Last month, the Community Foundation launched the 2024 -2025 Youth Empowered Philanthropy (YEP) program, welcoming 26 students from 8 local high schools. YEP empowers high school students to engage in philanthropy by learning about community needs and supporting nonprofits through grantmaking. The program not only helps students develop as future philanthropic leaders but also directly benefits nonprofits.
This year marks YEP’s fifth anniversary, and it has grown significantly since its inaugural year, which included just 10 students from a single school. Under the guidance of Donor Engagement Specialist Jaren Harmon and Senior Impact Advisor Angela Stanley, YEP continues to evolve, making a lasting impact on both students and the community.
In their first meeting, students explored their core values and discussed how these principles could influence their decision-making in the grant process. They also reviewed the upcoming YEP grant application, learning to differentiate between program and operational funding needs for nonprofits.
YEP Grant Information
The YEP grant officially opened to nonprofits on November 1st and will accept applications through December 1, 2024. Nonprofits serving Allen County are eligible for operational funding between $1,000 and $5,000. The application is straightforward and short. Nonprofits selected for funding will be invited to a follow-up site visit, which can be conducted by phone, Zoom, or in person. Funding decisions will be announced in March 2025. For more details and to apply, visit our YEP grants.