Last we spoke, you were filling seats with teens for the board. Did you successfully fill all 16-20 seats for the fall session and what type of kids are they?

I have 29 kids, 23-27 that come consistently. We got that big because I don't know how to say no. I'll get a kid and think, "This kid will be great. It would be good for him to learn about philanthropy." Or they say that they want to learn and they come and participate. They're all high school students - a mix from all the local high schools, except for King George and Caroline. Because of the distance, we don't get as many kids from there. But the people who want to do this are the kids who are the busiest. [There are] several sports and Boy Scout-oriented. Some are really church-oriented. They are varied. And the kids who have been [with the program] the longest are the cockiest because they know how it works. I have they smartest kids and they're all funny. It's a prerequisite, I think (to be funny). And we do a lot of team building games to get to know one another. This fall, we have 19 boys and 10 girls; 17 are white, 10 are African American, two are Hispanic and one is Pakistani.

I image that you have a full load of applicants this fall. Who are some of them and what changes are they hoping to implement in the community?

Fredericksburg Counseling Services and Hope House: to teach children resiliency skills; Bethany Christian Services of Virginia: to provide short term material suppport for newborns of unwed mothers; Big Brothers and Big Sisters: school landscape beautification in King George County; Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault: to mobilize high school students to take action against sexual assault.
So there are 11 groups up for grant review this fall. Is this more or less than the usual amount? And how did the applicants learn about YIP?

There is usually anywhere from 11-13. Some get pulled up - removed - because they don't qualify. I make phone calls. I say, "I read something about something in the newspaper…" Then I book them. Most of the agencies (applying for grants) have to have federal funding, but this [grant application] is easy to fill out.

How many of the 11 can realistically can earn a grant?

We have only $5,000 to give away and the max you can get is $1,000. [Applicants] can take all or part of the money. Some want only $500 and some want $900. So they look at their budgets and try to find money from other places, too. You have to know how to look at a project and say, "Well this doesn't have anything to do with the project (and omit it.)" The kids really look at the [applicant's] budgets to make sure that the money is going to be properly used. They really think it through.
So let's say I'm applying for a grant to teach children the importance of brushing and flossing. What would I need to do to get my group before the board?

All you need to do is fill out an application. I usually put notices in the newspaper, [get the word out to] non-profit organizations and I send applications to the schools.

Then you would fill out the application. Your program has to be youth-led or youth initiated. It does not have to serve the youth, but they have to be involved. Then you give me us a budget.

Once we're ready for the interview process, we notify you and you're given three choices for a time to interview. You come in and present your purpose to the kids. The kids then present their thoughts and recommendations to the Community Foundation Board.

What happens after I present to the board? How long before I hear whether or not YIP will fund me?

We're always at the mercy of the timing of the [Community Foundation] board meetings. It can take as long as three weeks and I am not allowed to announce anything until after the board meeting. If you need money in two weeks, we're not the agency for you. Federal and State grants can take up to six months to decide. For us, it's normally a three-month process from the time you submit your application until a decision.

Do the grant applicants respond well to putting the fate of their projects in the hands of high schoolers?

They love it. They like the idea of presenting and educating the kids on the board about their cause.

How long does it take for the kids to decide on who gets the awards?

We try to do it in a two-hour session. That's our plan at least.

Does the panel have to be unanimous or is it majority rules?

Majority rules. If we wanted unanimity, we would never get there. I started off the program with everyone telling their votes out loud. Then I would make a comment here and there. But what I didn't want was for them to be influenced by my comments. So I would just tell them the facts [about a particular program]. It worked fine, but I thought it would be so much more their own if I let them debate it. Then I noticed the shy ones were easily influenced, so I went with secret ballots.

If I am successful, what happens?

I write you letter and I write you a check. You then have 180 days to report back to me what you did with it. Let's say you have this plan and all of a sudden, it's not working. That's okay. You can change your plan to make it work. We're interested in the end result. You just have to show your receipts. Finally, you have to recognize Youth in Philanthropy. You can write a letter to the editor, send a press release or publish it in your newsletter. I encourage everyone to do something.

If I am unsuccessful, what happens and what can I do?

You also get a letter from me and you can call me to find out what went wrong. I never try to guess anymore. The one's I like, the kid's don't like. They'll find something I never thought of. And it's from their perspective, not my perspective. It's all about what they think it should look like.

How hard is it for the kids to veto a grant proposal?

Not hard at all. They'll stand up and debate it [amongst themselves]. Most aren't shy. They speak up. We work on trust. They're free to give all of their opinions no matter how crazy or how far-fetched they are.

How many times can I apply?

As many times as you want. You keep coming up with good ideas and we'll keep funding them. Why would we care? We're not funding full projects and there's no guarantee that you'll get funded every time. Does that factor in (that we've funded you before), yes. If there are 10 good projects and we've funded three or four of them, that might be a factor in deciding. But, if you're your out getting funding from everyone (for a single project), that's not good.

In conclusion, does a group's sphere of influence give it an advantage?

No. Habitat for Humanity is a good example. They had a company willing to give them landscaping drawings, then they had Thurman Brisbon helping them along with Fredericksburg Counseling. It's not necessary [to collaborate], but if it's the only way to get your project done... What we like to see is groups who collaborate within the community.

Chris Jones is an award-winning writer & graphic designer who resides in Fredericksburg. He can be reached at always.write@hotmail.com

Chris Jones is an award-winning writer & graphic designer who resides in Fredericksburg. He can be reached at always.write@hotmail.com. Chris' work can also be read on Fredericksburg Parent Magazine's blog.