Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council Seeks Proposals for 2025 Grant Funding

Up to $20,000 Available to Support Tri-County Nonprofit Organizations

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council welcomes grant proposals from nonprofit organizations of all types for programs, projects, or initiatives that strengthen the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The council will evaluate each proposal for a share of up to $20,000 in available grant funding.

     For consideration, completed grant applications must be submitted no later than Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Council members will notify finalists selected to present proposals. The Council will recommend grants for funding to the Community Foundation’s board of directors. This past round, the Youth Philanthropy Council awarded six grants totaling $20,000 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve tri-county residents.

     “This leadership program relies heavily on active participation from the community. We are hopeful that charitable organizations throughout the tri-county region will thoughtfully consider bringing programs or projects to present to the students,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “It is essential to continue to increase awareness of the important work local groups are doing to improve the quality of life for the residents of Northern New York.”

     The Youth Philanthropy Council grant application may be completed online through the Foundation’s Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) portal at bit.ly/grant-portal. All 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are invited to apply. Organizations should register as a user in GLM before applying. Nonprofits already registered with a GLM account should use existing login information to access and start the application. Contact Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs, kraig@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, with questions or to learn more.

     A virtual grant information session will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please RSVP to kraig@nnycf.org, no later than Tuesday, Nov. 19, or register online at bit.ly/YPC-grant-info.

      “I highly advocate for every nonprofit to seize this incredible opportunity. As a Council, we love having a major role impacting our community while also growing our education about the North Country and what we do,” Council Grants Committee Chair Anastaja Smith, a Watertown High senior,  said. “A diverse group of applicants will help us establish how we can be the most effective and sincere in the impact on our community.”

     The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by annual gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund and underwriting from Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation of the Community Foundation, the Mart Liinve Fund of the Community Foundation, the Timerman Family Fund of the Community Foundation, and RBC Wealth Management.

     This year’s Youth Philanthropy Council includes 18 student delegates, representing Lyme Central School, General Brown, Immaculate Heart Central, and South Jefferson and Watertown high schools. Representatives from each school district are: Lyme: Rosamond Hunt, senior; General Brown: Kiera Covey, junior, and Colden Marks, senior; Immaculate Heart: Julia Tontarski, sophomore, and Alexandra Zajac, sophomore; South Jefferson: Mia Mouaikel, senior, and William Steward, junior; and Watertown: Hannah Eldridge, senior, Lillian Jareo, senior, Mia Kelly, senior, Vincent Knapp, senior, Bennett Pistner, senior, Anastaja Smith, senior, Ella Smith, senior, Finley Swartz, senior, Trey Urf, sophomore, Sienna Virga, senior, and April Wang, junior.

     The Youth Philanthropy Council was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills while 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. Council advisors are Emily Sprague, Community Foundation Board vice chair; Kraig Everard, and Leslie Renzi.

     Since its inception 14 years ago, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 145 grants totaling $255,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve tri-county residents, and nearly 160 students from eight different North Country high schools have served as Council members.

About the Northern New York Community Foundation

     Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

     The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.