Highland Youth Philanthropy Council Now Receiving Non-Profit Applications for 2018

The Highland Youth Philanthropy Council is ramping up their activities for the new year, and non-profits once again have a chance at receiving some more funding for their causes. YPC members Morgan Adams and Ethan Smith have more on what the Council is and what it does.

Morgan begins by saying, “We are a council comprised of twelve students, 9^th – 12^th grade, that attend Highland High School and from the county. We give away money to non-profits that service Highland, and we are partnered with the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.”

Ethan says, “We are requesting grant applications. We have $10,000 to give away. The max. single award is $5,000.”

Morgan continues, “Our requirements are that they must be a registered 501( c )3. They must be a Highland non-profit, or a non-profit that is looking to expand services in to Highland, and the money must be earmarked for services to Highland residents.”

Ethan explains some more criteria that will be considered by the YPC in order to determine which non-profits may receive funding. He says, “We help ensure equal and expandable access to educational opportunities; we remove barriers to youth retention, resident attraction and broader economic development; we increase access to vital services like healthcare, including mental health services. We also increase opportunities for Highland residents to develop their commitment to the community; we fill crucial gaps in existing services or resources; we involve a creative approach to meeting county needs, either on their own or through partnerships. We also provide for one time expenditures on equipment, infrastructure, and/or capacity building. In addition, we will consider applications that are aimed at alleviating hunger and increasing access to healthy food.”

Morgan explains the final parts of the process. She says, “We will review the applications, interview those we pick, and the grantees will attend a ceremony in May, where checks will be awarded. The deadline for applications is Sunday, January 28^th, at midnight.”

For those interested in applying, YPC members may contact an organization or business directly through outreach, or the Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator, Josh Umar, can be contacted. He provides some final words on this year’s Council. He says, “It’s a good group of young people to work with. The ultimate goal for the YPC is to support local non-profits and their work and fill gaps in community resources, so that people can try out some innovative approaches to solving some of the longstanding problems that we have here in the county.

“For more information, for the link to the online application, or just any questions, feel free to reach out to a YPC member, or you can contact me directly at 468-1922.”