Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy Initiative- Dickinson County
Contact Youth in Philanthropy:
Youth in Philanthropy
Okoboji Foundation
PO Box 593
Okoboji, IA 51355
Stats at a Glance
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Community
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Dickinson County
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Students Engaged Annually
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20
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Amount Granted Annually
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$11,500.00
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Year Founded
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2010
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Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy Overview
The Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy Initiative empowers and challenges youth to identify community needs and build a sense of social responsibility. The Youth Council meets once a month from October - May at the Okoboji Foundation and other nonprofit locations for tours and highlights. The 2010-2011 schedule included these places supported by Leadership Grants from the Okoboji Foundation: Bedell Family YMCA/Camp Foster, Historic Arnolds Park, Pearson Lakes Art Center, and Iowa Lakeside Lab. These tours and highlights provide a new awareness for students as they learn that many of their favorite activities and places would not be here without the generosity and planning of others. Students also raise annual funds from sponsors to present their own grant award(s) to non-profits in the Iowa Great Lakes Community.
The Youth Council uses peer input gathered from a Youth Assessment completed by sophomores and seniors in their high schools and adult input from the Okoboji Foundation Donor Survey to review and score grant requests received by the Foundation. The Youth Council adds a new voice and fresh perspective to the grant process.
The 2011 Youth Council presented a grant award of $11,600 to Camp Foster YMCA to build a permanent roof structure and handicapped access ramp for the chapel and outdoor events venue which serves over 2,500 youth at camp each year.
Dickinson County Iowa high school students may apply annually to participate. Applications are available each September at Harris-Lake Park, Okoboji, and Spirit Lake High Schools and on the Okoboji Foundation website at www.okobojifoundation.org.