addition to providing YAR model to its HCP partners as a a regular source of funding for grantmaking, proactive approach to meeting goals the placement of this endowment at a around youth development and youth community foundation created a partnership philanthropy. The Foundation, which whereby the program can focuses on 14 counties in the receive technical assistance middle of the state, provided from foundation staff to the early funding to establish support program nine YAR programs in operations. Young people’s partnership with area schools Youth philanthropy and youth-serving programs also have the eagerness organizations. The opportunity to increase to fundraise Foundation’s strategy to their grantmaking include YAR’s model for resources and extend demonstrates youth philanthropy into this their influence by larger partnership helped to collaborating with other youth support increase direct funding of the funders, participating in for youth programs and expand their larger initiatives and fund development strategies to dipping into public philanthropy and reach other foundations, local funding streams. In service organizations and Michigan, for example, gives funders individual donors. Impressed the state Department of a first-hand with the results from the Civil Rights provided initial YAR programs, the matching grants to youth look at youth Foundation secured additional philanthropy programs to support from other fund projects that competency and commitment. 27 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability

grantmakers, such as the Points of Lights YAR participants in several communities Foundation and the Bush Foundation, to around the state enlisted friends and fellow add to the YAR grant pools and to support students to donate one dollar during the training and technical assistance. drive. Thousands of young people According to Linda Kaufmann, Grants contributed and five community Specialist at the Initiative Foundation, the foundations matched the funds raised by YAR model continues to be adopted by the campaign. communities participating in the Healthy Communities Partnership program as well ✮ ✮ ✮ as by other foundation grantees because of A personal touch to asset its “fit” as an asset-based youth development development/youth service approach.49 "Kids are fearless," is how Cecilia ✮ ✮ ✮ Patterson, coordinator of the Arkansas Community Foundation’s statewide youth philanthropy initiative, sums up the fundraising success of the Youth Advisory Best Practice: Council (YAC) of the St. Francis County Involve youth in fund development Community Foundation (Forrest City, Youth philanthropy programs can AR). In 2002, as part of a statewide youth successfully channel youth enthusiasm, philanthropy initiative funded by the W.K. spontaneity and creativity into fund Kellogg Foundation, the YAC was eligible development. Youth participate in to receive a $10,000 matching grant if it fundraising in a variety of ways. They make could raise $10,000 for its grants program. presentations to business leaders and While others might have been deterred by foundation officials, write proposals, a perceived lack of resources in this organize events, and help raise matching Mississippi Delta county, the YAC funds. Funders and adult sponsors find that members believed there was an extended youth are often more persuasive at raising community of friends and relations who funds than adults. Youth speak from the would support them. YAC members heart about their cause, can explain first- embarked on a letter writing campaign, hand how grantmakers and grantees benefit, aimed at soliciting contributions from and by their very presence, make the case people who had moved out of the county for why such programs are in the best — family, former neighbors and friends. interest of the potential donor. Young Each YAC member committed to writing people’s eagerness to fundraise demonstrates at least five people. Their personal letters youth support for youth philanthropy and described the youth philanthropy program gives funders a first-hand look at youth and were accompanied by a photo of the competency and commitment. YAC members — each member identified Indiana Youth as Resources (YAR) by name. The appeal yielded 25 developed a National Philanthropy Day contributions totaling $4,300. Many Campaign Tool Kit for youth philanthropy donors enclosed notes expressing programs to use with their partners to admiration for their young acquaintances. build the endowments through youth-led, Encouraged, the young people sent a school-based campaigns. The Indiana second round of letters — 20 apiece — to Youth Philanthropy Initiative launched the people they know who live in the area. first “Dollar Drive - National Philanthropy Anticipating success, the YAC members Day Campaign” just prior to National gathered for an "envelope-opening party" Philanthropy Day in November 2001. 28 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability

and were not disappointed. To date, the in-county campaign has raised $7,000 from 82 donors — putting the YAC over Best Practice: Assess program activities and its $10,000 goal.50 outcomes on a regular basis ✮ ✮ ✮ Even as the field of youth philanthropy is still developing sophisticated ways to measure its long-term impact on youth, Evaluation organizations, and the community, At whichever level the evaluation is focused, the essential individual programs can benefit when they steps to conducting an evaluation are: document their processes and outcomes TIPS Identify objectives, outcomes and indicators of and evaluate whether they are meeting success. Objectives are what you plan to do, outcomes their goals. One of the purposes of this are what actually happened, and indicators help you measure the outcomes. For example, one program report is to help youth philanthropy objective may be to reach diverse groups of youth to programs articulate those goals. This participate as grantmakers. The program must first define section describes basic concepts of program "diverse groups." Does it intend to include youth from every evaluation, but is not intended to be a high school? Youth of different ages? Youth from different 51 ethnic or cultural groups? Youth who have different primer on how to conduct an evaluation. academic performance (i.e., not just the honor roll Evaluation activities benefit youth students)? A program will want to clearly define their hoped philanthropy programs and participants in for outcomens — what they hope will occur. In the several ways: example, a hoped for outcome might be increased awareness of sensitivity to diverse groups of youth in an • First, as self-assessment, collecting and area. Finally, programs will need to identify outcome analyzing program information help indicators. Indicators are data sources and measures that surface what is working and what is help programs know the extent to which their outcomes have been achieved. Long-term and community level not working in a program. This impacts can be documented by collaborating with other information is used to help program youth development efforts to document change. staff and participants make decisions Develop measurement tools. A wide range of qualitative on how to modify the program to and quantitative methods and tools can be used to better meet its goals. document and evaluate program success and challenges. • Second, evaluation results help to In the example above, the program may want to compare the characteristics of its youth participants to the larger make a case to funders, program youth population in the community. To do this, it may sponsors, and other decision-makers develop a matrix that can be used to collect information about the value of the program to its about youth participants (like that found in the Kalamazoo participants and the community. The example in section II. Create Connections) and compare results can confirm that the project’s that to school district or census data. This matrix can then be used to compare the changes in youth characteristics activities have been carried out and its from year to year and determine improvements in diversity objectives achieved. over time. • Third, evaluation can be used to Analyze the information collected. The program strengthen grantmaking strategies. participants and others should review the information Conducting community needs/asset collected to determine what has been learned, raise assessments, obtaining feedback from questions about the findings and generate ideas about using the findings to make program improvements. grantees and having systems and tools in place to evaluate program outcomes Share findings. The program should prepare a written and grantmaking all serve to report on the evaluation findings to share with participants, funders, potential supporters, and other constituents. The strengthen grantmaking and other program may want to distribute the report to other youth leadership strategies. philanthropy programs and youth-serving organizations, • Fourth, the lessons learned from schools, local media outlets, and grantmaking groups (e.g., regional associations of grantmakers, Council on evaluation can help others strengthen Foundation affinity groups, Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth). 29 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability

their programs or influence them to design, implementation and interpretation. start youth philanthropy programs.52 Youth can help design survey questions, administer surveys, and review the data. Evaluation is essentially a way for Their involvement in the evaluation programs to compare their goals to actual should be designed to provide an avenue outcomes. Successful evaluations are clear for building their skills and knowledge about what they hope to find out, have through active learning and reflection. defined and measurable outcomes, and The evaluation conducted in 1999-2000 routinely include feedback and by the Ann Arbor Area Community participation by major stakeholders, Foundation Youth Council illustrates a especially youth. combined approach to evaluation and In planning an evaluation, youth assessment. The study’s purpose was to philanthropy programs should consider measure the ten-year old program’s successes how best to assess whether program goals and identify areas where there’s room for have been met; what information is improvement. The evaluation was conducted currently available and what additional by Formative Evaluation Research Associates information will have to be collected; and (FERA), the evaluation partner for the endeavor to minimize the burden on staff, Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth participants and others being asked to Project (MCFYP), and engaged youth and participate in evaluation activities. The adults in the study’s design, implementation evaluation can be designed to assess the and interpretation. The study examined the outcomes for individuals, at the program council’s impact on current and past level, the organization, and the members, on youth involvement in other community. It may seek answers to such organizations, and on the community. The questions as: techniques used in the study included surveys • Individuals: To what extent did the of past and present Youth Council members participants increase their skills and and grantees; interviews; and analysis of knowledge? grant history data. An important part of the process was a session during which the • Program: To what degree did the study’s youth-adult steering committee program meet its goals in such areas interpreted the findings and developed as recruiting a diverse group of recommendations for improvement.53 participants and making grants? In its larger-scale evaluation for MCFYP, • Organization: How effectively did FERA assessed performance and evaluated the organization develop the necessary program operations for youth philanthropy structures to effectively implement sites from 1991-97. Throughout the the program? evaluation, FERA provided feedback to • Community: To what extent did the project staff for purposes of program program’s activities result in changes improvement, documented project in the availability of community outcomes, and worked with project resources? stakeholders to interpret data and identify Local universities or research lessons learned. An evaluation report, which organizations can lend evaluation has become a tool for increasing knowledge expertise and guidance, provide training around the country about how youth and even manage the evaluation. Whoever philanthropy works, describes the challenges is responsible for managing the and lessons learned within the youth evaluation, programs benefit when youth advisory councils, changes in community and adult participants are involved in and statewide funding, and changes in how 30 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY V. Plan for Sustainability

nonprofit organizations involve youth. Youth philanthropy programs employ a Evaluation findings have had value beyond variety of communication strategies aimed guiding ongoing improvement of program at reaching targeted audiences. Tapping operations. The findings have been used to into its partnerships and connections in the design training and conference sessions and community can greatly enhance a included by local programs in their requests program’s ability to reach the media, for funding. FERA is also conducting a policymakers, and other stakeholders. longitudinal study of 250 youth Young people often make the most Communicating grantmakers over thirteen years effective spokespeople if adequately program results (1993-2006) to determine the trained on how to make presentations and Prepare an annual report on impact the experience has on them to write articles for publication. TIPS grantmaking that describes the in their college, university and Communication efforts not only have different projects supported in the work environments.54 the potential to benefit youth philanthropy year and highlights one or two of these to demonstrate the change In 1999, Youth as Resources of programs directly, they increase the that resulted. Central Indiana used a technique community’s awareness of young people’s called “stakeholder assessment,” positive contributions to society. Create a brochure about accomplishments that can serve developed by Rutgers University multiple purposes such as helping professor Jon Van Til, which ✮ ✮ ✮ to recruit youth for the program, focused on program development, Sharing lessons learned encouraging organizations to apply structure, and process. Using for funds, and informing current from Michigan and potential funders. material from program files, such as proposals, evaluation reports, As a statewide investment in youth Make presentations to local and board minutes, and focus philanthropy, the Michigan Community gatherings of youth workers and groups with board, staff, youth Foundations’ Youth Project has offered an educators, offer training to uncommon opportunity to build youth interested organizations, and share participants, parents, adult materials or curricula to other local leaders, grantees, and philanthropy at scale and learn from that youth-serving organizations organizational supporters, each experience. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, youth grantmakers Issue press releases or hold press issue was analyzed in its historical conferences to announce program context, its present context, and from community foundation youth advisory grants. A program may be able to its likely future course. committees in Michigan have presented at make its grant announcements at Recommendations were made regional and national conferences, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Council on Foundations, Grantmakers Rotary Club meetings, or perhaps regarding issues and challenges for Children, Youth and Families, and the at a local community center. facing the organization, aimed at assuring its continuing service to 1999 White House Conference on Write editorials and produce public the Central Indiana community. Philanthropy. As a result, community service announcements for local foundations from Washington, D.C., to media outlets such as TV (including local news stations and Vancouver, British Columbia, have public television), radio stations, initiated youth philanthropy programs in and newspapers. Best Practice: their communities. Post information to list serves or Communicate program ✮ ✮ ✮ web sites connected to youth- accomplishments serving groups or other related Youth philanthropy programs organizations such as youth that communicate their advocacy groups and youth > Where does your leadership programs. One place to accomplishments and organization stand? start is with the organizations listed assessment findings can increase ExplorePlan for Sustainability in the appendices to this their local visibility and further by reviewing program development document. contribute to the field’s questions on page 34. Develop a mailing list of influential knowledge about what works. people and send them information about the program on a regular basis. 31 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

Summary

Youth philanthropy is an exciting community-building opportunity. We hope the ideas, best practices and stories included in this report have helped readers recognize what’s “best” in their own programs and provoked thinking that will help as young people and adults begin or refine youth philanthropy work.

Youth philanthropy holds the promise of young people working in partnership with adults to lead and support change. By following the practices outlined in this report, youth philanthropy efforts can implement high-quality youth development programs AND engage youth and adults in ways that yield positive outcomes for their organizations and communities to make a sustainable difference. 32 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Program Development Questions The following questions are offered as a tool to stimulate thinking and discussion around program planning for new and existing youth philanthropy programs.

I.Build Structure and Capacity II.Develop Youth-Adult Partnerships Successful youth philanthropy programs are supported Successful youth philanthropy programs form by organizations and structures that have the capacity partnerships between youth and adults in which young to effectively engage young people in leadership and people have significant decision-making roles. grantmaking.

1. How does a youth philanthropy program fit with 1. Can youth in decision-making roles fit the mission and goals of our organization? Are we comfortably with the organization’s mission and knowledgeable about and committed to youth culture? development? 2. Who makes final decisions (youth, youth and 2. What skills and capacities does our organization adults, adults) on different parts of the process already have to support a youth philanthropy (recruitment, criteria for grants, review process, program? prioritizing issues, awarding grants, assessment of 3. What attitudes, policies and practices need to be results)? reconsidered to help us become a youth-friendly 3. What skills and knowledge do the adults bring to organization? Is the organization open to this kind working with youth as partners? What skills and of change? knowledge do youth have in these types of 4. What kinds of opportunities exist in our partnerships? organization to expand youth leadership and 4. How can youth-adult partnerships be incorporated decision-making opportunities beyond the youth into program recruitment, design, implementation philanthropy program? and evaluation? 5. How will trustees or the board of directors of the 5. What are we doing in an ongoing way to support organization be connected with the youth in the effective youth-adult partnerships? program? 6. Have we reviewed various youth philanthropy models, manuals and tool kits and conducted other research needed to start a youth philanthropy program? How should youth be engaged in researching and selecting youth philanthropy models and resources? What should our decision-making process be for selecting program structures, strategies and activities? 7. How can young people participate in selecting youth philanthropy staff? 8. What process will we use to prioritize community issues? 9. How will youth determine community assets and needs, including identifying and accessing existing information? 10. Do our grant priorities and guidelines reflect the program’s overall goals for young people and the community? 33 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Program Development Questions

III. Create Connections IV. Develop Skills and Knowledge Successful youth philanthropy programs open avenues Successful youth philanthropy programs build the skills for connections between youth and their peers, youth and knowledge of youth and adults to design, and adults, and youth and other community implement and manage the program. organizations.

1. What are our program’s goals for including diverse 1. What are our training needs? Who needs trained youth? and in what skill and content areas? 2. Are we successfully recruiting members from 2. Who can provide this training for us? Do we have different parts of the city, different ethnic groups, the expertise internally? Which among our partner and different income groups? What contacts do we organizations can help us with training? What have or can we develop to help us recruit a diverse about national resources? group of young people? 3. How have training and ongoing support for youth 3. What is the process for monitoring the success of and adults been built in as an integral part of our implementation of goals set for including a broad youth philanthropy program? variety of youth? 4. How does this training and support extend to 4. What efforts have been initiated to help youth take youth and adults in funded projects or who are on leadership roles in the community? potential grantees? 5. How are adults outside of the youth philanthropy 5. How can youth take a leadership role in training program prepared to work with youth as decision- and preparing other youth and adults? makers and leaders? 6. What mechanisms can we use to ensure that all 6. How does our organization connect the youth new participants gain an understanding of philanthropy being program to other organizations philanthropy? in the community? 7. What opportunities for deeper analysis and 7. What organizations are important to connect with reflection are provided to participants over the life and for what purposes? of their participation? 8. What strategies do we have in place to recognize 8. What ongoing supervision and support are youth for their contributions? provided for participants during the program? 34 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Program Development Questions

V. Plan For Sustainability Successful youth philanthropy programs develop mechanisms and resources to increase program stability and longevity.

1. What are our current sources of support for the 9. Based on the goals of our program, what changes program? Do these include both short term do we hope to accomplish for: youth who funding and long term funding (e.g., endowment, participate in the grantmaking process; youth who renewable grant) and a mix of sources (e.g., local receive grants; our organization; the organizations grants, contributions from individuals, events, that receive grants? public funds)? 10. How will we ensure that youth are active 2. What are the fund development strategies for the participants in all facets of the evaluation process? program? Can current funding be used to create an 11. What institutions or individuals in the community endowment or as a match for funding from other are available to help us design and carry out foundations or public funding streams (e.g., assessment and evaluation? Corporation for National Service, Office of 12. What activities are planned to raise the visibility of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)? our program in our organization and in related 3. How will young people be involved in raising institutions? funds that can support the program? What roles 13. What have we learned from the program that will should youth have in making presentations to be useful to other organizations and institutions in potential donors? our community? Who are the most likely 4. How will we identify potential donors and funding audiences for this information, e.g., funders, sources? youth, parents, elected officials and other 5. Should youth participants be expected to policymakers? contribute some of their own money to the grant 14. What mechanisms are best to reach these different pool? audiences? What existing communication vehicles 6. How can we ensure the long-term existence of the can we use? program within our organization? For example, if 15. How can we utilize our youth and adult there were a change in leadership or staffing, how participants, trustees or staff of the sponsoring would the youth philanthropy program survive? organizations, or other partners to speak on our 7. Who are the champions for our program and how behalf? can they use their connections and influence in the larger community to generate long-term support for the program? 8. What questions will need to be answered to ascertain whether the program has met its goals or not? What resources (human and financial) will it take to find out what we need to know? 35 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy This section includes valuable resources available to assist youth philanthropy program development. Included are references to reports, toolkits and curricula as well as descriptions of several of the major youth philanthropy initiatives. These descriptions were provided by the organizations or taken directly from existing written materials. For further information, please contact the organization or its web site.

Building Community Together Tool Kit Kevin Armshaw and Susan C. Gould A. Publications 431 Lowell Hall 610 Langdon Street All This in Just One Decade: The Ann Arbor Area University of Wisconsin-Madison Community Foundation Youth Council 1989-1999 Madison, WI 53703 Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation 608-265-0529 201 South Main Street, Suite 801 The University of Wisconsin Extension’s multi-state Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 Building Community Together (BCT) initiative has (713) 663-0401 created this resource compendium as a start-up kit for www.aaacf.org the BCT model of youth philanthropy. The first A lively summary of an evaluation of the Youth section of the tool kit provides an overall description Council’s impact, based on surveys and interviews of of the initiative, introduces program components and current and former members, grantees and community the grantmaking process, and provides suggestions leaders conducted by the Youth Council to mark its regarding individual roles and responsibilities. tenth anniversary. The brochure describes the impact Section two contains specifically designed workbooks the Youth Council has had in the areas of youth that reinforce understanding of the roles and grantmaking, youth leadership and youth involvement responsibilities that are necessary to be successful in within the community. the grant making process. Finally, the resource section of the tool kit is a comprehensive compilation of At the Table: Youth Voices in Decision Making many well-tested ideas and strategies from Discussion Guide organizations and initiatives that are dedicated to Innovation Center for Community and Youth community service, positive community youth Development development and the promotion of successful youth- 7100 Connecticut Avenue adult partnerships. The tool kit is not so much a Chevy Chase, MD 20815 “how to” manual as it is a collection of tools and Phone (301) 961-2837 blueprints so that local communities can tailor youth [email protected] philanthropy to fit their specific circumstances and www.theinnovationcenter.org needs. The tool kit is available upon request for a This guide offers “food for thought” to stimulate small fee to cover production and shipping. The tool discussions among young people and adults about the kit is slated to be placed on the web in conjunction benefits and challenges associated with young people with the philanthropic fundraising curriculum in sharing decision-making with adults. The guide can development in partnership with South Dakota State be used with a two-part video of the same name. At University in early 2003. the Table was jointly produced by the Center for Youth as Resources, Community Partnerships with Changing the Face of Giving: Youth, Inc., the Innovation Center (then a division of An Assessment of Youth Philanthropy National 4-H Council), Youth Leadership Institute, Youth Leadership Institute and Youth on Board. The Irvine Foundation One Market, Steuart Tower, Suite 2500 San Francisco, CA 94105 36 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy

(415) 777-2244 One South Harbor Avenue, Suite 3 www.irvine.org P.O. Box 599 This study, commissioned by the Irvine Foundation Grand Haven, MI 49417 and prepared by the Youth Leadership Institute, (616) 842-7080 examines youth philanthropy as it is now being www.mcfyp.org practiced and recommends future directions. The guide This comprehensive, 57-page report presents is written specifically for foundations, program evaluation findings (1991-1997) from the Michigan designers, youth development practitioners, Community Foundations’ Youth Project. Written for policymakers, and other public or private parties lay audiences, it describes and illustrates all facets of interested in supporting youth philanthropy or the Michigan youth philanthropy model, documents involving youth as philanthropic partners. It discusses outcomes, and interprets data to identify lessons the challenge of involving youth directly in learned. Topics include: Youth Advisory Committees; grantmaking decisions, how youth members are Youth Making a Difference; Changing How Non- recruited, how grant-seekers are contacted, how needs Profits Involve Youth; The Effects of a Youth Advisory are assessed, and how grant decisions are made. This Councils on Youth; and Recommendations to Funders. publication is available both in print and electronically This document can be viewed on line. from www.irvine.org. Learning to Give Developing Communities in Partnership with Youth: Dr. Kathryn A. Agard A Manual for Starting and Maintaining Youth as 630 Harvey Street Resources Programs Muskegon, MI 49442 Center for Youth as Resources (231) 767-8600 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1204 www.learningtogive.org Washington, DC 20036 Frustrated by the lack of curriculum to inspire youth (202) 261-4131 to volunteer, the Council of Michigan Foundations www.yar.org teamed up with more than 45 teachers across the state This manual is a practical, user-friendly guide for to develop lessons for children about philanthropy. The current and potential Youth as Resources (YAR) Learning to Give Project offers lessons for all grades program managers and other community-based, and has been field-tested in multiple sites. (This project youth-adult partnership programs interested in was formerly called the K-12 Education in applying parts of the YAR model to their programs. Philanthropy Project.) Sections include: Starting a YAR Program; Learning to Give seeks to perpetuate a civil society Fundraising for YAR; Getting the Community Ready; by educating children about the independent sector Developing an Effective Board; Project and Program (knowledge); developing behavior and philanthropic Development; Connections to the Community; experience (skills); and stimulating private voluntary Certification Process; and resources available from citizen action for the common good (behavior). the Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR). Materials appropriate for classroom use are available Examples and sample forms are included to provide from the web site. a place to begin for those who are just starting a program. Planning for Action: A Youth Initiated Projects Manual Youth Leadership Institute Empowering Youth: Lessons Learned from the 246 First Street, Suite 400 Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project San Francisco, CA 94105 1991-1997 (415) 836-9160 Karin E. Tice, Ph.D., Formative Evaluation Research [email protected] Associates www.yli.org Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project The purpose of this workbook is to support youth Council of Michigan Foundations in planning and developing youth-led project 37 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy

proposals and to ground their efforts in a (415) 836-9160 community development and community-organizing (415) 836-0071 (fax) framework. The guide provides activities to lead [email protected] youth through key components of a grantseeker’s www.yli.org steps to success: working as a group; choosing a This guide provides step-by-step procedures for project; developing a plan; applying for grants; outreach. It focuses on approaches designed to implementing projects; and the role of adults. The include those groups (grantseekers) not normally resource provides tools for adults to support youth reached through mainstream vehicles, such as: youth as leaders and project developers. from communities or organizations that do not have a significant presence in the youth services field; Proactive Grantmaking: YACs in Action youth in isolated and/or tough neighborhoods; youth Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project living in public housing; and youth with disabilities. Council of Michigan Foundations This manual is under development and is expected to One South Harbor Avenue, Suite 3 be available for national distribution the end of P.O. Box 599 summer 2002. Grand Haven, MI 49417 (616) 842-7080 Student Service and Philanthropy Project www.mcfyp.org A Resource Guide for Establishing a Student-Run This training document helps youth grantmakers and Foundation their adult allies understand the purposes, Linda M. Frank, Executive Director characteristics, elements and benefits of proactive Student Service and Philanthropy Project grantmaking. It walks users through the proactive 310 West End Avenue grantmaking process and offers, tips, discussion New York, NY 10023 questions, and a glossary of related topics. It is (212) 877-1775 available online at www.mcfyp.org Published by the Surdna Foundation, this activity guide was written for the teacher acting in the School Reform Partnerships Project capacity of a coach, helping students run their Workbook for Student Grantseekers foundation. Activities are divided in units including: Youth Leadership Institute Setting up a Foundation; Creating Projects; and 246 First Street, Suite 400 Leadership and Reflection. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 836-9160 Youth as Philanthropists [email protected] Developing Habits of Giving and Serving www.yli.org Community Partnerships with Youth, Inc. The workbook was written to help students 550 East Jefferson, Suite 306 understand what school reform is and what student-led Franklin, IN 46131 groups are doing to reform their schools, and to assist (317) 736-7947 students in designing projects and preparing proposals www.cpyinc.org as part of the School Reform Partnerships Project This training manual was developed to assist young (SRPP). The School Reform Partnerships Project was people in understanding what constitutes philanthropy. developed to increase youth voice and action in their It consists of four sections: What in the World is schools. This workbook is expected to be available for Philanthropy? The History of Philanthropy; Developing distribution by summer 2002. Habits of Giving and Serving; and Taking Philanthropic Action. The curriculum includes sections that define Staff Outreach Manual: Youth Initiated Projects philanthropy, look at the history of philanthropy in the Youth Leadership Institute United States, and help youth explore their values and 246 First Street, Suite 400 how values impact grantmaking. San Francisco, CA 94105 38 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy

Youth As Trustees: A Trusteeship Curriculum youth/adult partnerships that impact local communities Anne Hoover, et al through service projects that address important issues Community Partnerships with Youth, Inc. and build community pride. Embracing the principles 550 East Jefferson, Suite 306 of community youth development, BCT promotes Franklin, IN 46131 youth leadership and youth/adult partnerships as (317) 736-7947 integral expressions of community decision-making. www.cpyinc.org The intention is to build community pride, enhance This curriculum focuses on helping youth adult/youth relationships and foster the development of understand trusteeship, the action involved, and the future community leaders. Specifically, BCT utilizes the commitment needed. Its purpose is to empower youth formation of a Community Advisory Board, a Youth to serve as trustees and to demonstrate this belief Board, and a Fiscal Agent to demonstrate the power of through community service. The curriculum covers: healthy youth/adult partnerships to impact local instilling a lifelong commitment to service; board communities through service initiatives that build member skills; and developing a personal plan for community pride and enhance social capital. community involvement. An instructor’s guide accompanies the curriculum. Common Cents New York Teddy Gross, Executive Director 104 West 88th Street NY 10024 B. Major Youth Philanthropy 212-579-0579 Initiatives and Resource www.commoncents.org. Organizations Common Cents New York was founded in 1991 to create opportunities for young people to develop and Alternatives, Inc. express their need to contribute to their Kathy Johnson, Executive Director communities. Students work with teachers at all 2013 Cunningham Drive, Suite 104 grade levels creating real-world, student-centered Hampton, VA 23666 projects that contribute to the well-being of others, (757) 838-2330 promote learning and growth, and enhance the status www.altinc.org of youth in society. Common Sense has three Alternatives, Inc. is a source of information, training signature programs: The Penny Harvest, and technical assistance on successful youth-adult Philanthropy Roundtables, and Community Action partnerships and youth leadership as well as other Projects. The listed materials provide additional areas of youth development. It is best known as the information about the design and implementation of organization that has supported the high level of youth these programs. involvement in government, schools and The Common Cents Penny Harvest Handbook: neighborhoods in Hampton, VA, a national model for How to Meet and Best the 25 Sack Challenge youth civic engagement. The 2001 Roundtable Handbook Common Cents 2000 Grants Report Building Community Together (BCT) The Penny Express newsletter Kevin Armshaw, Project Coordinator 431 Lowell Hall Community Partnerships with Youth, Inc. 610 Langdon Street Janet Wakefield, Co-director University of Wisconsin - Extension 550 East Jefferson, Suite 306 Madison, WI 53706 Franklin, IN 46131 (608) 265-0529 (317) 736-7947 Building Community Together (BCT) is a multi-state www.cpyinc.org youth philanthropy initiative of the University of Community Partnerships with Youth, Inc. (CPY) Wisconsin Extension promoting youth leadership and is a national training and resource development 39 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy

organization dedicated to promoting active Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project citizenship through youth-adult partnerships. It was (MCFYP) an important partner in the development of youth Council of Michigan Foundations philanthropy in Indiana. It offers tools and curricula Robert Collier, President and CEO to train youth in areas such as youth as One South Harbor Avenue, Suite 3 philanthropists and youth as community trustees. Grand Haven, Michigan 49417 Among CPY’s materials are a curriculum on (616) 842-7080 philanthropy for middle and high school youth; The [email protected] Word for Me is Philanthropy, designed to be www.mcfyp.org presented by high school age youth for the seven to The Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth eleven year olds; and a children’s book entitled What Project (MCFYP), funded by the W.K. Kellogg If Everybody Gave? Foundation and operated by the Council of Michigan Foundations, is a statewide program to build Formative Evaluation Research Associates community foundation capacity, to establish youth as Karin Tice, Partner philanthropists, and to build permanent and growing 1810 Cooley Avenue funds within each community to meet local youth Ann Arbor, MI 48103 needs. MCFYP was created in the late 1980s and (734) 994-9060 1990s, when the W.K. Kellogg Foundation offered www.feraonline.com challenge grants to create and expand community Formative Evaluation Research Associates (FERA) foundations across the state. To qualify for a Kellogg is the assessment and evaluation provider for the grant of up to $1 million dollars for a youth Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project. endowment fund, a community foundation needed to A description of the MCFYP evaluation project along raise up to $2 million dollars for unrestricted or field with general information about evaluation benefits, of interest endowment. Communities throughout types and processes are available at FERA’s website. Michigan found that donors responded to both the idea of a permanent youth fund as well as a challenge Innovation Center for Community grant that leveraged local giving. Today, the 86 and Youth Development Michigan community foundation-based permanent Wendy Wheeler, President youth funds have endowments ranging from $250,000 7100 Connecticut Avenue to $2.5 million. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 MCFYP’s website provides a wealth of information (301) 961-2837 for youth philanthropy program designers and [email protected] participants, including a resource manual with sample www.theinnovationcenter.org forms for operating a youth grantmaking committee. The Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development offers training, consultation and Youth as Resources materials on a broad array of youth and community The Center for Youth as Resources National Office development topics, including youth governance and George Rice, Executive Director involvement, youth-adult partnerships, community 1000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1204 assessments, action planning, and evaluation. Tool kits, Washington, DC 20036 curricula, reports, videos and other publications are (202) 261-4131 available through the website. Formerly a division of www.cyar.org the National 4-H Council, the Innovation Center is The concept of Youth as Resources (YAR) — that now an independent organization that operates as a every youth is a valuable community resource and project of the Tides Center. should be recognized as such - and the youth development program model reflecting this philosophy were developed by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) in 1986/87 and the first YAR 40 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Selected Resources on Youth Philanthropy

programs tested in three Indiana communities, with the Projects in San Francisco in 1997. YLI now supports support of the Lilly Endowment Inc. Within a few six youth philanthropy groups in the Bay Area and is years, the YAR model spread beyond Indiana’s borders. working with local partners to establish several new In 1995, NCPC established the Center for Youth as programs in southern and northern California. YLI’s Resources (CYAR) to promote the YAR philosophy models seek to change the face of philanthropy by and program. Today YAR programs are active in 86 attracting, training, and supporting traditionally communities in 23 states; a local YAR program also is marginalized youth to serve as grantmakers. thriving in New Zealand. Supporters of local YAR programs include national, community, and private Youth on Board foundations, businesses, and others who have enabled Karen S. Young, Co-director more than 300,000 young people to serve on grant 58 Day Street, 3rd floor making boards and/or design and conduct volunteer P.O. Box 440322 projects benefiting hundreds of thousands of people. Somerville, MA 02144 The Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR) serves (617) 623-9900 x1242 as the national umbrella organization for Youth as [email protected] Resources (YAR), and, as such, promotes the YAR Youth on Board provides workshops, training, philosophy and program. Community-based YAR consultation, and publications to help young people and programs, which are locally funded, are governed by adults share decision-making authority and build boards composed of youth and adults and provide relationships based on mutual respect. Topics include grants for youth-initiated, youth-led community roles and responsibilities of board members, legal issues, projects. Through instructional materials, technical philanthropy, nonprofit organizational development, assistance and training conducted by experienced recruitment, and effective youth-adult partnerships. youth and adults, CYAR helps local YAR programs start, develop and expand. The national CYAR board of directors is composed of youth and adults who work with staff to promote the philosophy that youth are valuable community resources, and to advocate youth involvement in local, state, and national policy arenas.

Youth Leadership Institute Matt Rosen, Director of Youth Philanthropy 246 First Street, Suite 400 San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 836-9160 [email protected] www.yli.org Youth Leadership Institute is community-based organization that joins with young people to build communities that respect, honor and support youth. YLI is available to assist nonprofit organizations, foundations, and public institutions establish youth philanthropy programs and develop related curricula. In 1987, YLI began playing a training and capacity- building role for the Marin County Youth Commission’s Youth Grants Board. In 1991, YLI assumed programmatic control for the board. Expanding this effort, YLI founded Youth Initiated 41 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

Notes

1 Rosaria “Chayo” Long-Mendez, member of the Battle philanthropy programs as a generic term that Creek Community Foundation Youth Alliance Committee, encompasses programs, projects, and initiatives as well quoted in The White House Conference on Philanthropy, as a way that an organization operates to include October 22, 1999, p. 13. young people in its grantmaking activities. 2 Youth Leadership Institute, Changing the Face of Giving: 13 Youth Grantmakers National Data Base. An Assessment of Youth Philanthropy (The James Irvine 14 Especially in smaller communities, the role of grantmaker Foundation, 2001). is sometimes interchangeable with grantseeker, since 3 Youth Grantmakers National Data Base, Michigan many funded projects involve members of the program’s Community Foundations’ Youth Project website, governing board. Where the groups are not distinct, www.mcfyp.org. programs need to adopt policies to avoid conflicts of interest. For example, youth may abstain from voting on 4 Adam Kendall, “Beyond Youth Development,” projects in which they are involved, although they may Community Partnerships with Youth be allowed to present facts about the project as part of News, Spring 2000, p. 1. the grant review process. 5 Youth grantee, Youth Initiated Projects, Youth Leadership 15 Tice, Empowering Youth. Institute, unpublished survey responses. 16 Shepherd Zeldin, et al., Youth In Decision-Making, 6 Neal Peirce, “Kids Know Best What Other Kids Need,” A Study on the Impacts of Youth on Adults and Sunday Gazette (Schenectady, NY), 29 August 1999. Organizations (Chevy Chase, MD: Innovation Center 7 Many excellent resources are available about youth for Community and Youth Development, National 4-H development and community youth development. Council, 2000). Sources include the Academy for Educational 17 Barbara Oates, program director, Vancouver Foundation, Development/Center for Youth Development and quoted in Changing the Face of Giving, p. 10. Policy Research (www.aed.org), CYD Journal (www.cydjournal.org), Forum from Youth Investment 18 Lynn Leonard, senior program officer, Ewing Marion (www.forumforyouthinvestment.org), John W. Gardner Kauffman Foundation, interview and personal Center for Youth and Their Communities communication, April 2001 and June 2002. (gardnercenter.stanford.edu), Innovation Center for 19 Youth board member, Youth Initiated Projects, Youth Youth Development (www.theinnovationcenter.org), Leadership Institute, unpublished survey responses. Search Institute (www.searchinstitute.org), and Youth Development Institute of the Fund for the City of 20 Youth leader, Literacy for Environmental Justice, as New York (www.cfny.org). quoted in the organization’s newsletter, 2000. 8 Youth Development Institute, Fund for the City of New 21Learn more about the Youth Leadership Institute in the York website, www.fcny.org. Resources section of this report. 9 Learn more about the Michigan Community Foundations’ 22 Youth Leadership Institute, Planning for Action: A Youth Youth Project in the Resources section of this report. Initiated Projects Manual (San Francisco: Youth Leader- ship Institute, 2001). 10 Karin E. Tice, Empowering Youth: Lessons Learned from the Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth 23 There are different approaches to identifying or Project 1991-1997 (Grand Haven, MI: Council of “mapping” community assets that youth philanthropy Michigan Foundations, 1998). This monograph is being programs can draw upon. Among them: Academy for revised and will be available in its updated version from Educational Development, Center for Youth the Council of Michigan Foundations (www.cmif.org). Development Youth Asset Mapping (www.aed.org); Innovation Center’s Charting Community Connections 11 Merita Irby et al., Youth Action — Youth Contributing (www.theinnovationcenter.org); Institute of Cultural to Communities, Communities Supporting Youth, Affair’s community mapping process (www.ica-usa.org); The Community and Youth Development Series, vol. 6 John Kretzmann and John McKnight’s publication, (Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path International Youth Foundation, 2001), p. 9. Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets; 12 Throughout this publication, we refer to youth National Network for Youth’s Community Youth 42 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY Notes

Development initiatives (www.nn4y.org); and the Youth on Service-Learning, Learning in Deed, n.d., p. 3. Engaged in Leadership and Learning tool available from 43 “The School District of Philadelphia, Youth as Resources/ the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Youth Grantmaking Initiative, Partners in Philanthropy,” Communities (gardnercenter.stanford.edu). unpublished factsheet, and personal communication 24 Interviews with Ann Arbor Area Community Founda- with Carrie Morgan, YAR Philadelphia, July 2002. tion Youth Council members and Neutral Zone staff, 44 Youth grantee, Youth Initiated Projects, Youth Leadership April 2001. Institute, unpublished survey results. 25 Jerry K. Finn, youth consultant, personal communication, 45 Some youth development advocates use the term July 2002 and Community Foundation of Southern , i.e., the behaviors and attitudes that flow from Indiana website, www.cfsouthernindiana.com. negative stereotypes adults hold about youth. From 26 Claralyn Ruger, program officer, Battle Creek Commu- BEST Initiative, Alternatives, Inc., “Advancing Youth nity Foundation, interview, April 2001. Development Curriculum,” 2000. 27 Tice, Empowering Youth, p. 33. 46 Leonard, interview and personal communication. 28 S. Zeldin and L. Price, “Creating Supportive Communi- 47 Joel Orosz, former program director, Volunteerism and ties for Adolescent Development: Challenges to Scholars,” Philanthropy Division, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 10, 1995, pp.6-15. telephone interview, June 10, 2001. 29 Kevin Armshaw, Building Community Together coordi- 48 Fairfield County Community Foundation: Guiding nator, University of Wisconsin-Extension, interview and donors to critical issues they care about, annual report unpublished notes provided to authors, March 2002. 2001, p. 6. 30 Kevin Armshaw, notes, March 2002. 49 Linda Kaufmann, grants specialist, The Initiative Foun- dation, phone interview December 2001 and personal 31 Zeldin, Youth In Decision-Making. communication July 2002. 32 Tice, Empowering Youth, p. 35. 50 Cecilia Patterson, youth coordinator, Arkansas Commu- 33 Interviews by authors of youth participants of Indiana nity Foundation, interview, July 2002. Youth as Resources programs and members of the Ann 51 There are a number of materials that describe evaluation Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council, techniques and methodologies. Two useful products April 2001. are The Evaluation Handbook (1995) and the Logic 34 Learn more about the Center for Youth as Resources in Model Development Guide (2000), both by the W.K. the Resources section of this report. Kellogg Foundation. Contact www.wkkf.org for copies. 35 Amy Fox McNulty and Karen E. Tice, Engaging Youth In addition, the Center for Youth as Resources’ in Grantmaking and Leadership: A Ten Year Impact Developing Communities in Partnership with Youth Study, report to the Ann Arbor Area Community program manual contains an “Outcomes Evaluation Foundation by Formative Evaluation Research Associates. Kit” that can be adapted for other programs. Karen E. Tice of Formative Evaluation Research Associates 36 “CYAR Board Elects Youth Co-Chair,” Outlook, contributed to the Assessment Best Practice.

The YAR Newsletter, Center For Youth as Resources, 52 Washington DC, Summer 1999. “Potential Benefits of Evaluation,” a worksheet developed by Formative Evaluation Research Associates, 37 Armshaw, notes, March 2002. Ann Arbor, MI, available at website, www.feraonline.com. 38 Danista Hunte, Baltimore Community Foundation 53 McNulty, Engaging Youth in Grantmaking, p. 17.

program officer, and Julie Reeder, Baltimore Youth as 54 Resources coordinator, personal communication, May Tice, Empowering Youth. and June 2002. 39 See the Resources section of this report for more information about Building Community Together. 40 Armshaw interview, March 2002. 41 “AmeriCorps Members Help YAR Programs Get Things Done,” Outlook, The YAR Newsletter, Center for Youth as Resources, Washington, D.C., Winter/Spring 2000. 42 Service-learning is defined as “a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.” From National Commission 43 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

About the Authors

Pam Stevens Pam Garza Pam Stevens is an independent consultant who Pam Garza brings more than 25 years experience works with national foundations and state and in youth development including program regional organizations to develop strategies to management, training, technical assistance provision, improve the learning opportunities available to materials development, management consultation young people across the country. She is the former and evaluation. As a consultant, she has designed Program Director for the Youth Development and implemented training and written curriculum in Program of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation topics including youth development, youth/adult where she designed and implemented the partnerships, community youth development, adult Foundation’s new grantmaking strategies to learning, and . Recent clients strengthen the youth development field. have included The Ford Foundation, DeWitt Wallace Prior to that role, Ms. Stevens was a Program — Readers Digest Fund, National Network for Officer at the DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund. Youth, Chapin Hall Center for Youth at the She managed programs that develop the professional University of Chicago, National 4-H Council, and capacity of youth workers and those that build the National Training Institute for Community Youth community-wide systems to improve after school Work of the Academy for Educational Development. programs for low-income children. Ms. Garza had a long association with Girls, Ms. Stevens’ previous experience includes the Incorporated, where as Director of Training she was Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, responsible for planning, developing and managing where she assisted community-based organizations in professional development for the national youth developing comprehensive education and vocational development organization. She also served as the programs for young parents and managing a teen organization’s national Director of Program mothers program in Houston, Texas. Implementation and directed local Girls Inc. programs. Ms. Garza is author of numerous training manuals, resource guides, and curricula. 44 BEST PRACTICES IN YOUTH PHILANTHROPY

About the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth

Launched in 1991 to build the leadership capacity of community foundations on issues affecting children, youth, and families, the Coalition has grown into an alliance of 200 community foundations. The Coalition serves the community foundation field through three interlocking spheres of activity:

Learning • providing training on the diverse roles community foundations can play in improving child, youth, and family well-being • enabling community foundations to access leading researchers, practitioners, organizations, and materials • responding to needs identified by community foundations • documenting and disseminating innovative ideas, lessons learned, and best practices

Leveraging • accessing national resources for community foundations of all sizes and at every stage of development • enabling community foundations to leverage new sources of local human, social, and financial capital

Linking • connecting compatible community and national foundation objectives • connecting community foundations to each other to address common interests and concerns • creating momentum by connecting local priorities to complementary policies, work, and other activity at the national level • facilitating the level of relationships, trust, and collaboration necessary to enable diverse segments and sectors of the community to pursue goals directed toward the common good

Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth 15639 Leavenworth Road • Basehor, KS 66007-9768 913.713.6111 • 800.292.6149 Fax: 913.724.9944 www.ccfy.org • [email protected]