Youth in Philanthropy (YiP)

 

Youth in Philanthropy 2021-2022

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) Program allows juniors and seniors from Hamilton County to experience philanthropy first hand, by reviewing grants and awarding monies steered by their decisions to assist local non-profit organizations.  A total of at least eight area students (juniors and seniors) participate in the Youth in Philanthropy Program Advisory Committee, and represent both the South Hamilton and Webster City Community School Districts.

Student Advisory members will receive a $250 scholarship for each year they participate as a Youth in Philanthropy member for a maximum scholarship of $500 from the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation.

Application, Info Sheet, & More may be found in our YiP Google Drive here.

Tentative 2021-2022 Timeline:

  1. YiP Advisory Committee members will be recruited through an application process (students can be recommended by school guidance counselors and educators, outside agencies, and more). The Advisory Committee will consist of at least four (4) students from South Hamilton High School and Webster City High School (2 juniors and 2 seniors), plus the YiP Program Chair, Tiffany Larson of the Bee Inspired CAPP Program through Building Families.   For the 2021-2022 School Year, the students that served on the committee last year will be given the opportunity to serve again this year.  This excludes the students that graduated.  The empty spots will then be filled via the recruitment process (submitting an application by December 17, 2021).
  2. Goal: To engage youth in understanding the importance of philanthropy and introducing them to causes/needs throughout Hamilton County.
  3. Requirement: The Advisory Committee would perform under the same guidelines and act alongside the EHCF Grant Review Committee, by reviewing all incoming grant applications during a specified grant cycle.
    Each member will be required to attend initial orientation meeting(s), tentatively set for January/February 2021, to discuss the vision of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation and to go through the grant process.  This includes reviewing proposals, scoring information and deadlines, and determining needs and causes to fund. The meeting(s) will be led by Tiffany Larson (YiP Program Chair).  Rick Young (EHCF President) and Darcy Swon (EHCF Development Director) may be in attendance to answer specific Foundation questions.  Each YiP committee member must review each grant and score according to the Rubric that will be provided. There may be additional Individual meetings and large group meeting(s) to help score.  The totals will then be submitted to Darcy Swon (EHCF Development Director) for compilation. Tiffany Larson will share the scheduled sessions (with South Hamilton and Webster City) for YiP committee members to come and ask questions if they are needing some assistance understanding the grant application and process.  At the meeting(s), YiP committee members will gather to discuss the applications and compile their recommendations. YiP committee recommendations will be submitted to the EHCF Foundation Board for review and approval. The ECHF Board will determine the total amount of funds that the YiP program can grant out per cycle prior to the grant cycle commencing.  YiP Advisory Committee representatives will be a part of the EHCF Grant Awards presentation, with the date and details yet to be announced.  All committee members MUST be in attendance/participate to receive their scholarship(s).   NOTE:  Due to COVID, the process may need to take place VIRTUALLY again this year.  If that happens, the group will do so via zoom for a very brief orientation then proceed to reviewing and awarding.  If additional meetings are needed, the youth will work out details with Tiffany.
  4. Scholarship: To entice students to participate in this program, each YiP committee member will receive $250 per year they serve on this committee. For those serving two years, they will receive a $500 scholarship. All committee members MUST attend/participate in the Awards presentation to receive the scholarship. Tiffany and Darcy will generate a press release regarding the YiP program for distribution through local media, social media and the Foundation’s website. The award night is tentatively scheduled for late February/early March 2022.
  5. For more information on the Youth in Philanthropy program, contact Tiffany Larson (Bee Inspired Program Coordinator), Committee Chair, at tlarson@co.wright.ia.us or by calling (o) 515.602.6371 x 4 (c) 515.835.1836.  For more information about the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, the tools they offer the YiP Program, or additional questions, feel free to visit their website at http://www.enhancehamiltoncounty.org, or contact Darcy Swon at 515.835.0437 or via email at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.

2021-2022 Grant Cycle-Tentative Dates

  • YiP Program Advisory Committee Applications Due—Friday December 17, 2021
  • YiP Program Advisory Committee Members notified—Prior to Friday January 15, 2022
  • All EHCF Grant Applications Due—All EHCF Grant Applications due December 31, 2021
  • YiP Advisory Committee Orientation/Meeting (South Hamilton and Webster City students together) — Date(s) to be determined for January 2022 (in-person/zoom)
  • Initial Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Grant Review Committee Meeting—Thursday January 21st (adult committee)
  • Grant Review Committees—TDB in January 2022 (interviews with EHCF Board & grant applicants, if needed)
  • Board Meeting—Wednesday February 9th (EHCF Board meets for approval of grant funding recommendations, YIP members not needed to attend)
  • Grant Applicants notified if receiving funds or not— by February 15, 2022
  • Grant Awards Ceremony – Details and Date TBA, tentatively February/March 2022

YiP Program (2017-2021)

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) Program was switched up 2016/2017.  The new process allows juniors and seniors from Hamilton County to experience philanthropy first hand, by reviewing grants and awarding monies steered by their decisions to assist local non-profit organizations.  The students complete an application process to be part of participate as Advisory members of the Youth in Philanthropy Program.  The juniors and seniors selected represent both the South Hamilton and Webster City Community School Districts.  Student Advisory members receive a $250 scholarship for each year they participate, for a maximum scholarship of $500 from the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation.  Members participate in an orientation, then proceed to a review and granting process.  They receive a percentage of funds from the overall EHCF grant funds, and are able to grant out monies based on their input and feedback.  The meetings typically are held-in person, but are also offered in a virtual format for certain circumstances (i.e. COVID, inclement weather).  For more information on the Youth in Philanthropy Program, contact Tiffany Larson, Committee Chair, at tlarson@co.wright.ia.us. For more information about the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, the tools they offer the YiP Program, or additional questions, feel free visit their website at http://www.enhancehamiltoncounty.org, or contact Darcy Swon at 515.835.0437 or via email at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.

In the past (prior to 2017) the Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) Program consisted of a group of 9th-12th grade high school students reaching out to other youth-led organizations & encouraging them to apply for grant funds to complete projects and/or programs that would impact youth throughout Hamilton County.  Past recipients have been youth leaders involved with school and/or community organizations, such as National Honor Society, Social Concerns, Student Council, FFA, 4-H, Church Groups, Boy/Girl Scouts, SHIFT Happens, and volunteers partnering with agencies like All Cultures Equal and Fuller Hall.  Bee Inspired and collaborating agencies offered students and adult advisors in each district resources and support for:

1.  Recruiting 9th-12th graders  to help enhance Hamilton County!

2.  Working with peers in their school district to spend the allocated funds on project(s) that enhance Hamilton County with the most impact!

Students in the South Hamilton and Webster City Community School Districts were encouraged to utilize the IPARDE Model (Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Evaluation) to plan and implement their community service-learning project(s)! All project requests were presented to the EHCF Board for approval, and again upon completion to celebrate successes.

During the 2014-2016 grant cycles, The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Board opted to switch things up a bit by allocating $2,000 toward the YiP Program Projects, to be split between South Hamilton and Webster City. The EHCF Board has opted to change the Program up a bit for the 2017-2018 grant cycle.  The Bee Inspired Program will continue to act as a liaison for the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Board, providing oversight for the YiP Program.

Photo Gallery of funded projects and events:

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