The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of students representing most high schools in St. Clair County. They are empowered to create a positive role model for youth as philanthropists, assess local youth needs, review grant applications and advise the Community Foundation on youth grant awards.
The Youth Advisory Council Fund was initially created in 1994 with a $1 million dollar challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through the Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project. The purpose of the Youth Project was to encourage youth development in local communities throughout the state while strengthening community foundation leadership and grant making capacity.
YAC Priorities, 2022-2024
In 2022, the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council requested a survey of their fellow St. Clair County students to gather their views of issues affecting young people today. The survey is done every three years as requested by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Youth Advisory Council analyzed the responses to determine their funding priorities for years 2022-2024.
During these next 3 years, the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) will focus their resources on the following three areas:
1. Mental Health
Programs concerning mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, self-esteem, stress, alcoholism, substance abuse and other issues relating to the mental well-being of youth in the area.
2. School Life
Programs related to the enhancement of sports, clubs, and extracurricular programs with a focus on the prevention of bullying and programs that bring awareness to violence in schools. In addition, the YAC will place specific emphasis on pathways to careers in trade, college, and career readiness, as well as life skills.
3. Positive Lifestyles
Programs that seek to minimize domestic issues and violence. We also seek to promote physical health and time management skills.
If you would like to seek a grant for one of these categories, please download the application below and submit it to the Foundation.
The YAC awards grants on a monthly basis January-April. The deadline for submitting grant applications is the first day of each of those months.