Youth are givers, too—let’s help them reach their potential
July 15, 2010
Even though just five years old, the North Carolina Youth Giving Network has seen some amazing accomplishments, with over $300K granted out to communities by more than 800 youth. Established in 2005 by NCGives, the Network continues to grow - something that wouldn't be possible without the adult advisors who rally their youth together to support their communities. These advisors recently gathered at Greensboro's International Civil Rights Museum to learn more about engaging youth in giving back.
"Teaching social justice to youth philanthropists" (Philanthropy Journal)
The same grounds that sparked a civil rights movement marked the convening of a powerful cadre of adult advisors committed to engaging young people in social change through philanthropic giving.
On June 29, youth-philanthropy program advisors from Onslow, Pitt, Northampton, Nash, Edgecombe, Wake, Davidson, Guilford, Forsyth, Wilkes, Catawba, Burke, Rutherford, Cleveland, Mecklenburg and Jackson counties gathered at the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro for the 2010 Advisors Training Institute, hosted by the North Carolina Youth Giving Network and co-sponsored by American Express.
The Institute provided these adult advisors with additional planning tools to engage the over 400 young people that are actively involved in philanthropy through the North Carolina Youth Giving Network.
There are currently 20 sites for youth giving throughout the state, each with its own adult advisor that works directly with these young philanthropists to assess community needs and facilitate a youth-driven grantmaking process. Since 2005, a total of more than $300,000 has been granted by over 800 young people throughout the state.
A key component of this year's Institute was the expansion of tools to integrate a social-justice focus to youth philanthropic giving -- from a community needs assessment module that identifies economic injustices, to a self-reflective inventory based upon the work of Leading To Change and the Anti-Defamation League.
Advisors were also given the opportunity to experience the catalytic voices of the civil rights movement through a powerful tour of the International Civil Rights Museum and the continued exploration of how to integrate the practice of equity and social justice into their work with young people.
Your voice: What do you see the youth in your area doing to give back to the community?
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