2022 Youth Philanthropy Boards Grant $55,000 Statewide

High school students participating in the Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPB) of the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) have awarded $55,000 to 19 nonprofit organizations throughout the state.  

The DCF sponsors a YPB in each county, to encourage high school students to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board of high school students is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. 

YPB members are tasked with studying issues in their neighborhoods and schools, identifying a focus area for grantmaking, learning about philanthropy and effective grantmaking, soliciting grant proposals, and conducting site visits to nonprofit organizations. With the knowledge gained from these experiences, the members select grantees that they deem will have the most impact in our communities. 

“Being a member of the Youth Philanthropy Board has shown me that community impact doesn’t just come from volunteer work, but also through having a deeper relationship with my community,” said Maya Levine, a New Castle County YPB member. “Through the YPB, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about, advocate for and provide support for several local organizations providing essential services to the community.” 

In 2022, the DCF provided $15,000 to New Castle County YPB and $10,000 each to the Kent and to Sussex YPBs. This year, the Sussex and Kent boards each received an additional $5,000 and the New Castle board received an additional $10,000 to award thanks to the generosity of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, founder of the GLOW Fund, a donor advised fund at the DCF. 

This year’s YPB grants were awarded to: 

KENT COUNTY 

Focus Area: In 2022, YPB Kent County grants are supporting nonprofits that provide assistance for mental health and healthcare services for the underprivileged and uninsured community. 

Code Purple Kent County – $4,334 for medical check-ins for the homeless  

Compassionate Hearts – $4,333 for equine therapy 

Inner City Cultural League – $4,333 to provide care for the underinsured in the Sankofa Health and Wellness Center 

Survivors of Abuse in Recovery – $1,000 to help fund a part-time clinician 

The Shepherd Place – $1,000 for supplies for the emergency shelter for the homeless 

NEW CASTLE COUNTY 
Focus Area: The New Castle County YPB grants are supporting nonprofits that promote equitable education for individuals who are experiencing mental health issues, or are in the foster care system, or who have learning disabilities. 

Down Syndrome Association (DSA) – $4,167 for textbooks for educators working with students with Down syndrome 

Survivors of Abuse and Recovery (SOAR) – $4,167 to support intake specialists who connect clinicians to youth and families for mental health services 

Love-In-Deed – $4,167 to support home economics courses and college tours for students in foster care 

Connecting Generations – $2,500 to expand mentoring for students in foster care 

Delaware Contemporary – $2,500 to support the Summer of Play festival, which provides access to art and education about how play can mitigate trauma  

Delaware Art Museum – $2,500 to support the bilingual Healing through the Arts program in partnership with the Teen Warehouse 

Edge for Tomorrow – $2,500 to fund Mt. Pleasant Elementary’s afterschool Feel the Beat Fridays program, which provides students the opportunity to express emotions and process trauma and stress 

Latin America Community Center (LACC) – $2,500 to support a field trip to SkyZone for children in the Youth Achievement Center’s mental health program 

SUSSEX COUNTY 
Focus Area: In 2022, the Sussex County YPB is funding nonprofits that focus on supporting vulnerable communities with student success (before, during and/or after school), workforce development and/or food insecurity. Preference was given to organizations that support immigrant/minority families with students in elementary and secondary school. 

Primeros Pasos – $945 to help pre-K teachers purchase materials 

Native Nourishment – $2,000 to provide garden starter kits to Native American families 

Family Promise of Southern Delaware – $2,500 to pay for clients’ needs (e.g., rent, utilities, employment support, etc.) 

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Delaware – $2,500 to support the Bigs in Blue program, which creates a bridge between law enforcement and youth to build trust and create mentoring opportunities 

Harry K Foundation – $3,000 to support their many food pantries 

Philadelphia Arms Townhomes – $4,055 to build a new playground for small children whose parents are homeless and awaiting permanent housing