MANDEL CENTER FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
ABOUT YOUTH SERVICE
What Does Youth Grantmaking Look Like?
Youth grantmaking programs typically meet at least monthly, some meet more frequently. They can include a wide range of activities. Some involve youth from the very beginning in identifying community needs and priorities, creating and distributing the request for proposals (RFP), raising money, evaluating proposals, awarding funds, and monitoring and evaluating grants. Others focus more on the evaluation of proposals and awarding of funds, typically due to a limited time frame or organizational constraints.
No matter what activities a youth grantmaking program involves, training is an important aspect to provide youth with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out those activities. Many youth grantmaking groups also participate in direct service activities. This not only helps to reinforce the importance of all forms of service, but also gives members the opportunity to experience firsthand the community needs they are funding.
Many youth grantmaking entities focus their funding on youth serving programs, particularly those that are youth-led. The final decisions about who receives funding are typically made solely by the youth members. In cases where the final decisions are made by someone other than the members (usually a Board of Directors), the youth provide recommendations that are rarely rejected by the final authority.
What is Youth Grantmaking?
Who Does Youth Grantmaking?
What Does Youth Grantmaking Look Like?
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