Participating West Marin classrooms receive $2,000 per year to regrant to local nonprofits of their students’ choosing.
Giving Through Youth Grants
Giving Through Youth is a collaboration between The Fund for West Marin, The Giving Square, and local elementary and middle schools to empower the next generation of civic leaders, philanthropists, and community volunteers. With support from their teachers and the Giving Through Youth curriculum, students learn about local nonprofits serving their communities and decide where to allocate funding from The Fund for West Marin.
Overview
Grant Range
Timing & Process
- Summer: Classrooms confirm their Giving Through Youth participation
- Fall: Teacher and principal onboarding with The Fund for West Marin staff
- Spring: Students make final funding decisions and present selected nonprofits with grant awards
To sign your classroom up for Giving Through Youth, please contact us at grants@fundforwestmarin.org.
The Student Experience
Giving Through Youth puts the power of giving directly into students’ hands. Through the program, students learn about the needs and opportunities in their community, explore the work of local organizations, and evaluate funding proposals. Working together, they discuss priorities, weigh different perspectives, and decide how real grant dollars should be invested to make the greatest impact.
The experience culminates in an awards ceremony where students present grant awards to the organizations they selected. Families, teachers, community members, and donors come together to recognize the students’ work and the difference they are helping to create.
More than a lesson in philanthropy, Giving Through Youth provides hands-on experience in research, critical thinking, collaboration, public speaking, and decision-making. Students gain confidence as they take on real responsibility and see the results of their choices.
The impact is lasting. Students consistently report feeling proud to contribute to their community, while educators highlight growth in research, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Through Diego’s Eyes
To capture the experience of Giving Through Youth through the eyes of a participating student, The Fund for West Marin worked with videographer Tom McAfee in 2018 to capture the story of Diego Chavarria’s selection of the Muir Beach Volunteer Fire Department.
