Giving away other people’s money is not as easy as many people think it is. It is a skillset that actually requires patience, an eagerness to learn about community needs and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations with others. It requires intentionality, thoughtfulness and a deep level of empathy. Here at the Wayne County Community Foundation, we think this skillset is important to teach the youth of our community.  Since the early 2000s we have hosted a Youth Advisory Committee that provides mini-grants to youth programs, including youth-led programs at the area schools. 

Each fall, a few students are selected by the principals of Wayne Highlands, Western Wayne and Wallenpaupack Area School districts to participate in the Youth Advisory Committee, ideally for the entirety of their high school careers. Through this program, the youth help ensure funding requests through the mini-grant program are up to date and help promote projects within their schools and local community. 

After a few weeks, they gather together to review the applications and determine which grants they’d like to recommend to the Foundation’s board for funding. Funding for this program is supported by two funds held at the Foundation, the Florence Longmire Treat Fund and the Eleanor Ferro Fund. 

The mission of the Youth Advisory Committee of the Wayne County Community Foundation is to familiarize Wayne County youth with the potential of philanthropic activities. This is accomplished by providing the opportunity, through cooperative leadership, to give financial support to projects designed to improve the youth community. The intent of the Youth Mini-Grants Program is to introduce the concept of a community foundation and its work while supplying educational and funding opportunities.

Currently, grants up to $1,000 are available for projects or programs that will benefit elementary and secondary-age students in Wayne County schools and/or community groups. 

What can be funded? Proposals that are school- or student-oriented will be considered for funding. These include special classroom projects planned by students; extracurricular activities such as student newspapers, special sports, arts-related projects; or other community-related projects. As this is a student program, teacher or administrative programs and teacher remuneration will not be considered. 

These students have the opportunity to work together across school districts in a noncompetitive manner and build relationships with their peers over multiple years. They also get insight into the nonprofit sector, and learn from our staff about the grantmaking process and the legacy giving that has made this program possible. Lastly, they get to review the reports given by the grantees and see what differences the grants made in the lives of their fellow students. Our hope is that these students will engage in the philanthropic sector in whatever way they can as they grow into adulthood—whether that’s as a volunteer, a nonprofit staff member, a donor or a board member. 

Our world thrives with generosity and reciprocity, and as these students get a taste of what it means to give back, we know that they’ll continue to do that as they grow older, in whatever community they end up calling home. 

For more information about the Youth Advisory Committee or to learn more about the Wayne County Community Foundation, visit www.waynefoundation.org.