TGI Members make site visits to Metro Detroit education and health nonprofits

Members of CAAP’s Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) recently visited two of their potential grantee organizations. Site visits are a great opportunity for the youth to learn more about the health and educational programs they are considering funding in 2013. Student Leadership Services is a youth-led initiative that trains students in school-based health initiatives. The Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the Grandmont Rosedale communities of northwest Detroit by organizing a wide range of community improvement programs. Thank you to our hosts for being generous with their time and resources - the youth had a great experience, and are looking forward to revealing their grantmaking decisions in the coming weeks! 

We knew we could count on YOU(th)!

CAAP’s Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) recently participated in a national online fundraising competition against 128 nonprofits that serve youth. Microsoft provided matching funds through their YouthSpark initiative, which is designed to empower young people through education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Thanks to community support and the match from Microsoft, TGI raised more than $70,000 that will go toward:

1. the teen’s grantmaking fund, which will support Detroit-area education and health nonprofits in 2013,
2. expanding the program to New York,
3. TGI’s participation at National Arab American Service Day,
4. creating a youth-led video documentary of the program,
5. and sending TGI to the Council of Michigan Foundation’s Summer Youth Leadership Conference, held every year for youth grantmaking groups from around Michigan.

Thank you to all our donors for supporting Arab American youth philanthropy! You can read more about the challenge and view a special TGI feature on Microsoft’s website.

TGI is giving up to $5,000 to organizations that provide education and health services for Detroit area youth

The Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), a project of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), today announced its 2013 request for proposals from organizations that serve young people in metro Detroit. TGI will award grants of between $1,000 and $2,000 to nonprofits that address educational success or improved health outcomes for youth in the community.

• The 2013 request for proposals can be found online at www.centeraap.org.

This will be the second round of grant-making conducted by TGI, the only Arab American youth philanthropy program in the United States. Last year, the group awarded grants totaling $4,600 to 12 organizations. Some of the programs they funded target HIV and teen pregnancy prevention, develop life skills for teen mothers, and provide after-school tutoring and sports programs for low-income students.

“Last year we conducted a needs assessment among youth in the community,” said Rasha Khanafer, 16, TGI youth chair. “Based on the results of the needs assessment, we decided to focus our current grantmaking on supporting the academic success of youth and meeting the health needs of youth. We are excited about impacting the lives of youth in our community through these program areas.”

Launched by CAAP in 2011, TGI is a group of 20 high school students committed to making an impact in their communities through fund-raising, grant-making and community service.

“The group was formed to make a lasting impact on local youth by deepening their understanding of philanthropy and community service, and by nurturing the future generation of leaders making a difference in their community,” said Jamie Kim, TGI adult advisor.

“The youth have worked hard this past year learning about the issues impacting youth in their communities,” said Kim. “Through the process of grant-making, youth gain valuable skills in nonprofit program management, consensus building and grant review.”

TGI to receive Sparky Anderson Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (October 24, 2012) - The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Detroit Chapter will present the Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) at the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, with the Sparky Anderson Award for Youth in Philanthropy at the National Philanthropy Day Dinner, Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Each year this award recognizes and rewards young people who are personally involved and actively engaged in philanthropic projects. TGI will receive this award for their commitment to spreading the philanthropic spirit to the community’s youth. TGI, the only youth philanthropy and grantmaking program in the Arab American community nationwide, is comprised of 20 youth from the Dearborn, MI area. The youth met once a month during the school year to learn about philanthropy, nonprofit organizations and grant-making. The youth then designed a Request for Proposals that was distributed to youth-serving and youth-led organizations across the Detroit metro area. After the receipt of proposals the students conducted site visits, and made the ultimate decision to provide grants totaling $4,600 to 12 organizations.

Every November, National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is observed by 200+ AFP Chapters across the country to recognize the contributions of philanthropy and volunteerism of those people active in local nonprofits. The AFP Greater Detroit Chapter will hold their National Philanthropy Day Dinner on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.  The event is presented by Crain’s Detroit Business. To learn more about the NPD and the AFP Greater Detroit Chapter, visit www.afpdet.org. 

Members of our Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) visited Mosaic Youth Theatre in Detroit for their annual college fair on Oct. 6. TGI’s 2012 grant supported this event, which brought university recruiters from all over the country looking for new talent for their arts, theatre and dance programs.

College fairs such as the one Mosaic hosted are critical for cities like Detroit, where only 1.8 percent of Detroit Public School students are considered college-ready in all subjects. TGI was treated to private performances by Mosaic’s young talent, who were warming up to audition for the college recruiters. We witnessed some slam poetry, moving and comic monologues, and a raucous show tune from the musical Kiss Me Kate.

Judging from the show, it looks like Mosaic’s youth are well on their way to successful college careers in the arts. TGI had a great time, and our thanks go to Mosaic for hosting us at this important and moving event!

Increasingly, the next generation’s leaders are making their mark on the world by proposing and implementing solutions to global environmental and social problems.

One great example includes the global YouthBank initiative, a network of 20 youth grantmaking committees. With its origins in Ireland (specifically the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland), YouthBank has since spread throughout Europe and into the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Operating as a model for youth to solve social problems, specifically in areas that have a history of intercultural conflict, YouthBank gives young people a chance to distribute funds to projects of their choice. In Palestine, YouthBank has been working with the Dalia Association on projects aimed to empower and invest in Palestinian youth.

In addition to community-based models of youth grantmaking, large-scale youth philanthropy summits are growing in number. We Day, an initiative of the nonprofit organization Free the Children, celebrates and encourages youth philanthropy every year through several conferences throughout Canada. This week, the Nexus Global Youth Summit on Innovative Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship will be held jointly in Beijing and London. Youth philanthropists from around the world will convene to discuss issues of development and social justice.

Led by youth for youth, enterprises such as YouthBank, Nexus, and We Day are challenging young people around the world to take center stage in solving the world’s problems through philanthropy. If you’d like to learn more about CAAP’s work with youth philanthropy, check out our Teen Grantmaking Initiative.

Photo and video courtesy St. Michael’s University School and Nexus Youth Summit

What an exciting year it’s been for members of our Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI)! Since September 2011 the youth philanthropy group has learned about all aspects of the grantmaking process, including

conducting a community needs assessment and writing a Request for Proposals,

reviewing grant requests,

and conducting site visits.

The youth announced their grants at ACCESS’ 41st Anniversary Dinner in front of nearly 2,000 people!

Read More

The philanthropic legacy of the Olympics is both obvious (such as the Special Olympics that provide sports training for people with intellectual disabilities) and not immediately apparent. Fundamentally, the Olympics serve to inspire people around the world to play competitive sports and strive for excellence in our lives - as well as inspire loyalty to our home countries.

Playing sports has been shown to improve mental and physical health, reduce crime and bring communities together. Our own Teen Grantmaking Initiative recently distributed funds to several sports-oriented charities that serve youth in the Detroit metropolitan region.

Sports often inspire charitable contributions, as shown by a bet on tennis great Roger Federer’s recent Wimbledon win that ensured the charity Oxfam received a $157,000 donation. Even after major sports events reach their conclusion, many athletes partner with charities, and even start their own foundations to benefit causes that are important to them. By following sustainable practices, athletes wishing to donate through a foundation can keep giving back in perpetuity. This is evident in the legacies of foundations such as Livestrong, founded by Olympic cyclist Lance Armstrong, which has raised millions of dollars for cancer causes.

What begins with a worldwide event such as the Olympic Games often has a trickle-down effect that positively impacts communities for years to come. How will the 2012 Olympic Games inspire you to do more to give back?

Meanwhile, we’ll be cheering for swimmer Katya Bachrouche (Michigan), and sibling fencers Mona & Zain Shaito (Texas) as they represent Arab Americans and compete for the gold in London!

Related articles

• Sport for good: London’s Olympic legacy (Alliance)
• Arab League: A unique look at the Middle East’s aspiring women Olympians (Foreign Policy)
• Her participation will stun, inspire (Fox Sports)

Photo courtesy Brigitte Lacombe

Throughout the summer we are bringing you a series of Middle Eastern destinations that allow you to practice a little philanthropy along the way. This month we are pleased to spotlight the “Reality Tours” hosted by Global Exchange, an international nonprofit dedicated to promoting social, environmental and economic justice, as well as a recent grantee of our Teen Grantmaking Initiative.

Global Exchange’s Reality Tours are meant to promote “experiential education” by exposing travelers to less-traveled destinations that have a history of injustice - and present possible solutions to that injustice. Reality Tours offer more than 100 delegations each year to more than 40 destinations that address contemporary political, economic, environmental, and cultural issues around the world.

A notable Reality Tour destination is Palestine, where visitors have the opportunity to volunteer with local farmers during the olive harvest from Oct 26-Nov 4. These Palestinian olive farms are Fair Trade Certified - which helps ensure that workers are paid fairly, the products are grown sustainably, and that farmers have access to international markets. This trip will underscore the benefits of supporting Palestinian Fair Trade products in the U.S. as a way to promote solidarity between internationals and Palestinian farming communities. Travelers will also take part in Oktoberfest in Taybeh, which features traditional Palestinian dance, music, and (of course) food!

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy encourages you to keep a philanthropic mindset wherever you go this summer! Check out the rest of our travel philanthropy series, and learn more about us by visiting our website.

Related articles

• Travel philanthropy series - Destination: Morocco (Philanthropy in AAction)

Photo courtesy Global Exchange

Teen Grant-making Initiative announces first round of grantees

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy’s Teen Grant-making Initiative (TGI)  has announced 12 grants to benefit organizations in metro Detroit that serve youth. The grants, which total $4,600, will enhance and support youth leadership training, service learning, health education and the performing arts.

TGI consists of 20 Arab American young people dedicated to improving their community through grant-making. The group has been meeting for the past seven months to ascertain the needs of youth in metro Detroit and release a request for proposals. TGI received 24 proposals and selected 12 organizations for their first grant-making round. Some highlights from two of TGI’s grantees are below, but you can access the full list by visiting our website.

Southwest Solutions: In recent years, Detroit has become a prime location for far-flung “urban explorers” to visit and photograph abandoned buildings. While these explorers often produce beautiful photos and bring home good stories, these buildings pose a threat to Detroit citizens, especially students.

One community development organization, Southwest Solutions, has engaged teens to raise awareness and take action against these buildings - which all too often become hotspots for gangs and drug dealers. TGI funding will be used to produce a documentary video called “Abandoned Houses Detroit Initiative,” which will address the issue of blight in Southwest Detroit and provide teens with new skills to spread awareness about community challenges.

The Heidelberg Project, an internationally recognized arts institution, brings art directly to students through their Art, Community and Environmental Education program (ACE2). Working primarily in third-grade classrooms, ACE2 supplements art education in metro Detroit public schools.

With TGI funding, Heidelberg will train high school students to shadow and assist docents in the classrooms. ACE2 develops leadership skills while helping students imagine new artistic possibilities, teaching them the value of creativity to reshape their environment and community.

Related articles

• Teens get first-hand experience in grant review (Philanthropy in AAction)
• Youth philanthropy group releases request for proposals (Philanthropy in AAction)