Grants & Initiatives

Image Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative

The core of the Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative (AYPI) is a Youth Board of students from area high schools who are committed to making a difference in Arlington.

These teens recruit and mentor peers to develop sustainable ventures that make a positive impact. The AYPI Youth Board makes decisions on grants to fund these youth-initiated projects and works to preserve and grow the Fund for Youth Philanthropy.

Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative (AYPI) is offering grants for sustainable, youth-led projects that make a difference in the community.

Contact us: AYPI@arlcf.org

Follow us on Instagram: @_aypi

Donate to the Fund for Youth Philanthropy

AYPI was recently featured at the 28th annual Spirit of Community virtual event. Get a glimpse of the group’s inspiring community-building work in the video below:

Past Projects

What are you passionate about? What drives you? Do you see any problems in the community that you can fix? Past projects combine student passions with challenges facing our community to create lasting solutions. 

Students for Racial Equity – Interviews students about issues of race and discusses findings with teachers; creates a podcast about findings

Monumental Films – Films documentaries on issues of interest to the Arlington Community

Steps for College Success – Conducts workshop for students about the college application process, including a financial aid session

Community Action Team for Teens (CATT) – Provides a clearinghouse matching those who want to do good work in the community with projects that need more person-power

Computers for a Cause – Refurbishes old computers and instructs those less knowledgeable about computers on how to use them

How you can get involved

Join AYPI

If you are interested in joining, contact us at AYPI@arlcf.org.

Submit a Preliminary Application

Follow AYPI on Instagram and/or contact AYPI to get updates about the ’23-’24 application period. Students will also be asked to submit a more detailed Action Plan and make a presentation to the Youth Board, following the acceptance of a Preliminary Application. We will work with students to make this process as streamlined as possible and help them to develop and refine their project ideas.

Application Process

1. Preliminary Application – To determine if an organization is eligible to receive funding, a Preliminary Application is filed. The project must be youth-led, sustainable, and impact Arlington (by engaging Arlington students and/or being implemented in Arlington).

2. Action Plan – Once the Youth Board determines the eligibility requirements are met, the applicants will be asked to fill out an Action Plan which provides details about the project’s sustainability (not a one-time event), budget, timeline/plan, etc. Each Project team is asked to select an adult ally and show research about other groups doing similar work in the area.

3. Presentation –The Final stage in the grant process is a Presentation to the Youth Board, where the Board assesses plans to achieve goals, the depth of your venture plan, budget requirements, your enthusiasm, and how you serve as a good role model to others in the community. Since grant money is paid by the Fund for Youth Philanthropy, grantees are requested to provide a non-profit paying agent and a follow up report after 9 months.

For more information, please contact us at AYPI@arlcf.org.

Meet the ’22-’23 board

Chair– Lara Mohamed

Outreach Chair – Bronwen Kubaik

Oversight and Management Co-Chairs– Sara Ahmad and Devan Opper

Finance Chair – Kamran Ahmad

Board Members:
Kathryn Boerckel
Gabrielle Cordero
Anujin Enkhee
Christine Gillen
Hassan Mohamed
Ellen Valencia

Adult Mentors: Susan Duke and Kirby Clark

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