The Value of Youth Philanthropy

Quality youth philanthropy benefits young people, the field of philanthropy and the community at large. When youth philanthropy programs incorporate youth development theory and practices, they directly benefit the young people engaged in youth philanthropy while creating a ripple effect that benefits the young people who develop the programs that receive youth-led grants. The community benefits by the participation of committed, effective young people, who contribute their energy and ideas to community betterment today and develop their potential as caring, productive adults. Youth philanthropy offers a strong youth civic engagement model. At its best, it engages young people in grantmaking that is intentional in its social change outcomes and, by funding projects conceived, planned and carried out by young people, influences how institutions and the community view the role of youth. The Coalition is committed to promoting youth development as a fundamental principle under girding youth philanthropy.

Youth philanthropy also improves the philanthropic sector by bringing youth perspective to issue identification, priority-setting and decision-making. Recent research by the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development of the National 4-H Council and the University of Wisconsin-Madison supports this assertion that organizations and adults, not just young people, benefit from the kind of youth-adult shared decision-making inherent in quality youth philanthropy programs. According to the research, which looked at youth on boards, youth philanthropy, youth court and other youth in decision-making models, positive outcomes for adults include:

• Adults’ perceptions of youth competency improve.
• Adults are energized and feel increased commitment to the organization.
• Adults improve their competency working in partnership with youth.
• As their level of understanding of youth needs increases, adults’ connectedness to community improves.

Positive outcomes for organizations suggested by the research include:

• An institutional cultural shift to embrace youth involvement.
• Increased clarity of mission.
• Improved responsiveness to youth, leading to programming improvements.
• Increased credibility.
• Increased overall diversity in organizational decision-making.