Give Next youth philanthropy program grants available to Larimer County nonprofits

Give Next youth philanthropy program grants of $5,000 are now available to Larimer County nonprofits in collaboration with service-learning programs at area middle schools and high schools. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.

The mission of Give Next is to educate students about the vital role that nonprofits and philanthropy play in the community by providing students with opportunities for service and leadership through philanthropy and volunteering.

Give Next is a service-learning program that builds collaboration and critical thinking skills, with an overlay of civic engagement and is a United Way of Larimer County program with major support provided by Bohemian Foundation, the program’s mission sponsor.

Each Give Next classroom receives $5,000 for grant making in the areas of education, income, health, arts, and the environment. The money for the classroom grants is donated by local businesses, foundations and philanthropists.

Students work together to identify community needs, research nonprofits, volunteer, conduct site visits, review grant applications, make funding decisions, and award grants. At the end of the term, students plan an awards ceremony during which they share lessons learned through the program and award grant checks to selected nonprofits.

The Give Next program provides students an ideal opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in all five areas of 21st Century Skills: critical thinking, information literacy, collaboration, self direction and invention.

2012-13 participating grant recipients include Fort Collins High School, Lesher Middle School, Poudre High School, Preston Middle School and Webber Middle School.

For more information visit the Give Next website at uwaylc.org/our-work/special-programs/give-next/