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Northfield YouthBank

For Youth, By Youth

YouthBank is an innovative youth philanthropy program in which a team of trained youth grant-makers award funds to youth-led projects that will improve the quality of life in Northfield.

Are you between the ages of 14 and 19 and have a project idea to make Northfield a better place for youth?

If so, YouthBank can help make it happen with grants of up to $5,000 to help make it happen!

This fall we have chosen to focus on supporting grants addressing:

Issues impacting youth in our community (COVID-19 and Racial injustice)

*However, we welcome applications that help the community in other ways.*

Application process is now open.

Application deadline: Monday, December 7, 2020 – by 5pm

Some examples of possible projects in these focus areas would be creating opportunities for youth in Northfield to have access to necessary resources (e.g. textbooks, school supplies, clothing, personal hygiene items, etc.), inviting speakers to address gender and racial inequality, a support group, or a workshop about the various cultures present in our community.

Some of the projects YouthBank has funded in the past include: a scholarship pool for the TORCH Youth Advisory Board to distribute to youth in need of money to take Driver’s Ed, Behind the Wheel courses and Prom tickets, an LGBT+ support group, an after-school art club called The Studio, funding for a turf field at the Key, revitalizing a park by Viking Terrace, and Marnita’s Table and Red Yarn Stories events.

The more your idea fits the grant requirements below, the better the chance you will have of receiving funding.

See All Funded Grants

The basic grant requirements are:

  • Youth-led: This means a group of at least 3 young people have the idea, apply for the money and make it happen.
  • Clear and realistic plan to meet your goal.
  • Good value for money.
  • Has a positive impact on young people in our community.
  • Addresses issues of equity within our community.
  • Each grant must use a minimum of $500.
  • Each project is housed within a tax-exempt organization that acts as a fiscal agent.

Your application will be scored on the following: Quality of Idea, Value for Money, the Role of Youth, the Project’s Impact, Addressing Equity, and Group Preparedness.

How does YouthBank help youth?+–

On top of funding valuable community projects, YouthBank helps young people develop essential life skills and prepares them for future careers. Members of the granting committee are responsible for engaging in community research, fundraising, promoting grant opportunities, reviewing requests for funding and engaging in the decision making process, working alongside young people in promoting their work, writing reports and engaging with grant recipients to learn what worked well.

Commitment to anti-racism+–

Northfield YouthBank continues to work on educating ourselves and those around us on the far-reaching effects of systemic racism. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department in May was a horrific injustice that shed light on the much larger issue of deep-seated and oft-overlooked racism in America—an issue YouthBank commits to addressing.

Two of YouthBank’s core values are equity for all and youth empowerment. We strive to amplify the voices of all youth, but especially those who are underrepresented. All too often, black voices are silenced by a society built on a foundation of systemic racism. Black lives matter, and we stand in solidarity with the black community and with those who are advocating for justice. Dramatic changes must occur in order to build a better, more equitable society.

Racism doesn’t just disappear because people post about it for a week. We should all strive to advocate for racial equality and justice every day of our lives. We pledge to continue our own education and share links to resources, places to donate, and educational tools, as well as highlighting youth who are taking action everyday in the fight against racism. We continue to discuss how our organization can best use its resources to serve you. Please feel free to reach out with any feedback or recommendations.