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Youth Group Facilitator Guide

high school students

Youth Group Facilitator Guide

Learning to Give, in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundations, developed this set of activities based on seven themes that emerged through a survey of Michigan YAC advisors and MCFYP supervisors. Some of the materials were developed in a project called Habits of the Heart: Strengthening the Traditions of Giving and Serving among Youth.

These videos, activities, ideas, toolkits, and discussion starters support a year of engagement. The blocks loosely follow the service-learning process that challenges youth to match their interests to community needs through investigation, preparation/planning, action, reflection and demonstration. Content may be used in any order. 

Grantmaking

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Grantmaking

These videos, activities, and ice breakers help youth learn the basic concepts of and best practices in regard to grantmaking. In addition, a simulation activity provides deeper understanding of the grantmaking process.

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Youth Leadership

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Youth Leadership

These videos and activities help youth conduct successful YAC meetings and become empowered leaders. Youth learn how to lead meetings and engage with one another to meet group goals. In addition, they practice speaking on issues that are important to them.

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Identify Needs and Determine Focus

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Identify Needs and Determine Focus

Videos and activities help youth discover what they’re passionate about and how those passions connect with community needs. In addition, youth discover the first steps toward serving their passions and supporting their communities.

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Service Projects

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Service Projects

These issue area toolkits provide ideas for service-learning projects. The toolkits contain information about each issue area to help youth develop service projects that meet community needs.

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Understand and Evaluate Impact

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Understand and Evaluate Impact

Activities and resources to help youth understand the effects that their philanthropic actions have on others. Youth will better understand how, why, and what they can give. In addition, they learn how to evaluate their impact.

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Demonstrate Impact

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Demonstrate Impact

These activities guide youth to creatively inform peers, younger students, and community members of the impact their youth philanthropy group has on community. In addition, they learn to communicate the good work of their program and introduce opportunities for more youth to get involved.

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Diversity Awareness and Inclusion

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Diversity Awareness and Inclusion

These activities and discussion prompts guide youth understanding and appreciation of diversity, equity, and inclusion and why awareness is important. In addition, youth learn to be more inclusive of others’ voices in meetings and group settings.

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Social Awareness

We are a global community of diverse stories - past, present, and future. Valuing our communities and sharing our unique stories contribute to a more inclusive world. The following two resources were written by educators and youth facilitators across the country to guide empathy, decision making, community building, and social justice. 

Lessons

Teacher-created philanthropy education lessons magnify the impact of any academic content with themes of generosity, community, and civic and social responsibility. Perfect base for PBL, service-learning, and student-centered instruction. Lessons align to state standards, including Common Core State Standards, and some international standards.

Literature Guides

These picture book and teen novel guides provide thought-provoking discussions and activities that teach about giving and caring. The featured books have themes of respect, kindness, inclusion, perseverance, responsibility, generosity, and citizenship.