Youth Leadership and Grantmaking: Pueblo Youth Action Council

We believe young people have the power to make the world a better place.

Our Youth Action Council empowers young people to develop their voices and leadership skills while making a real-world impact through grantmaking. Youth-led grantmaking benefits everyone involved:

• Young people who make funding decisions: By participating in the grantmaking process, youth gain a deeper understanding of community and youth issues, become more confident decision-makers, and learn how to effectively share their perspectives and lead.
• Foundations that engage young people as partners: Youth can serve as valuable consultants to their adult counterparts in philanthropy. Research suggests that young people often identify emerging community issues up to three years before adults. By involving youth in grantmaking, foundations can develop more informed and effective funding strategies.
• Nonprofits and the communities they serve: Youth grantmaking provides essential funding to nonprofits while fostering a new generation of socially conscious and engaged citizens, committed to making a meaningful difference in society. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of grantmaking but also nurtures leadership and civic responsibility among young people.

The Pueblo Youth Action Council, established in 2021 by Caring for Colorado’s Packard Fund for Pueblo, fosters community engagement and leadership among young people in Pueblo County. Through this initiative, students manage their own grant cycle during the school year, gaining firsthand experience in philanthropy and addressing local issues. They also raise funds for nonprofits tackling community challenges they have identified, with 100% of the funds going directly to these organizations.

In partnership with YouthRoots, this innovative program offers young people the chance to deepen their understanding of social issues, develop leadership and decision-making skills, collaborate effectively within a team, and appreciate the role of philanthropy in the nonprofit sector. By making grant decisions, students learn to evaluate community needs, assess applications, and allocate resources responsibly.