{"id":806,"date":"2017-10-10T14:13:04","date_gmt":"2017-10-10T14:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/?page_id=806"},"modified":"2026-06-01T18:25:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:25:53","slug":"givingchallenge","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/givingchallenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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About the Challenge<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge<\/strong> began in 2017 to introduce middle school students to the concepts of philanthropy and community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge seeks to engage Jefferson<\/strong>, Lewis<\/strong>, and St. Lawrence<\/strong> county seventh<\/strong>, eighth<\/strong>, and ninth-graders<\/strong> as they explore the meaning of community while empowering them to recommend grants to nonprofit organizations that support their concepts and strengthen the quality of life in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students write an essay that articulates their definition of community<\/strong> and explains what makes it a great place to live, work and play. Participants are then asked to name a charitable organization that makes their community a better place through its service to residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students compete<\/strong> for a chance to award a $1,000 grant<\/strong> that they recommend. Winning students each personally present a $1,000 grant to the nonprofit they have chosen while spending time with the organization\u2019s leadership, learning about its mission and how it serves tri-county residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the past nine years, 153 students<\/strong> and an entire class<\/strong> have been selected to present 149 grants <\/strong>totaling $100,000<\/strong> to nearly 115 different nonprofit organizations<\/strong> that serve tri-county residents. Since the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge began, 1,040 students<\/strong> representing 28 school districts<\/strong> across the region have applied to the program, recommending grants to nearly 240 different charitable organizations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch a video about the challenge and hear from past winners and nonprofit leaders about how they used a Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge <\/strong>grant to help their organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hear from past Challenge winners<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Charitable organizations students selected for funding range from those that provide support for essential human needs<\/strong>, fire protection<\/strong>, and animal welfare<\/strong> to those that strengthen and enrich our communities through education<\/strong>, arts and culture<\/strong>, health and wellness<\/strong>, and recreation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check back<\/strong> to view a photo gallery of past Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winners!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 150 nonprofit organizations<\/strong> in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties presently partner with the Community Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View a list of nonprofit partners<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Check back<\/strong> to view a photo gallery of past Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winners!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program Sponsors<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

We are pleased to continue this initiative with a leadership gift from an anonymous donor, corporate support from Community Bank N.A.<\/a><\/strong>, as well as donors who make gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund<\/a><\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge<\/mark><\/strong> is CLOSED<\/strong><\/span> for the current academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to to view an announcement<\/a><\/strong> of 2025-2026 winning students and the nonprofit organizations they chose to receive a $1,000 Community Foundation grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Foundation team is now working to schedule grant presentations with winning students at their chosen organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giving Challenge will open to participants for the 2026-2027 academic year this fall. Winning entries will be announced in January 2027. Email Gwyn Monnat<\/a><\/mark><\/strong>, director of scholarships and programs, to learn more.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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