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 must be submitted by Jan. 1, 2019.

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

Kent County will consider organizations that enhance and support youth development in Kent County, with preference for those which focus on mental health, the arts, hunger and/or agriculture programs. Typical awards are $1,000 – $5,000 per year.

New Castle County will consider post-secondary readiness and/or mentoring programs that serve teens and young adults in New Castle County, with special consideration for initiatives that:
• build leadership opportunities,
• address specific challenges (including homelessness, substance abuse, or violence), or
• target traditionally underserved populations (including low-income and immigrant youth).
Typical awards are $1,000 – $2,500 per year.

Sussex County will consider nonprofit organizations that focus on mentoring at-risk youth in Sussex County with a preference toward programs supporting those affected by substance abuse, sex trafficking and/or mental health issues. Typical awards are $1,000 – $5,000 per year.

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 online beginning Dec. 4,. Applicants will be notified in each county in April 2019.

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 grant-making, 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.”

Photo: Sussex County Youth Philanthropy Board

Delaware students are invited to apply for scholarships available through the Delaware Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2019.

Last year, the DCF awarded 208 scholarships totaling $396,700 to individuals to assist them in pursuing higher education. Students can apply for most scholarships by completing a single online application, available on the DCF’s new platform. On the website, students can review all criteria and award amounts before beginning the application process. Candidates can view the DCF Scholarship Compendium, with information on all available scholarships.

The online application system guides applicants through a series of questions to determine which scholarships they may be eligible for. Students are automatically considered for every scholarship for which they meet the minimum criteria.

There is no cap on the number of scholarships or the amount students may receive. Funding from many of the scholarships may be applied to the costs of textbooks and fees, in addition to tuition. Some are one-time awards, and others are renewable.

“Many of our donors who care about education choose to create scholarship funds to help students and their families with rising college costs,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Our goal is to empower people who care about education with people who are engaged about their futures.”

For more information, contact Kelly Sheridan, 302.856.4393.

High school students will award $15,000 in grants to New Castle County nonprofits

Thirty-two New Castle County high school students will experience the joys and challenges of being philanthropists this year through the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB).

Like its counterparts in Kent and Sussex Counties, the New Castle County YPB includes students from public, private and parochial schools. The DCF gives the New Castle County students $15,000 to award to local charities. The students work together to choose a focus area, solicit and review grant applications, conduct site visits, and decide how to distribute the money to have the greatest impact.

Grant applications will be available in December and due in January.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program does more than give kids the chance to make a difference,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “It gets them out into the community to experience firsthand the impact their work has on people’s lives.”

2018-19 New Castle County YPB

In photo:

Siawaa Antwi, Freire Wilmington Charter School
Madison Berkey, Red Lion Christian Academy
Frederick Bolarinwa, Concord High School
Mykajah Brown, Newark High School
Luke Campbell, Wilmington Christian School
Ashley Chompre, Wilmington Friends School
Dennis Chu, Charter School of Wilmington
Riley Cuddy, Tower Hill School
Caelin Foley, Delcastle High School
Jordan Foy, St. Elizabeth High School
Tamon Hamlett, MOT Charter School
Jalia Lawrence, Mt. Pleasant High School
Diamond McClellan, Christiana High School
Elonna Mowbray, Design Thinking Academy
Chloe Nield, Brandywine High School
Tatiana Romero, William Penn High School
Jamie Rowley, St. Andrew’s School
Hunter Rzaca, Archmere Academy
Cameron Smith, Sanford School
Colin Smith, Delaware Military Academy
Jessica Smith, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Nashawn Smith, Howard High School of Technology
Sarah Smith, Caravel Academy
KeAnna Williams, St. Georges Vo-Tech High School
Kimmi Woods, Tatnall School

Not pictured:

Kamryn Dorsett, Odyssey Charter School
Peter Kardash, Salesianum School
Jane Lyons, Ursuline Academy
Thomas McGraw, Tall Oaks Classical School
Lance Ralsten, St. Mark’s High School
Anya Verucci, Newark Charter High School
Madison Wells-James, Appoquinimink High School