Twenty-one high school students from across Worcester County awarded $40,400 in grants to 11 local nonprofit organizations this week, marking the culmination of their participation in Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Youth for Community Improvement program.

Running for more than 25 years, YCI is a youth-led grantmaking program that empowers students to address pressing community needs through philanthropy. This year’s cohort was the most geographically diverse in the program’s history, with students representing 14 high schools in Auburn, Douglas, Fitchburg, Shrewsbury, Sutton, Webster, Westborough, and Worcester.

YCI is a unique example of participatory grantmaking. It shifts decision-making power from foundation staff and board members to students, who bring their lived experience and unique perspectives as young people in Worcester County to determine where funding can make the greatest impact.

- Pete Dunn, President & CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Together, the students identified four priority areas for funding: mental health, educational support, basic needs such as housing and food, and access to arts and culture. All grant proposals were required to authentically incorporate youth voice.

At the group’s year-end celebration, each participant spoke highly of their experience and the ways in which the program helped them grow. Chloe Cheng, a senior at Auburn High School, shared:

The most interesting part of YCI was how one person's perspective could completely shift how we saw things, showing me the power of open-minded collaboration. YCI has shaped how I view philanthropy and how I will approach giving back in the future — I used to think it was reserved for the wealthy, but now I know anyone can make an impact.

- Chloe Cheng, YCI Participant

This year’s grant recipients include:

  • Community Health Awareness Network Grows Equity (CHANGE): $2,000 for the CHANGE-maker Summer Youth Leadership Program, providing African immigrant youth a space to connect with peers and gain valuable leadership skills.
  • Jubilee Career Center for Performing Arts Inc.: $2,000 for its Summer Youth Arts Summit, promoting youth leadership, civic participation and social justice.
  • Korean American Citizens League of New England: $5,000 for the Youth Civic Engagement and Leadership Program (CELP), placing high school and college students in local legislative offices.
  • Our Bright Future Inc.: $2,500 to help launch a student-run online clothing store, Future Fits Apparel.  
  • Pernet Family Health Service Inc.: $4,100 for youth-led hygiene kit distribution to those in need.
  • Refugee and Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts: $4,500 to support cultural programming for immigrant youth.
  • Regional Environmental Council: $5,000 for the YouthGROW Money Moves program, helping high school teens build financial literacy skills.
  • Rise Above Foundation: $5,000 to provide enriching activities for young adults in foster care in Worcester.
  • Welcoming Alliance for Refugee Ministry: $2,800 to offer rock climbing and health workshops to refugee youth.
  • Worcester Center for Performing Arts (Hanover Theater): $5,000 to the Worcester Youth Speak Honestly program, fostering leadership and creative agency through the arts.
  • Write Boston: $2,500 for materials supporting youth-led mental wellness and arts projects through ALTAS Arts & Change.

About Youth for Community Improvement

In its 25th year, Youth for Community Improvement is a youth-led program managed by the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. Through YCI, high school students come together to identify community concerns they are passionate about and provide grants to nonprofit organizations striving to address these issues. Collaboratively, they engage in community research, develop and implement grant programs, establish evaluation criteria, and expand their network of peers while gaining exposure to local leaders.