Youth Philanthropy Leadership Program in Marathon County

Friday, June 9th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

During the 2022-23 school year, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin introduced the Youth Philanthropy Leadership Program for students in Marathon County.

The two-year program, aimed at high school juniors and seniors, is designed to prepare the next generation of philanthropic leaders through hands-on learning and mentor training.

After learning how foundations support local nonprofit’s important work, the students were given an allocation of $20,000 to award grants to deserving nonprofits that fit their objectives, which included:

• Youth to be involved in planning, organizing, and conducting the project or program;
• And/or youth to directly benefit from the services provided through the project;
• And/or youth to gain specific knowledge about an organization’s work if a grant were to be awarded.

Through student site visits, research, and discussion, twelve organizations were invited to apply for funding. The following grants were awarded at the Capstone Event held on June 5, at the Community Partners Campus:

• Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Wausau Area, College Campus Visits: $3,000;
• Healthfirst Network, Marathon County Period Poverty: $7,500;
• Keep Area Teens Safe, Providing Normalcy for Youth During Crisis: $3,500;
• NAMI Northwoods, Raise Your Voice Leader Training: $3,000;
• And New Beginnings for Refugees, Furniture Donation and Household Setup Program: $3,000.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.