Youth Giving Project Empowers Youth to Give Back
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2019
CONTACT:
Bridget Wilkinson, Executive Director, Bozeman Area Community Foundation
(406) 587-6262, bridget@bozemanfoundation.org
Youth Giving Project Empowers Youth to Give Back
Local youth are encouraged to participate in this year’s Youth Giving Project to learn about nonprofits, gain leadership skills, and grant $10,000 to local organizations!
Gallatin Valley, MT – As the school year begins, so does another opportunity for youth in Gallatin County to give back to their communities. On September 24th, The Bozeman Area Community Foundation and Foundant Technologies will launch the fifth Youth Giving Project, a program created to empower local youth to have an impact on their communities through their time, talents and treasures.
The Bozeman Area Community Foundation and Foundant Technologies believe that if you teach youth to give, you empower them to change the world. That is why in 2015, these community partners came together to create this innovative and collaborative program to engage youth in creating a culture of giving in our community. Since that time, youth have granted more than $50,000 to local nonprofits through The Youth Giving Project.
“Through a real-world approach, The Youth Giving Project provides local youth the opportunity to become leaders in our community by learning the importance of philanthropy and the needs that exist in their backyard,” said Bridget Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Bozeman Area Community Foundation.
During the program, students meet bi-weekly to learn about the nonprofit sector, visit local organizations, and manage their own grant-making cycle. Students will volunteer with nonprofits, write grant criteria, review grant applications, and work together to decide which grants to fund.
“You don’t just flip a switch to become a philanthropist, it takes time to learn. We think this program gives our local youth the opportunity to learn how to become philanthropists and leaders in their community," said Sammie Holzwarth, Foundant Technologies Product Manager.
Do you know a local youth that might be a good fit for this program?
Our community partners invite young people ages 14-18 from around Gallatin Valley to apply to be a part of our 2019-2020 Youth Giving Project. Participants will learn leadership skills and skills to evaluate youth project proposals and award $10,000 in grant funds generously provided in part by Foundant Technologies. This program will begin on Tuesday, September 24th and continue through May 2020.
“YGP has empowered me to speak up for the community and given me the ability to do what I love more than anything in the world. It has encouraged me to be more determined and more informed about the struggles going on in our community. YGP has inspired me to do more and work hard for others. The organization has impacted the community so much by providing a place where youth can get their ideas heard by other youths.” - Skylar Hughs, YGP participant.
To learn more about the program please go to: http://www.bozemanfoundation.org/youthgivingproject/. If youth are interested in committing to this project, the application can be found there as well.
About Foundant Technologies
Foundant Technologies provides the powerful online Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) system and leads the industry in customer service. As part of both the Inc. 5000 and Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work lists, Foundant has a proven record of success with more than 850 clients.
About the Bozeman Area Community Foundation
Established in 1998, the Bozeman Area Community Foundation is connecting people who care to causes that matter most to them. The Bozeman Area Community Foundation serves the areas of Bozeman, Big Sky, Belgrade, Manhattan, Churchill, Three Forks, and the rural areas in between. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $3 million dollars to 194+ local nonprofit organizations. Learn more at www.bozemanfoundation.org.
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