TPI Program Youth Participants

What are TPI Programs?

TPI Programs across the country are part of the Three Pillars Initiative family, which was created in 2010 to teach young people the business of philanthropy. This teen leadership program provides hands-on experience working with the Three Pillars of philanthropy: learning to give responsibly to charitable efforts, raising money for community betterment, and volunteering one’s time and talents.

If selected, Youth Participants make a two-year commitment to the program and are expected to perform duties and responsibilities that uplift themselves, their peers, and their community in a professional manner, in good faith, and to the best of their skills, abilities, talents, and experience.

During their Junior year, participants learn the ins and outs of investing for nonprofit purposes, distribute requests for proposals, review grant requests and make site visits, then grant money to qualified organizations they have selected.

Senior year is devoted to learning about and implementing fundraising and development efforts. These activities are supported by hands-on social media promotion. In addition, both the junior and senior cohorts volunteer for other nonprofit organizations in the local area.

Programs will provide selected youth participants with the knowledge, resources, and support to affect meaningful change in their local community.

What will I gain by participating?

You will be making a difference in your community through this rare opportunity to impact others through local non-profit efforts. You will also gain knowledge about the business of philanthropy with a perspective more developed than many of your peers. You will be uniquely prepared as a philanthropic leader. Additionally, college admissions officers have shown great interest in this type of community service-learning project.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Engage genuinely throughout the program process by expressing their knowledge of the local community and learning about a variety of areas in the nonprofit sector.
Lead and conduct site visits with respect and professionalism.
Provide grants to local nonprofit organizations with the intent to grow and to create a more equitable, stronger, and more successful community.
Execute a fundraising campaign (through elements such as grassroots letter writing, presentations, one-on-one asks, and events) with the intent to grow and to create a more equitable, stronger, and more successful community.
Volunteer their time to the best of their ability at local organizations.
Show respect to themselves by taking advantage of this rare opportunity, to their peers by challenging and supporting each other, to their mentors and coordinators by using them as valuable resources, to local professionals by giving their time and attention, and to their community by helping it improve to the best of my ability.
Contribute to the growth and expansion of the program wherever able.
Continue to engage as an alumnus after graduation from the program for a lifetime as a philanthropist.

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