Best Practice Number Four

Holds an annual orientation for all new members and encourages all members to participate in training opportunities that will strengthen their skills in philanthropy.

Explanation:

Orientation is critical in providing context for new youth grant-makers. It introduces the concepts of philanthropy, endowment, foundations, grants, and non-profits.  It also provides an ideal opportunity to demonstrate one of YAC’s cornerstones: youth leadership. Equally important is ongoing training made available through organizations such as the Council of Michigan Foundations, which expand the grant-makers’ understanding of philanthropy and youth leadership.

Recommendations for YACers:

Current YAC members should plan and lead the new member orientation.

Include a grant-making simulation in your orientation.

Be sure to explain the YAC’s relationship with the community foundation and role as a grant-making committee, and the importance of the needs assessment, community service, and evaluation.

Provide a “cheat sheet” of the acronyms and phrases that new grant-makers must know.

Check www.youthgrantmakers.org for sample training tools.