Cultivating the Next Generation in Philanthropy
The Youth Philanthropy Council is an advisory committee of the Northern New York Community Foundation. It was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and leadership while engaging young people in meaningful activities that build their skills and deepen their understanding of community needs and philanthropy and its impact on Northern New York. Council members grow to become critical thinkers as they engage in lessons that may never be taught in a classroom.
Since its inception in 2010, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 145 grants totaling $255,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
In the past 15 years, nearly 160 students representing eight Northern New York high schools have served or are presently serving on the Youth Philanthropy Council. Click here to view a list of YPC alumni.
This year’s Youth Philanthropy Council includes 18 representatives from General Brown, Immaculate Heart, Lyme, and South Jefferson Central Schools, and Watertown High School. Council members are in their sophomore, junior, or senior class.
The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by gifts from donors who make contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Mart Liinve Fund, the Timerman Family Fund, and Stanley & Barbara Eldridge.
Class of 2025-2026 recruiting
Recruiting for the Class of 2025-2026 is now open. Questions? Contact Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation philanthropy associate, emily@nnycf.org or call 315-782-7110 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Students from any of the 13 public and private Jefferson County high school are eligible to apply for a seat on the Council.
