Giving Compass' Take:

• This report shared by Issue Lab examines the needs and gaps in youth grantmaking and provides recommendations on how to expand access to youth philanthropy.

• What youth programs are currently thriving in your community? Is there an opportunity for donor collaboratives to focus more on youth investment?

• Read about the importance of funding youth civic engagement. 

  1. Foundations are financially supporting youth philanthropy, though the full extent is unclear. The grants review uncovered close to 900 grants between 2001 and 2013 awarded by over 70 community, private, family, and corporate foundations to support youth grantmaking programs. The scan encompassed grants awarded in 2001-2013 from Foundation Center’s grants database. The grants went to recipients in 42 states and 14 countries and ranged in size from $100 to $5 million.
  2. There are many programs and resources for youth grantmaking worldwide. Through the literature scan, we discovered over 110 youth philanthropy programs at nonprofit organizations, some 200 foundations with a youth philanthropy board or committee, 55 university-based programs, 10 conferences with a specific youth grantmaking component, and more than 140 open and accessible content pieces including reports, white papers, blogs, videos, podcasts, recorded webinars, worksheets, guides, books, articles, and curricula.
  3. There are many models for youth philanthropy. Youth use time, talent, treasure, ties, and community assets to make a difference locally and globally. Different models exist within youth organizations, schools, religious congregations, foundations, and online communities. Organization structure, finances, human resources, geography, and history are examples of factors that distinguish programs from one another; there is no one-size-fits-all model.

Read the full article on youth philanthropy by Amanda Dillon and Jen Bokoff at Issue Lab.