United Way Fox Cities Youth Board

The United Way Youth Board is looking for students who are interested in becoming more involved and engaged in their community.  The United Way Youth Board members explore issues affecting today's youth in our community by learning about leadership, completing community service projects, and distributing grant money to youth-focused projects.  Youth Board members also help plan and facilitate the Teen Symposium event.  The group is made up of high school students from the Fox Cities and meets twice a month on the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the United Way office in Menasha.

To Become a Youth Board Member

New and returning Youth Board members must complete a Youth Board Application which requires a parent signature for anyone under the age of 18.  Students should thoroughly answer each question and bring the completed application to a regularly scheduled Youth Board meeting.  For more information about the Youth Board program, contact a Youth Board member at an area high school or email Sarah Christensen at the United Way Fox Cities at sarah.christensen@unitedwayfoxcities.org or call (920) 954-7210.

Examples of Community Service Projects:

• Help at Youth Go Children's Day Haunted House  
• Rake leaves and help with other projects at the Apple Creek YMCA
• Paint Windows at the Children's Hospital
• Serve a Thanksgiving meal
• Help at the Community Christmas event at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum
• Ring bells for the Salvation Army
• Plan, set-up, and facilitate at the Teen Symposium event
• Mentor children from the Best Friends program at the Children's Museum
• Help at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day     

Examples of Special Events:

• Meet at the Harmony Cafe to learn more about volunteer opportunities
• Listen to speakers on poverty, homelessness, leadership, and service-learning at Youth Board meetings
• Attend the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event at Lawrence University
• Listen to speakers on diversity, bullying and religion at the Appleton Library.

To Apply for Youth Board Grant Funding

Twice a year the United Way Fox Cities Youth Board reviews and evaluates grants submitted by area youth groups and youth-serving organizations. United Way Youth Board Grant Application. There is a Fall and a Spring funding cycle.  Deadlines are on November 7 and April 2, respectively.  It generally takes six weeks to process the requests, hear presentations and get UWFC Board approval. Click here for a list of the 40 Developmental Assets which will help you complete the grant application.

Who Decides How the Money is Distributed?

The Youth Board members do! Once grant applications are submitted all applicants are requested to make a brief presentation to the Youth Board. These presentations take place at the regularly scheduled Youth Board meetings.

Youth Board members take into consideration the following factors for each program to arrive at the final funding recommendations:

• Program and fiscal management.
•  Program community impact.
•  Need for the program.
•  Quality and accuracy of the application.
•  Program presentation.
•  Level of youth involvement in planning and implementation of the program.

Based on these criteria, Youth Board leaders present the funding recommendations to the United Way Fox Cities Board of Directors.  After the Board of Directors approves the recommendations, applicants are notified and grants are distributed.

Youth Board Grant Summary 1992 to present