MFi Youth Leadership
Medfield is known as a community with a strong sense of philanthropy and volunteerism. From an early age, the town’s youngest residents have opportunities to make a difference in their community. Those opportunities continue to grow as children come of age in our town. It was a natural progression that the Medfield Foundation, the umbrella organization for many local volunteer fundraising initiatives, would establish a program where high school students could take that philanthropic spirit, run with it and gain leadership experience in the process.
Our Youth Leaders help plan and organize the Angel Run, volunteer with other MFi Initiatives, raise money, and run the Youth Leadership Grant Program giving away $1000 in the spring.
Applying to the Youth Leadership Program
All applicants must:
-
be a resident of the Town of Medfield
-
be a rising freshman (or sophomore if we need to fill the class of 5 spots per grade)
-
complete the Youth Leadership application
-
provide one reference from a school or community member (download the reference form)
-
be able to attend meetings at Medfield High School from 7-7:30 a.m. a few times a month (Failure to attend meetings without a valid excuse will result in dismissal from the program)
-
agree to a minimum of a two-year commitment and at least 25 hours of community service hours per year, with at least 8 hours in the spring not related to the Angel Run.
-
be available to volunteer the day of the Angel Run, usually the first Sunday of December
-
be available to volunteer on Medfield day in September at the Medfield Foundation's booths
-
actively participate in the spring grant process/program
The Youth Leadership program continues to grow and we are now recruiting for the next group of students to join the program. To join, please complete our online application which will be accepted through June 30th.
If you have any questions about the youth leadership program, please contact Kate Boxmeyer here.
Youth Leadership Grant Program
The MFi Youth Leadership is a program created by the Medfield Foundation, Inc. (MFi). Medfield is known as a community with a strong sense of philanthropy and volunteerism. From an early age, the town’s youngest residents have opportunities to make a difference in their community. Those opportunities continue to grow as children come of age in our town. It was a natural progression that the Medfield Foundation, the umbrella organization for many local volunteer fundraising initiatives, would establish a program where high school students could take that philanthropic spirit, run with it and gain leadership experience in the process. Just as the Medfield Foundation has it’s Legacy Fund endowment and it’s Pitch It! Grant Program, the youth leaders created the Youth Leadership Grant Program and raise $1000 in the fall and give it away to a program or cause in the town of Medfield in the spring.
The Youth Leadership Grant Program is our call for ideas that will enrich the lives of those who call Medfield home. For our grant making, we have up to $1000 in funding to award, which may be divided among one to four recipients.
FAQ's
How do I know if my organization is eligible?
-
Initial criteria for participation include:
-
Programming that wholly or predominantly serves Medfield residents;
-
compelling current need for the funds and possibly an opportunity to leverage the funds in some material way
-
Are there priority areas or tracks of interest?
-
While we have an open invitation for ideas, we have identified some areas of particular interest:
-
Youth. Keeping our youth engaged within the community
-
Seniors. Ensuring that our senior citizens remain active in town life
-
Community. Fostering a strong sense of community among all residents
-
Culture. Extending the rich cultural offerings of our town to every resident
-
Diversity. Encouraging generosity, tolerance and an appreciation of diversity
-
Environment. Preserving and enhancing our natural resources
-
Character. Maintaining the character of the community
-
Access. Improving access to needed resources and services
-
The Unknown. Anticipating and addressing unforeseen major issues facing our town in the future
How do I submit the application form?
-
You can complete and submit the online form here;
-
If you have additional materials you deem critical to your application, please email them to MFiyouthleadershipgrant@gmail.com
Are there resources that we can reference about how to submit a grant idea? Yes! We’ve included a few resources below:
-
Ahearn, Amy. (2017, April 18). Adam Grant on Pitching Your World-Changing Idea. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.plusacumen.org/journal/adam-grant-pitching-your-world-changing-idea
-
Levine, Ruth. (2014, October 17). Friday Note: Pitch Persuasive, or How to (Maybe) Get a Grant. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://hewlett.org/friday-note-pitch-persuasive-or-how-to-maybe-get-a-grant/
-
Porter, Robert. (2011). Crafting a Sales Pitch for Your Grant Proposal. Research Management Review, 18(2), 1-7. Retrieved from https://www.nordp.org/assets/resources-docs/porter-salespitch.pdf
-
Example forms including instructions and budget details are available from Philanthropy Massachusetts. You are encouraged to use any form that might supplement your request. Philanthropy MA Common Proposal Form Retrieved from https://philanthropyma.org/resources-tools/common-proposal-form
* Additional questions regarding the grant can be directed to MFiyouthleadershipgrant@gmail.com