Delaware nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants from the Delaware Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Boards. 

• The Kent County YPB will consider nonprofits that provide assistance for physical wellbeing (food insecurity, homelessness, etc.) and mental health services that address self-harm (cutting, substance/alcohol abuse, suicide prevention, etc.).
• The New Castle County YPB will consider nonprofits that support the physical and mental health of youth including, but not limited to, those that improve nutrition, food security, positive body image, negative impacts of social media, decrease substance use and youth violence. 
• The Sussex County YPB will consider nonprofits that focus on supporting those who struggle with access to reproductive (teen pregnancy), mental health and/or substance abuse services. Preference is given to non-profits that mentor middle and high school students that help them avoid and minimize these obstacles.

Organizations may apply for a grant from each county’s YPB. To be eligible, the program for which funding is requested must directly benefit residents of that county and fall within that county’s unique focus area. 

Grant requests are currently being accepted and must be submitted online at delcf.org/grants by 5 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2023. Applicants will be notified in Spring 2023.  

 The DCF sponsors the YPBs to encourage younger generations to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board, composed of high school students from public, private and parochial schools, is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grant-making, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving. 

 Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor. 

 “The Youth Philanthropy Board program gives students a unique opportunity to be a part of their community and experience the impact they are able to make in people’s lives,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “These are the future leaders of Delaware, and it’s important that they are given a space to learn and exercise philanthropy.”