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Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Southern Indiana - Clark, Floyd, and Harrison Counties

A program of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana...growing young philanthropists who give and serve for the common good, now and forever.

The Youth Philanthropy Councils of CFSI are designed to engage youth in the philanthropic tradition, to encourage them to give and serve in their communities, and to make philanthropy a lifelong habit for future generations. Clark, Floyd and Harrison county each have a youth philanthropy council which awards funds to projects in their county.

The program goals are:
• to promote youth development through experiences of philanthropy,
• to encourage and support community initiatives which youth care about,
• to engage youth and adults in partnership through giving and serving for the common good.

The initiative is a Youth As Resources program which recognizes youth as valuable community resources and engages them as partners with adults in bringing about positive community change.

Partnership: The youth philanthropy program is a joint effort between the Ogle Foundation as the founding member, a private family foundation that provided the initial funds for a permanent youth philanthropy endowment and program operations, and the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana. The initiative is also developing partnerships with local United Ways and other foundations such as the Harrison County Community Foundation and the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County-both of which have provided funds for youth projects.

Administration and Council Membership: The project is administereb by a Youth Consultant under direction of the CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana. The CFSI Board includes the initiative as part of their strategic plan and receives regular reports at board meetings and approves grants.

Youth members from each county are recommended as YPC members each year from the schools, youth serving organizations and community leaders. Adults are recruited who are leaders in each of the three counties to serve as peers and mentors of the youth. There is one adult for every two youth members on the council and all members serve as equal partners. Council members are trained in the process of philanthropic giving and serving.

Grant Applications and Process:
Council members review grant applications and award funds twice a year. Grant application information is available through the Community foundation of Southern Indiana office and their web site at www.cfsouthernindiana.org. Those eligible to apply are youth groups, community organizations, schools, classrooms, religious organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations. The group must be associated with a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Application deadline is the 15th of September and February. The grants are awarded approximately thirty days after the application deadlines.

Qualities of Projects to be Funded:
The Youth Philanthropy Council will offer grants (usually between $250 and $750) for projects which: (one or more):
1. Address community needs.
2. Promote the healthy development of children and youth.
3. Provide opportunities for youth to give back to the community through meaningful service.
4. Are designed and carried out by young people with meaningful adult interaction.
5. Can be started and finished by the same group of youth.
6. Bring together diverse people and organizations.
7. Have a realistic budget and solid plans.
8. Promote marketable skills for youth.
9. Provide opportunities to give back to the community.
10. Build positive relationships between youth and adults.

The most exciting aspect of the program is the relationships which have been built between the youth and the adults. Board members of CFSI are a great source of support for the effort. Several board members have served on the councils. In the second year of the initiative, a Youth Volunteer Celebration was established as a way to support and encourage youthful giving and serving to the area's non-profit organizations, churches, and schools and assist them in recognizing their young volunteers while gaining greater public awareness of their own organizations. The group decided the best way to promote youth philanthropy was to recognize and lift up those young people across Southern Indiana who give their time, talent and treasure for the common good. The "Gold Acorn" Award was established and given to 31 youth in the first year at the inaugeral event.

Contact Information:
Jerry Finn, Project Coordinator
Youth Philanthropy Councils of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana
4104 Charlestown Road
New Albany, IN 47150
812-923-2065; 812-923-2334 FAX
web site: www.cfsouthernindiana.com