Delaware nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants from the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPB).

The Kent and Sussex County boards will award $10,000 each. The New Castle County board will award $15,000. Applications for Kent and Sussex County grants must be submitted online by 4 p.m., Dec. 29, 2017, and applications for New Castle County must be submitted by 4 p.m., Jan. 3, 2018.

Each county’s board will award grants to programs supporting a unique focus area:

Kent County will accept applications from programs that improve and support services to at-risk youth, with a preference for programs focusing on substance abuse and/or mental health issues. The maximum request is $5,000.

New Castle County will accept applications from programs assisting those who have lost a loved one through substance abuse, suicide, or other tragic circumstances, as well as programs that conduct suicide prevention and awareness. Special consideration will be given to programs that work with youth. The maximum request is $2,500.

Sussex County will accept applications from nonprofits providing guidance and/or educational assistance in the areas of mental health, substance abuse or rehabilitation, including foster families. The maximum request is $5,000.

Organizations may apply for grants from each county’s YPB. To be eligible, the program for which funding is requested must directly benefit residents of that county and fall within that county’s unique focus area.

Grant requests must be submitted on a 2018 Youth Philanthropy Board Grant Application Form for the appropriate county. Forms are available at delcf.org/grants and must be submitted directly via email. Applicants will be notified in each county in April 2018.

The DCF sponsors the YPBs to encourage younger generations to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board, composed of high school students from public, private and parochial schools, is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grantmaking, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving.

Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program gives students an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure and the challenges of charitable giving, including determining how to make the greatest impact on quality of life with the limited resources available,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “It’s an important program because we are cultivating the philanthropists of tomorrow.”