Youth Council
AAACF's Youth Council provides high school students living in Washtenaw County with a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our community through philanthropy and community service.
Mission of Youth Council
Youth Council brings together a diverse group of students living in Washtenaw County to:
- Promote philanthropy and service among young people
- Award over $100,000 in grants each year to support local youth programs, services, and projects
- Participate in state-wide leadership training opportunities, including a summer grantmaking conference hosted by the Council of Michigan Foundations
- Provide hands-on support for community service projects
- Give voice and perspective to issues that concern young people
- Conduct a community-wide needs assessment every 3-4 years
It’s a tradition that began in 1989 with a challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Both Kellogg and AAACF recognized that given the opportunity, young people can provide an important voice and vehicle for strengthening local communities. Since 1989, hundreds of high school students have served on AAACF’s Youth Council, awarding over $2 million in grants that have supported a wide variety of youth programs and projects throughout Washtenaw County.
"Youth Council has taught me to always value and consider the perspectives of others. It has taught me about the discrepancies in my community and the world. It has taught me that I have the power to make a difference."
- Charles Butz, former youth council member
Interested in Joining?
Youth Council members gain a deep understanding of our community's needs and issues related to youth, our local nonprofit sector, and how philanthropy and volunteering can make a meaningful difference in strengthening our community.
One Youth Council member serves on AAACF's Board of Trustees with full voting privileges.
The Youth Council New Member Application is now open through July 17, 2025.
- be entering 9th,10th or 11th grade in the fall of the application year (priority will be given to 9th and 10th graders)
- live in Washtenaw County
- attend 1-2 monthly meetings ranging from 3-5 hours in length (held on Sundays) at the Community Foundation Office in Downtown Ann Arbor from September -May
- participate in an interview in September
- participate in foundation wide events as needed
- attend site-visits, team building activities, and volunteering opportunities
- review, score, and provide insight into between 20-30 grant applications each year (outside of meeting times)
- be expected to commit their time. Please see the sample calendar and sample agenda for a better idea of what is expected.
Applications are now open, through July 17, 2025, to join the AAACF Youth Council.
2024 Youth Council Grants
Grants totaling over $109,000 have been made in support of local programs and projects that have expanded opportunities for young people throughout Washtenaw County.
- Educate Youth
- Ele's Place
- Family Assessment Clinic
- Gamers Outreach
- Girls Group
- Hands Across the Water
- Peace Neighborhood Center
- Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
*To see the amount and purpose of these grants, please see our grant directory.
2022-2023 Youth Council Members
See the full list of members dedicated to serving our community through the AAACF Youth Council.