Youth Community Fund

The Youth Community Fund is a group of approximately 50 high school students who learn about philanthropy and the role of nonprofits in our community. Participants will:

Experience in a variety of volunteer projects at different local nonprofit organizations
Raise much-needed funds for the YCF Community Investments pool
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.

Youth Community Fund participants must commit to attend meetings and a minimum of 3 community service activities. Students, in groups of 4-6, participate in the funding review process which includes a site visit to a nonprofit organization.

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.

Questions? Please email Sarah McCarty, Youth Program Manager

If you would like to participate in YCF 2023-2024 please email sarah.mccarty@communityfunddarien.org

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.