Youth Grantmakers in Action
Bringing Youth Voices to the Table
Youth Grantmakers in Action (YGA) creates an avenue for youth, ages 15–18, to play a meaningful role in philanthropy in Forsyth County.
YGA is a diverse and youth-led group who live in or attend school in Forsyth County. They come together to gain leadership experience, represent youth in their community, voice their opinions, and make grants to youth-directed projects that address community issues and challenges in Forsyth County.
The program supports authentic, working partnerships between youth grantmakers and other youth who are creating meaningful projects for community change.
2020-2021 Youth Grantmakers in Action
- Sarah Bettis, RJ Reynolds High School
- Kennedy Brandon, West Forsyth High School
- Jackson Brown, Atkins High School
- Breanna Chadwick, Parkland High School
- William Craig, Reagan High School
- Sebastian Del Campo, Reagan High School
- Hillary Dunn, RJ Reynolds High School
- Mayar Eldeeb, Early College of Forsyth
- Chloe Fletcher, Carver High School
- Carter Greenwood, Reagan High School
- Michael Kramer, East Forsyth High School
- Caleb Lumpkin, RJ Reynolds High School
- Naudia McKoy, North Carolina Leadership Academy
- Mirtha Medel-Crispin, John F. Kennedy High School
- Aseelah O'Neal, Mount Tabor High School
- Anam Parveen, Atkins High School
- Lyba Qureshi, West Forsyth High School
- Paris Reynosa, Glenn High School
- Alan Rojas-Rodriguez, Glenn High School
- Skylar Sumrell, West Forsyth High School
- Berk Yalcinkaya, Reagan High School
Grants for Youth-Led Projects
YGA makes grants annually to youth-led projects that address community issues and challenges and that have a positive impact on other youth. Grant applications from youth-led groups are due in late January of each school year, and grant decisions are made by April.
How to Apply
Read YGA's Grant Guidelines and apply online through January 29. Sign up for their Virtual Grantwriting Workshop on Wednesday, January 13 at 5:00 PM to learn how to create a strong grant proposal.
2020 Grant Recipients
- CARE Club – $890 to host a spring literacy camp at Bolton Elementary School
- CARE Club – $450 to create a uniform closet at Bolton Elementary School
- Forsyth County Young Leaders Program – $200 to support a volunteer awards program for youth
- No Hasti Never That – $200 to provide environmentally friendly snack bags to 250 elementary students
- Peace Builders and Justice – $1,000 to host a summit designed to train youth in restorative justice practices
- STEAM for Girls – $1,700 to host a STEAM summer camp for girls
- THETA Awards and Scholarship Fund – $1,200 for a high school theatre awards gala and to raise scholarship funds for a theatre summer enrichment program
- Walkertown High School FCCLA – $250 to provide snacks and school supplies during tutoring sessions
- Winston Opportunity Project – $1,400 for a mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Winston-Salem Youth Advisory Council – $100 for painting supplies for an anti-vaping mural
How to Get Involved
Join YGA
If you’re 15–18 years old and live in or attend school in Forsyth County, then you’re eligible to apply! YGA’s program runs from August through April of each school year, and applications to join YGA for the next school year are available on our website in the spring.
Donate
Adult Advisor: Andrea Hulighan, The Winston-Salem Foundation
Facilitator: Fred Baker, Leading to Change