Ottawa Youth in Philanthropy

Ottawa Youth in Philanthropy is a program of the Community Foundation of Ottawa designed to engage young people in the entire process of community philanthropy. With the support of an adult advisor, the program's Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) works to raise money, build endowment funds and make grants to youth projects in the local community. Youth philanthropy is a rising local and global phenomenon that has seen over 500 grantmaking bodies sprout up in Canada and the U.S. - more than half of which are within community foundations.

Fast Facts

Youth in Philanthropy - YIP

• YIP is a growing movement that engages young people in building philanthropy in communities across Canada by connecting them with community foundations and YACs.

• Youth philanthropy is local and global. A best guess has over 500 separate youth grantmaking bodies in the United States, more than half within community foundations. YIP programs have also been started in countries such as Australia, England, Ireland, Mexico and Poland, and there is growing interest in places such as Russia and Zimbabwe. This growing international network shares and learns from each other, as well as inspires and helps new YACs close to home and around the globe.

Youth Advisory Committee - YAC

• YAC is a youth advisory committee or council made up of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds who want to be actively involved in supporting their community.
• Each YAC is part of its local community foundation, locally-run public foundations that build and manage endowment funds to support charitable activities in their area. Canada has more than 145 community foundations, and more than 40 YACs
• With the support of an adult advisor, each YAC works to raise money, build endowment funds and make grants to youth projects in their local community.

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