The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties announces its Forward Turn Youth Philanthropy Project provided $4,150 in mini-grants to six local nonprofit organizations to fund youth-led and youth-benefitting projects.

Forward Turn is youth-led charitable grantmaking program that takes a “forward turn” to benefit communities in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties.  In partnership with the Loudoun County Youth Advisory Council (YAC), student members of the YAC review grant applications submitted by youth who often work in partnership with local nonprofits, schools, or other organizations.  Funding is provided by the S. Murray and Mary H.C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project endowment fund of the Community Foundation.

High schoolers and Youth Advisory Council members Sujay Goli, Taylor Grande, Eshaal Mirza, Sharouq Usta-Omar, Aanya Patnaik, Rhea Parekh, Ayla Rajabi, Nikitha Raju, Inaya Virk, and Sarah Virk served on the Forward Turn Grants Committee.

After learning about the grant proposal process, reviewing applications, and interviewing applicants, they recommended the following grants for the 2023 Forward Turn grant cycle:

  • $1,000 to Dulles South Food Pantry to support snack packs for children and teens in Dulles South and surrounding areas
  • $1,000 to Women Giving Back to support summer enrichment resource fair extravaganza to support Loudoun youth
  • $750 to Belmont Ridge Middle School to support youth-led program for teens in Loudoun middle and high schools addressing stress relief and building resilience
  • $500 to Loudoun County Magazine to support youth exploration of art, journalism and dialogue opportunities in Loudoun County
  • $500 to Loudoun Youth, Inc. to support for Claude Moore Community Building program connecting high school students with volunteer opportunities in local nonprofits
  • $400 Joshua’s Hands to support Valiant Warrior Quilting project with youth volunteers

“My favorite aspect of Forward Turn was the chance both to interact with the organizations that applied and to become better acquainted with the grant reviewal process,” said Taylor Grande, Forward Turn Grantmaker, YAC member, and eleventh grade student at Woodgrove High School. “Hearing about the applicants’ missions and the reasons and ideals behind their projects was fascinating; it gave me a lot of insight into the choices grant reviewers are required to make, how they make them, and the level of thought that needs to go into every one.”

To learn more about Forward Turn and to see a list of past years’ recipients, visit: https://communityfoundationlf.org/forwardturn/.