The Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPBs), one in each of Delaware’s three counties, are composed of students from public, independent and diocesan high schools throughout the state.
Every year, each YPB makes grant recommendations to support impactful projects in their communities. Together, they develop a focus area, solicit and evaluate proposals, conduct site visits and award grants.
2024 was the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the YPBs. Started by a former DCF Board Member, the program has had over 700 students serve from nearly every high school in Delaware and have awarded over $800,000 in grants. In 2024, our three YPBs distributed a record $71,492 in grants to 26 nonprofit organizations. View previous grant recipients.
Each YPB selects a different focus area. Focus areas for 2024 grants are:
- The Kent County YPB believes in the conservation of a sustainable mind, body and environment. In 2024, it invites nonprofits to apply that prioritize the well-being of the individual and the planet, e.g. via environmental protection, health, homelessness, domestic violence and/or substance/alcohol abuse.
- The New Castle County YPB understands the importance of youth mental health. The board invites and encourages nonprofits that focus on the impact of gun violence, food insecurity, learning disabilities and other forms of trauma on youth to apply.
- The Sussex County YPB believes in helping conserve the land and addressing the well-being of the individual. For its 2024 grants, nonprofits that focus on land conservation, mental health, homelessness, and/or drug/alcohol addiction are encouraged to apply.
2024-2025 Youth Philanthropy Board Cohorts
New Castle County
Lauren Bolarinwa, Josephine Calder, Chazz Chamblee, Theresa Dills, Naima Ellis-Daniels, Christina Liapis, Avery Martinenza, Asma Muhammad, Dhurvi Patel, Liliana Powell, Arely Reyes, Ian Rippon, Janiyah Stovall-Baynard, Gabrielle Weedor
Kent County
Addi Brode, Lucy Chorman, Owen Eichholz, Elyse Fuller, Ava Gallo, Mason Hay, Landon Hughes, Thea Paxton, Sage Sawhney, Tierra Shockley, Brian Song, Eliana Totimeh, Austin Yourek
Sussex County
Braiden Alexander, Diana Angel-Gabriel, Anna Beck, Ashly Benavides, Darcy Crotty, Fatma Darilmaz, Maribella DiCenzo, Will DiPaolo, Phoebe Francois, Gina Gruwell, Elizabeth Martin, Kendall McCabe, Katie Nguyen, Kieran Probert, Payton Richie, Destiny Snow, Aubrey Stanislav, William Wells, Nona Wright, Allen Zhang
The Youth Philanthropy Boards need your support!
To sponsor the students in one county or statewide, please contact Yolanda Rushdan, Senior Program Officer, 302.504.5239.
2025 YPB Grants will open on December 1, 2024.
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