The Greek America Foundation has launched a new networking, mentorship, and fundraising initiative for individuals in our community 30 years old and under. The Young Philanthropists initiative will enhance personal and professional growth while instilling a sense of philanthropy and pride in Greek heritage and community.
The new group, called the Young Philanthropists, will be limited to thirty young people annually, selected from a competitive open application process.
Members will be offered valuable mentoring and professional growth opportunities by leaders in business and other fields who are part of the Greek America Foundation network, including board members who have offered their services and time.
The Young Philanthropists will meet alongside the Greek America Foundation Board of Directors during twice-annual meetings. This will offer both groups the opportunity to exchange ideas, collaborate, and engage in meaningful discussion centered around supporting initiatives in Greek communities across North America.
The first meeting of the Young Philanthropists will take place during the 2018 National Innovation Conference and Forty Under 40 Awards weekend in Philadelphia, May 4-6, 2018. Young Philanthropists members will host a kick-off reception and meeting and will launch programming for the coming year.
A key component of the Young Philanthropists will also be the importance of philanthropic giving and training in fundraising.
Young Philanthropists will have an annual individual fundraising goal for a new endowment fund that will be used to support meaningful initiatives in our communities. To help reach this goal, an annual, virtual curriculum will be offered in topics like crowdfunding, donor asks, evaluating charities, and how to give grants.
In addition to actually raising funds for the endowment, members of the Young Philanthropists group will have the responsibility of managing the endowment fund, together with an appointed designee from the Greek America Foundation board, while also handling the grant application, review, and awarding process.
This opportunity gives young people an important and early look at the world of philanthropy, from the challenges of raising funds, to the satisfaction of watching their hard work being realized through the awarding of grants.
The combination of fundraising and grant-making skills, mentorship, career development, and investing in the long-term future of the Greek community makes this initiative unique in the Greek North American world. We aim to support the young generation of Greek North Americans in the beginnings of their careers with real-world skills and a vibrant connection to their heritage, one that we hope they continue to build on throughout their adult lives.
The initiative was built by four dynamic “under 30s” from throughout the United States and Canada, Susanna Manziaris, Christos Voutsakis, Andreas Lagos and Stefanos Lazaridis. The four leaders will also serve as the founding board of the initiative.