Do you have an idea for a project that will help improve the condition of the youth in Philadelphia but lack the resources to make your idea reality? YOUTHadelphia can help!

Selection Criteria

In evaluating each application, funding decisions will be made based on the following criteria. Priority consideration will be given to programs that:

• Are initiated by youth
• Actively involve youth in the development and implementation of the project
• Demonstrate positive youth/adult partnerships
• Serve children and youth between the ages 11 and 19

 In addition, YOUTHadelphia grantmaking will focus on programs and activities that promote the following:

• Education
• Safety
• Poverty
• Health
• Environment
• Substance Abuse
• Racism and Discrimination

 For more information click on YOUTHadelphia Guidelines

In 2001, the Philadelphia Foundation established the Fund For Children (FFC) to accept contributions from the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, who agreed to donate $1 million each annually for 30 years.  The purpose of the Fund For Children is to “accept and redistribute funds to improve the quality of life for the children of Philadelphia, especially but not exclusively, in high poverty neighborhoods and to build the capacity of youth-serving organizations to engage youth in programmatic and organizational decision-making.”

FFC’s emphasis on capacity building and youth engagement complements the key priorities of the Foundation’s new grant-making strategy.  Capacity building refers to the process of increasing the ability of an organization to achieve its outcomes by identifying problems, assessing options, formulating strategies, and implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of those strategies.  The focus on youth engagement in organizations translates into an effort to involve youth in programmatic and organizational decision-making in meaningful ways.

Based on research findings and the work of the FFC Advisory Board, the Foundation developed three components of the FFC, with a focus on engaging older youth, ages 12-18, in high-poverty neighborhoods in Philadelphia:

YOUTHadelphia, named by its founding youth members, is a youth-governed philanthropy board established in October 2003 as part of the Fund For Children’s “youth focused investment strategy.”  Its mission is “to give Philadelphia teens opportunities to build youth power by being in control of giving back to their communities through funding youth-led projects.”  YOUTHadelphia oversees the distribution of 10 percent of the FFC funds (i.e. $100,000)  each year.  

The YOUTHadelphia structure consists of an adult advisor and approximately 20 youth. A key role of the adult advisor is  to orchestrate opportunities that support the youth members in gaining the knowledge, skills, and confidence to perform their philanthropic duties.  The adult advisor works closely with youth members in grant-making tasks, such as coordinating meetings and materials, and observing and offering direction during meetings and the grant review process.