Across Canada many community foundations are teaching young people about the charitable sector in their communities. High school students are learning the methods and techniques used by foundations to support charitable activities.

In 2002, we established the Youth-in-Philanthropy project for students in rural and northern Manitoba. It is a three-way partnership including the Thomas Sill Foundation, the local community foundation and the local high school.

The Youth Advisory Committees of the high schools each receive $3,500 annually for three years from the Foundation. These funds are deposited by the local foundation which entertains recommendations for grants to local charities from the students. A designated high school endowment is also established by the students. The local foundation provides supervision and agrees to fund the program for a subsequent three years.

Twenty two high schools in nineteen rural and northern communities are participating in various stages of this project. These communities include:

Altona

Beausejour
Boissevain
Brandon (3 schools)
Dauphin
Gimli
Kenora (Ontario)
MacGregor
Morden
Neepawa
Portage la Prairie (2 schools)
Roblin
Selkirk
Stonewall
Swan River

Teulon
Thompson
Warren
Winkler

Since 2002, the Thomas Sill Foundation has made $231,000 available for this program. But the real value is how much young people are learning about the importance of charitable work in their communities.

The Youth Advisory Committee in Beausejour is an outstanding example.  In 2006 they resolved to plant an 80 acre wheat crop to raise an endowment fund at the Brokenhead River Community Foundation for the benefit of their high school  The crop was planted and harvested in 2007.  In 2008 they received their final Canadian Wheat Board payment and deposited $10,800 to an endowment for the benefit of Edward Schreyer School.