Like the birds and the bees and the 123s, philanthropy should be taught early and often.

By Katherine Falk , Janet R. Wakefield and Nancy Swanson

Seven countries and more than 30 U.S. states have youth-grantmaking councils that exist where young people raise, or are given, dollars to meet identified needs of a community. A pioneering example is the Council of Michigan Foundation’s Youth Advisory Councils associated with their Kellogg-supported statewide community foundation network. These advisory councils have governed more than $40 million in endowed funds over the past decade.