In Youth We Trust Council
Youth granting youth the power to lead and change our community.
In Youth We Trust is a youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Established with a grant from the Ford Foundation in 1994 and endowed by a local donor, this program teaches grantmaking, volunteerism, and leadership skills to today’s youth, preparing them to be the positive change of tomorrow.
The In Youth We Trust Council is made up of high-school-age youth from across the region. Council members engage in direct community service as well as philanthropy; the Council is directly involved in the In Youth We Trust Grant Program administration. They help set grant policy, review youth inspired service project proposals, and recommend distribution of up to $30,000 a year in grants to selected youth projects. The IYWT Council looks for projects that are led by youth and that benefit youth, providing financial support to opportunities that help solve problems affecting their peers and the quality of life of youth in our communities.
2019 – 2020 IYWT COUNCIL MEMBERS |
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Charlie Andres – Belvidere North High School |
Talon Drake – Hononegah High School |
Angel Nasanbuyam – Boylan High School Amari Richardson – Guilford High School Jalen Richardson – Guilford High School Maddie Seuring – Rockford Christian High School DJ Trenhaile – Boylan High School Shreya Vattem – Hononegah High School Jazmine White – Guilford High School Adalia Yeung – Rockford Lutheran High School |
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2019 – 2020 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Aryan Arora – President |
2019 – 2020 COMMUNITY ADVISORS Joanna Bares |
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In 1993, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois was one of 20 community foundations selected by the Ford Foundation to be part of a program called Changing Communities: Diverse Needs. The Foundation suggested to Ford that the best way to bring a community together was to bring youth together.
In the summer of 1994, the Community Foundation gathered a diverse group of youth inspired by the notion that youth could partner with other youth to improve their community. The In Youth We Trust grant program began in 1995 and since then, the In Youth We Trust Council has recommended the distribution of over $450,000 to local youth led organizations.
The In Youth We Trust Council, made up of high-school-age youth from across the region, engages young people in community service and philanthropy by giving them resources and opportunities to help solve problems affecting their peers and their quality of life.
In Youth We Trust Council members are directly involved in the In Youth We Trust Grant Program. They help set grant policy, review youth inspired service project proposals, and recommend distribution of up to $30,000 a year in grants to selected youth projects.
The IYWT Council meets approximately one Saturday morning a month during the school year. As part of the IYWT grant process each year, In Youth We Trust Council members review grant applications for youth projects, evaluate the applications, and interview the applicants. In addition to participating in the grant review program, members take part in many community-building activities including volunteer work and planning community events for youth.
In addition to attending required meetings and activities, IYWT Council members:
- Learn and understand the purpose of IYWT and the mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois;
- Learn grantmaking guidelines and procedures;
- Prepare for and participate in grant review meetings;
- Evaluate applications based on guidelines, community impact, and budget;
- Identify and inform the IYWT Council of the needs of youth in the community;
- Advocate for the IYWT program.
Step One: review the IYWT Council Informational Letter
Step Two: Attend the IYWT Kickoff Meeting (the kickoff for the 2019 - 2020 school year was held September 28, 2019)
Step Three: Decide you’re willing and able to attend most meetings and activities
Step Four: Complete and submit the membership application and submit a letter of recommendation no later than October 12th, 2019
Step Five: Applicants will be notified prior to the October 19th meeting of their acceptance.
The deadline for joining In Youth We Trust this year is October 8, 2019. If you’re interested in joining and have questions, contact Ciara Stahly.
Questions? Interested in learning more about IYWT? Contact Ciara!
