The Delaware Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy Boards, one in each of Delaware's three counties, are composed of students from public, independent and diocesan high schools throughout the state. Each year these young board members study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools and learn about community service and grantmaking.

YPB grant applications for Kent County are now available!
The deadlines have passed for New Castle and Kent County.
Download the guidelines and application for your organization's home county:

New Castle County Application: Deadline December 15, 2011
The New Castle County Youth Philanthropy Board is considering applications from:
- Programs that offer educational enrichment and life skills training to children who have been abused, neglected, or have been incarcerated.
- Middle school programs promoting healthy lifestyles and wellness, including substance abuse prevention.

Kent County Application DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 13, 2012
The Kent County Youth Philanthropy Board will consider programs that provide long-term and/or immediate help, counseling or training for the homeless of Kent County.

Sussex County Application: Deadline January 6, 2012
The Sussex County Youth Philanthropy Board will consider applications from schools, clubs and civic/community organizations that will benefit Sussex County students in grades K-12. Organizations with programs that promote strong family life and improve personal health (e.g., afterschool activities, church programs, grief counseling) are encouraged to apply.

In 1999, retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund because she wanted to encourage New Castle County youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. In the mid-2000s, the Delaware Community Foundation took over the administration of the fund and established additional boards in Kent and Sussex Counties. Students are selected to serve one- or two-year terms by their principal or guidance counselor.

The Youth Philanthropy Boards or YPBs for each county function as though they were a nonprofit organization's board of directors. YPB members do research about their community's needs and really learn about the nonprofit organizations throughout the First State. As active board members, they plan their meetings, develop their grantmaking focus and process and conduct site visits with the nonprofits seeking their grants. They learn the value of teamwork and develop leadership skills. Last year our three YPBs distributed $35,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations serving young people.

Since the YPB program began 12 years ago, 364 students have served as YPB members and have awarded 153 grants totaling $245,000.

For more information about the Foundation's New Castle County Youth Philanthropy Board, please contact Beth Bouchelle, Director of Grants, at 302.504.5239 or bbouchelle@delcf.org.

To learn about the Kent and Sussex County Youth Philanthropy Boards, please contact Hugh Leahy, Senior Vice President for Southern Delaware at 302.856.4393 or hleahy@delcf.org.

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