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 engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills while deepening their understanding of community needs and educating them about community 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 10 years ago, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 112 grants totaling $180,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
In the past decade, 140 students representing seven Northern New York high schools have completed a year or more of service on the Youth Philanthropy Council. Click here to view a list of YPC alumni.
This year’s Youth Philanthropy Council includes 16 representatives from General Brown, Immaculate Heart, 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 Foodservice Charitable Foundation, and RBC Wealth Management.
Class of 2022-2023 recruitment
The Community Foundation will announce recruiting for the Class of 2022-2023 in late spring 2022. Students are selected to serve a 1-year term for the following school year. Adult leaders, Community Foundation staff, and board members serve as advisors to the YPC and mentor Council members.
Student representatives must be fully committed to serve in the program and make YPC a top priority. Service includes attending evening Council meetings, community activities, and additional activities Council and adult leadership identify. Prospective Council members should understand their schedules of academic, athletic, extracurricular, and personal commitments — current and anticipated — play a primary factor in selection.
Questions? Contact Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs, at kraig@nnycf.org or call 315-782-7110 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.