QC teens work to give out nearly $30K in grants

Jonathan Turner
·2 min read
QC teens work to give out nearly $30K in grants

Nearly $30,000 has been awarded by a group of local teenagers to six Quad Cities nonprofits, through the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Teens for Tomorrow (T4T) program.

This year’s group of students from area high schools has now awarded $29,500 to six local nonprofits. This total includes $18,500 the students raised through their direct work with donors.

“The T4T program gives young people an opportunity to lead real change right here in our community,” Sue Hafkemeyer, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO, said in a Monday release. “This cohort did exactly that. They worked together, met with donors, learned from nonprofits, and ultimately made some big decisions that will positively impact our community.”

The group of high school students in this year’s Teens for Tomorrow of the QC Community Foundation.
The group of high school students in this year’s Teens for Tomorrow of the QC Community Foundation.

The T4T program provides a supportive space for idea-sharing and mentoring between its students and Community Foundation leaders. Teens learn about the logistics of fundraising and the realities of running a nonprofit and have opportunities for leadership training and public speaking, the foundation said.

After a focused nine-month period of grant application reviews, site visits, interviews, and donor visits, students selected six final grant recipients. The organizations awarded grants are focused on various causes, from food insecurity to healthcare access.

Local high school students met over nine months to decide how to disburse $29,500 in grants to six area nonprofit organizations.
Local high school students met over nine months to decide how to disburse $29,500 in grants to six area nonprofit organizations.

“This year’s cohort was deeply committed to providing as much full funding and operational support as possible,” said Kaleigh Trammell, grantmaking specialist at the Community Foundation. “Throughout the process, even when that commitment was difficult, they reminded each other of their goals and made it happen. They also focused on ‘upstream’ solutions, which influenced their decisions with these grants.”

The following six nonprofits received Teens for Tomorrow funding this year:

  • Bethany for Children & Families: Give Kids a Smile Mobile Dental Clinic Support – $5,000

  • Project NOW, CAA: Project NOW General Operating Support – $6,500

  • River Bend Food Bank: River Bend Food Bank School Backpack Program – $2,000

  • Salvation Army – Quad Cities: Hygiene/Household Supplies Program Support – $3,000

  • Tapestry Farms: Tapestry Farms program support – $5,000

  • World Relief Quad Cities: World Relief Quad Cities general operating support – $8,000

The Community Foundation is now accepting applications for next year’s T4T program. Teens interested in learning about philanthropy and driving positive change in their community — and donors who would like to support the T4T program’s continued operations — can learn more HERE.

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