About Teens on Board Teens on Board is a Cohort of the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). Our goal is to diversify nonprofits by giving teens the opportunity to serve in a leadership position as an advisor to the board of directors. We group our members into youth boards for each involved nonprofit.
About YPI The Youth Philanthropy Initiative makes social entrepreneurship concrete and sustainable. Teenagers participate in a three-year program focused on a community project of their cohort’s choosing, and they become experts in a particular area of philanthropy through research, organization, and long-term planning. For more information on YPI, please visit www.ypitulsa.org
About Youth Boards Youth boards serve the adult board as both a channel for youth perspective and a resource for expediting the non-profit’s progression.
What our youth boards will look like At Teens on Board, we believe that youth boards should serve as an advisory board rather than a second executive branch of the nonprofit. This way, the teen board members do not infringe on the decision making powers of the staff, nor will they disrupt the organization’s current leadership system. However, we see these boards as an opportunity for teens to provide their perspective on relevant issues within the nonprofit and a way to introduce the next generation of leaders to the philanthropic sector. As advisors, board members will weigh in on the decisions of the nonprofit. The youth will also be responsible for specific projects assigned to them by the central board. In addition, to avoid any potential legal conflicts, the teens will not participate in any fiduciary decisions. They will also sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect the privacy of who is served by each philanthropy.
Our first youth advisory board will be a part of Impact Tulsa, which is a nonprofit dedicated to making sure every student has the opportunity to thrive in school.
www.impacttulsa.org
Teens on Board believes that having a youth board is of great importance to any non-profit that dedicated to making a substantial difference in their community. Teens are the voices of our future and it is imperative that we involve them in the making of decisions that will impact our society. A teen perspective will provide a non-profit with insight into how the mind of our current generation works and what we, as teens, would find most beneficial and effective. Our cohort is dedicated to helping teen voices become a part of the philanthropic world, and we believe that our project presents the solution to this lack of representation. We commit to partnering with nonprofits and engaging in a lasting relationship with them, as we help to guide them through the process of phasing a youth board in as part of their organization. And, as all of us have engaged in months of extensive research into the philanthropic world, we believe that our cohort is the best possible partner for an undertaking such as this.
Creating a youth board and/or phasing one in as part of your nonprofit will help to yield lots of beneficial outcomes for your organization. You will have an immediate and personal access to teen voices in our community, allowing you to make decisions as an organization that you know will benefit the youth most. You will have guaranteed assistance from the youth board in helping to organize certain events, such as fundraisers, drives, or the like. But, most importantly, in adopting a youth board into your organization, you will help to set an example for other non-profits in our Tulsa community, showing them the value and influence a teen perspective can have.
For more information on how board diversity benefits a nonprofit, please visit https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/diversity-nonprofit-boards
Facebook (Teens on Board) Instagram (@teensonboardtulsa) Email info@teensonboard.org
By working with philanthropic professionals, teens who are a part of a youth board will gain hands-on experience and develop leadership skills that can be used in college and a workplace. They will be provided with opportunities to meet other motivated teens with like interests, and by giving their unique perspective and ideas to non-profits, they will be able to make an impact on a cause that is important to both them and their community. The connections made with various influential voices in the community can lead to job opportunities in the nonprofit world, as well as a better understanding of how non-profits play a significant role in the community. The lessons that teens learn during their time on a youth board will give them the tools to a more fulfilled life, all while earning community service hours and building a good resume.
Interested in having a youth board? Contact Us to get one set up for your nonprofit.