Youth Grantmakers of Arizona - Directory of Programs
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix Youth Philanthropy Programs
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix has two youth philanthropy programs: B'nai Tzedek enables teens (Bar/Bat Mitzvah age through high school seniors) to establish their own charitable endowment fund and participate in educational programming. Funds are established with a minimum of $500 (with most teens choosing to use money received as Bar/Bat Mitzvah gifts). Teens recommend grants of 5% annually to the charitable organizations of their choice. The fund is intended to be their foundation for lifelong giving and should last their lifetime. The Youth Philanthropy Board offers monthly sessions for 35 teen board members. These teens have been entrusted with $10,000. They must design and administer their own competitive grant making process. In addition, they hear presentations from local agencies, make site visits, and participate in financial literacy sessions.
Location: Phoenix
Contact: Andrea Cohen
Phone: 480-699-1717 ext. 1404
Email: acohen@jcfphoenix.org
Website: www.jcfphoenix.org
Every Voice in Action Youth Crew
The Youth Crew (a diverse group of 15-17 high school and college youth) was established in 2000 by Every Voice in Action as a way to "walk our talk" as an advocate of youth voice and activism. The Foundation relies on this group to fund programs they judge to be the most relevant and effective for youth in Greater Tucson. The Youth Crew is not an advisory group. They are empowered to actively engage in the work of the Foundation and are responsible for granting $50,000 each year. For example, last year's Crew decided to fund youth activism projects and awarded grants ranging from $5-10,000 to six local youth organizations.
Location: Tucson
Contact: Ruth Marblestone
Phone: 520-615-2100
Email: Ruth@everyvoicefoundation.org
Website: www.everyvoicefoundation.org
Youth Advisory Council of the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a select group of 11-18 year olds who play an active role in the service learning process of the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona's Youth Volunteer Corps and the host site for organizations of the Youth Now! Collaboration. They participate in all aspects of the program including project planning and evaluation, recruitment, recognition events, interviewing potential AmeriCorps members, fundraising, and Global Youth Service Day (GYSD).
Location: Tucson
Contact: Michelle Lesco
Phone: 520-881-3300
Email: MLesco@volunteersoaz.org
Website: www.volunteersoaz.org
Social Venture Partners Teens
Social Venture Partners Teens started in Phoenix eight years ago as a way for teens (ages 11-18) to have the same grant making experience as their parents in Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVPAZ). SVPAZ is a venture philanthropy organization pooling resources, time and talent then investing them into building the capacity of nonprofit organizations. The Teen program organizes fund raising activities, learns about important social issues and has a formal grant process to award money to organizations. Other activities include community service, team building and nonprofit awareness.
Location: Phoenix
Contact: Terri Wogan
Phone: 602-224-0041
Email: twogan@svpaz.org
Website: http://www.svpaz.org/about-svp/svp-teens.php
Unidas
Unidas,a feminization of the Spanish word unidos (united) teaches girls about leadership, philanthropy, and social justice issues. Unidas is a program designed to give high-school aged girls hands-on experience in grantmaking. Participants have $10,000 to grant to community organizations that serve girls. Under the auspices of the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona, Unidas participants research and analyze the social justice issues facing girls in their community, and walk through a grantmaking process, including creation of a request for proposal, application review, site visits, and allocation of funds to local agencies totaling $10,000.
Location: Tucson
Contact: Kesha Dawson
Phone: 520-622-8886
Email: kdawson@womengiving.org
Website: www.womengiving.org
YWCA Tucson Racial Justice Youth Program
The Tucson YWCA leads the It's Time to Talk Small Grants Program. Middle school, high school, and college students serve on the committee that reviews, selects, and awards small grants to youth-led projects and activities in schools and the community. Between 2001 and 2009, the youth awarded $67,400 in small grants to youth-led projects in 78 schools in Tucson and Pima County.
Location: Tucson
Contact: Sarah Gonzales
Phone: 520-884-7810 ext. 107
Email: sgonzales@ywcatucson.org
Website: www.ywcatucson.org
Arizona Community Foundation Youth in Philanthropy
This initiative of the Arizona Community Foundation will engage and better equip youth to understand and participate in philanthropy in the future. The group will consist of Arizona residents between the ages of 16-22. Members will be part of a youth philanthropy curriculum (including an interactive speakers series), engage in community service projects of their choosing, organize social events, and may opt to serve on the Youth Philanthropy Grant Distribution Panel. Members will represent a range of ages, cultures, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, and levels of previous experience. To join, youth will go through an application and interview process. Applications will be made available to any qualifying youth who wishes to participate.
Location: Phoenix
Contact: Joyce Medina
Phone: 602-682-2040
Email: jmedina@azfoundation.org
Website: www.azfoundation.org