Youth Offer Fresh Perspective to Corporate Philanthropy

Time Warner's Office of Corporate Responsibility created a youth advisory board to provide input on its youth-focused grantmaking strategies. The advisory group includes approximately eight teens who consult with staff on grantmaking, planning and program development. Their story highlights a successful youth-adult partnership embedded within a corporation. Time Warner youth advisors are a diverse group, with a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and education levels. Some of the youth were skeptical at first - wondering if they could really have an opportunity to have an impact on the company's philanthropic giving. Staff members also had questions - would the young people understand the company's approach to philanthropy. Time Warner staff engaged the Innovation Center to gather advice from company employees, conduct training sessions for adult staff and youth advisors, and provide support as the process began. Then they asked the young people to start working. One of the first things the Youth Advisors did was take a critical look at the web site being developed for the company's philanthropic programs. They suggested changes to make it more usable for community based groups and for youth. They also made suggestions for how the company could better implement its summer grant program, and then participated in the proposal review process, along with others from Time Warner, to help decide which groups would receive financial support. They brought a fresh perspective and high standards to the task. Staff listened to the young people's thoughtful recommendations and suggestions for future improvements. The experience won over even the toughest skeptics. Time Warner's philanthropic programs are setting the pace for youth involvement in corporate philanthropy. For more information about creating youth advisory boards in your work, contact us at info@theinnovationcenter.org or 301-270-1700.