Youth Community Fund

The Youth Community Fund is a group of approximately 50 high school students from Darien High School and local private schools who learn about philanthropy and the role of nonprofits in our community. Members will:

• Participate in a variety of volunteer projects at different local nonprofit organizations
• Raise much-needed funds
• Identify and invite a group of agencies to apply for funding
• Review funding requests and collectively agree on how best to allocate funds, approximately $14,000, to local nonprofit organizations.

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​Youth Community Fund members are an active group of students and joining this group requires a commitment to attend most meetings. We require attendance for all group meetings (typically the second Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.) and require that students attend a minimum of 3 community service activities. We also require that all students, in groups of 4-6, participate in the funding review process which includes a site visit to a nonprofit organization. Our group meetings will take place at various community locations such as the Darien YMCA or the Darien Library.
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In addition, there are volunteer activities and fundraisers scheduled for afternoons or on weekends. We meet at The Community Fund of Darien’s office, located at 30 Old Kings Highway South, and carpool to the nonprofit at which we are volunteering – most are in Norwalk and Stamford.

The group is led by Lisa Haas, Community Investments Director, two parent advisors – Ginger Morgan and Melissa Williams – and high school seniors in elected leadership positions.
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Questions? Please email Michaela Spinello, Youth Program Manager

The Youth Community Fund is now full for the year of 2022-2023. If you are interested in registering for this year, you will be placed on the waiting list. If you are interested, please email michaela.spinello@communityfunddarien.org for more info. 

YCF Application Link

Alumni Spotlight

​Kaela Buggy is studying Faith and Social Justice & Social Entrepreneurship at the Massey Business School at Belmont University in Nashville. “My time in the Youth Community Fund ended up being one of the most formative experiences I had prior to college. It gave me a jumpstart into a field of study that I was not even sure existed. To be a sophomore in college, studying nonprofit management, and already have experience in the nonprofit sector is so beneficial to my college experience. My time in the Youth Community Fund has proven to be a major supplement to my college education.”