The Guilford Foundation Youth Advisory Group started as a partnership with the Guilford High School (GHS) Interact Club to promote youth philanthropy and community involvement. In 2023, YAG expanded its membership to include any local high school student.
The initiative began in 2010 with a $5,000 challenge grant. YAG students were charged with raising another $5,000 along with soliciting, reviewing, and recommending worthy local organizations and project for its grantmaking.
YAG has grown. Since 2010, it has awarded over $166,000 to the community through 112 grants. The Foundation established a permanent legacy fund for YAG to ensure that resources for this project would be available for years to come. The fund is called the TGF Youth Advisory Group Fund. Annually, the YAG students raise funds to contribute to their permanent endowment fund, now valued at over $76,0000.
In 2026, YAG funded grants totaling $13,250 to the following recipients:
- ALEX, Inc.: Operating Expenses
- Before and After School Care Program, GCC: Financial Support for Families
- Community Dining Room: Community Dinners
- Community Nursery School: Summer Tuition Assistance
- Guilford Center for Children: Early Education Tuition Assistance
- Guilford Fair Parade: Parade
- Guilford Social Services: Back to School Program
- SARAH Foundation: Gavin & Friends Greenhouse Project
In 2016, TGF asked YAG to take on another responsibility: to solicit and review requests for grants that support the high school but fall outside the budget. TGF has a specific fund—The Guilford Institute Fund—for these purposes. In addition to the grants YAG reviews from local community organizations, the members also review the GHS internal grant requests and prepare recommendations to TGF’s Board of Directors for these funds (around $11,000 per year).
To date, YAG has distributed 40 grants totaling $88,000 specifically for the Guilford Institute Fund. These funds provided seed money for the Science Olympiad, water bottle filling stations, LED fixtures for the music boosters, and much more.
In 2025, YAG provided $16,495 to support these causes at the high school:
- GHS Swim Team: Swim & Dive Board at Soundview YMCA
- GHS Rowing: Oars for Girls Boats
- GHS English Department: Registration for National High School Ethics Bowl
- GHS Sports Field: Renovated Concession Stand
The Guilford Foundation’s goal is for the YAG members to identify and address issues of importance to the youth in the Guilford community. As part of the process, YAG members learn about the role of a community foundation and all facets of grantmaking, including actively supporting nonprofit organizations serving the Guilford Community.
They elect their own officers, run their own meetings, organize fundraisers, and present grant recommendations to the TGF Board of Directors.
The loftiest goal for this effort is to cultivate the next generation of responsible philanthropists.
To become a YAG member: Email this application to [email protected].
To donate to the TGF Youth Advisory Fund: click here.
To apply for a grant: click here.
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