Youth Philanthropy is a recent trend in the United States, growing out of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was at the beginning of the 1980s that many nonprofit organizations began to face financial struggles, specifically in regards to individual donor funding.  This forced many organizations, such as National 4-H, to reevaluate their mission and programs (Swanson 2002).  It was out of this reevaluation that a few organizations began to consider the future of the sector as a whole.  Understanding that the nonprofit sector was reliant on the time, talent, and treasure of others, organizations started youth programs to ensure the future of the sector.

Around the country, a number of organizations were creating a future for philanthropy by starting youth initiatives.  In 1985, one of the first youth initiatives was started by the National Capital Region Foundation of the District of Columbia to teach youth how to raise funds and create grants.  Simultaneously, the National Crime Prevention Council and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation were establishing youth initiatives in the Midwest.  Throughout the late 1980s, programs were developed in other areas such as New York, but many of them no longer exist (Rosen and Sedonaen 2001).

Starting in 1986, Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project (MCFYP) started a ten-year long endeavor, working with youth to develop their talent as grant makers.  Over time, it became apparent that children did not fully understand the concept of philanthropy (Agard 2002).  Therefore, the idea of teaching children about the concept of philanthropy was developed, and thus Learning to Give was born and established in 1997 (Agard 2002).  Learning to Give (LTG) is a “comprehensive program” that includes classroom curriculum, professional development, materials and resources for educators, and publications (Agard 2002; Learning to Give).

In 1986, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) started a pilot program for Teens as Community Resources in Boston.  Then, in 1987, the NCPC started another pilot program in Indiana, based on the aforementioned program.  Youth as Resources (YAR) grew and became a model for youth philanthropy programs across the country. In 1995, the Center for Youth as Resources was established to help coordinate the growing and expanding YAR programs (Center for Youth as Resources).

The expansion of the aforesaid programs, Youth as Resources and Learning to Give specifically, shows the continued importance of youth in philanthropy.  Currently, there are over 80 YAR programs in 22 states and in many nations, including Canada and Poland (Center for Youth as Resources). As more schools, youth groups and church groups are influenced by programs such as LTG or YAR, the future of the philanthropic sector will be insured. http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper219.html