Youth Empowerment Project Creating and Sustaining a Youth-Oriented Grant Making Program Bridget Dierks, Community Foundation of the Ozarks The deed is everything, the glory naught. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

America’s Youth Hears This… “I want a brand new house On an episode of Cribs And a bathroom I can play baseball in.” -Nickelback “Rockstar” “What’s a soup kitchen?” - Paris Hilton

We must combat these messages with messages about philanthropy!

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller If we don't heal our own hood, who will?” –”Nelly” (Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr.)

Basic Concept of YEP Youth Empowerment Projects are established with the purpose of creating grant making opportunities by young people for young people. The focus is youth-driven philanthropy.

YEP Programs are created to.. Learn about the importance of local participation solving local problems. Understand the challenges our communities are facing. Raise and grant money to worthwhile organizations. Get quality volunteer experience.

Some terms… Philanthropy – care for the welfare of others, acted on through gifts of money, time, and resources. Youth Empowerment Project –a youth grant making program designed by students to raise and then grant money to youth-oriented programs in their local community (also known as Youth Philanthropy, Youth Grant Makers, etc). YEP Grant – money given by a youth granting organization to a nonprofit or a school entity to support a youth-oriented cause.

CFO’s YEP Project Three students from each Springfield school (public and private schools included). Students are juniors and seniors. Female and male students participate. How can this translate to your community?

Establish a YEP Board of Directors Select how many students will be on the YEP board Select how many from what grade levels will be involved Determine any applicant requirements (if any) Create a YEP board member application Create a board member selection committee (students, teachers, principal, community leaders, etc)

Creating a Mission Statement You need to decide how your YEP program will operate. Develop a mission statement. –eg: The mission of the Youth Empowerment Project is to empower youth to positively impact their community. This is accomplished through education, service, grant making, and fundraising.

Raising Funds for Grants You can’t give out money if you don’t have any money! Soliciting funds Using funds from your Community Betterment program or other organization that is willing to give you funds. Fundraising

Event Fundraising –Contests dream date night raffle Talent Show ‘cow pie’ bingo –Other Event middle school prom car washes 5K run –Regular participation in a fundraiser (eg: concession stand work, etc)

Developing an Endowed Fund To sustain your YEP project, it is important to consider the power of an endowed fund. This fund would produce funds for grant making in perpetuity. Endowed funds distribute approximately 5% of the fund’s total assets each year. So a $10,000 fund will give you $500 a year for grants every year.

Create a Grant Application Please note the grant application example enclosed with your materials.

A Good Grant Application… A good grant application has several important things… Description of the organization applying for the grant Description of the items to be purchased and their importance to the organization Cost of all items included (and evidence these item costs were researched) Contact information for questions during grant rounds.

Soliciting Grants Share information of your potential grant programs. What kinds of projects is your organization most interested in? Who will you target? Are you associated with a Foundation?

The Grant Process Select a grant round date, then select a date 1-3 days previous for grant applications to be due. Spend time on each grant application. Does this grant fit your YEP’s purpose? Will this grant positively impact youth in your community? Determine if all/some/none of the items requested will be fulfilled.

Grant Application Regrets Please see the regret letter in your packet Be kind Explain the $$money$$ circumstances Encourage future submissions

Grant Recipients Please see the grant approval letter in your packet. –Congratulate –Require acceptance of terms –Require a date for a final report from the organization –Let them know who receives the grant credit –Contact information

Grant Recipient Progress Report Please see the progress report in your packet. The progress report is a way for you to determine if the organization spent your money in the ways they promised.

Big Check Time! Set up a time to present the real check Use a ‘big check’ for pictures Take a picture for the newspaper or your website

Press Releases and Media Alerts Send a media alert before an event (like a fundraiser). Send a press release to share information of an event that has passed (like a grant round).

YEP Regional Conference CFO hosts an annual regional conference for YEP programs. Students share ideas on grant making, fundraising, and promotion in the community. YEP organizations in the Ozarks area are invited.

Students at the 2006 Conference

Volunteering Being a part of a YEP group is a great way to be aware of organizations that need volunteers. Possible ‘volunteer day’ with your youth empowerment program—assist organizations you have or may grant funds to in order to see how their organization works.

Electing new YEP Members Create a selection committee made up of both exiting and returning YEP members Distribute applications Develop a selection process –applications only? –interviews? –recommendations required?

Break Time! Next series will be you developing your own ideas for your Youth grant making program.

Ten Minutes On… Creating a Mission Statement Developing Standing Rules

Ten Minutes On… Recruiting and/or Selecting Potential YEP Members

Ten Minutes On… Fundraising Ideas for Fundraising Events Soliciting Funds

Ten Minutes On… Creating a Grant Application

Ten Minutes On… Selecting Grants Creating a Regret Letter Creating a Grant Award Letter Creating a Progress Reporting System

Ten Minutes On… Creating a standard grant award press release Creating an upcoming fundraising media alert

Thank you! Bridget Dierks (417)