YAC

The purposes of the Youth Council is to train young people in decision-making skills, to provide a forum for youth interests and needs, to commit resources for youth projects and programs, and to involve youth in both volunteerism and philanthropy.

WHAT WE DO

Assess the youth needs and assets within our community
Review grant applications and award funds
Fundraising events
Serve in leadership role for youth summits and workshops focused on local issues concerning youth
Evaluate the effectiveness of the projects fund. Youth council members also participate in statewide events with other Youth Advisory Councils (YACs).

OUR HISTORY

Established in 1994, the Youth Enrichment Endowment Fund is part of the Michigan Community Foundations' statewide Youth Project (MCFYP) funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This program was initiated to build community foundation capacity, to establish youth as philanthropists, and to build permanent and growing funds within each community to meet local youth needs.

Through funds provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the MCFYP provided challenge grants, technical assistance, leadership training, scholarships, minigrants and conferences for Michigan community foundations and their Youth Advisory Councils (YACs). The challenge grant required $2 of local funds to be raised and placed in a permanent unrestricted fund or field-of-interest fund of a community foundation, to leverage $1 of W.K. Kellogg Foundation funds. The Kellogg funds were then placed in a Youth Field-of-Interest Fund.

Through fund-raising efforts by the Chippewa County Community Foundation and the matching funds captured through the generosity of the W.K. Kellogg challenge grant, the Youth Fund has a balance of over $290,000. Interest earned from this Fund is awarded as grants to nonprofit organizations within the Chippewa County area, to fund projects and programs that improve the quality of life for area youth. The grants are awarded by the Youth Advisory Council, an advisory committee to the Chippewa County Community Foundation Board of Trustees. The YAC formed an active council in the 1996-1997 school year. Since that time they have given out over $50,000 in grant money to the community.