Today, more communities and community-building institutions are benefiting from youth philanthropy's ability to tap into the insights and energy of young people.

They are seeing benefits such as increased commitment to community involvement, opportunities to build new skills, increased understanding of their communities and the challenges facing them, and strong, positive relationships with adults and youth.

YLI's extensive experience, as well as a growing body of research on youth philanthropy, illustrates that young people gain from taking part in structured philanthropic activities.

Benefits for Youth

YLI extensively evaluates the experiences of youth participants involved in philanthropy, using five standards of positive youth development practice. Surveys, interviews and extensive anecdotal information show that youth philanthropy builds young people's skills and prepares them to be fully engaged community members.

Benefits for Adults

Adults also see important benefits through youth participation in philanthropy. Adults who partner with young people as grantmakers often strengthen their own beliefs about the contributions that young people can make. Adults who partner with youth participants to plan projects, apply for grant funds and carry out funded projects, gain a deeper understanding of how communities can better address the needs of young people.

Benefits for Communities

Youth philanthropy brings new perspectives and fresh ideas to bear on the challenges facing our communities. Youth philanthropy also instills an ethic of civic participation in young people, and thereby lays the foundation for a lifetime of community leadership and involvement.

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