(Arnolds Park)– The Okoboji Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy program is off and running for 2026-’27.
Foundation president Mindy Gress says this marks the 17th year for the program which includes high school students from Spirit Lake, Okoboji and Harris-Lake Park…
“This year we have 38 applicants that made it into our cohort and we’re just excited to get started with them. You know we have a big year planned. We’re continuing to teach them just kind of a well rounded idea of what philanthropy can look like in our community. We talk a lot about time, talent and treasure and we like to use this opportunity to show the students what does that actually mean and what does that mean here in Dickinson county?”
She says the students recently held their first meeting of the session…
“Our first meeting we taught them really about what the community foundation, the Okoboji Foundation does: how we show up in the community for our donors, for nonprofits in the community, and just in general as a connector for philanthropy in the lakes region. In the coming meetings, we meet with them once a month, they’ll start developing their prospect lists and putting together an idea of what they want their goal to be this year. We do have some lofty goals that we want to bring forward to them, some exciting news that we’ll share here hopefully in a month or so, but they have not yet gotten to that point of their work.”
Gress adds this year’s Youth in Philanthropy students have not yet set their overall goal…
“What really is exciting is just working with each individual student. They all have their own goals, they all have their different circles of influence, and so sitting down with them and kind of looking at what do they personally want out of this time with us and what are their goals is really kind of the really exciting part.”
The program is coming off a record setting year last year, raising a little more than $93,000. Gress says the Youth in Philanthropy fund drive for THIS year is now underway…
“Community members can expect to hear from students from now until March 31st. But of course if a student doesn’t reach out to you personally but you’d like to be involved, we’d love to know that. We’ll kind of put you with a student to really give that well rounded experience for both the student and the community members. So always feel free to reach out and let us know if you’re just interested in a student contacting you.”
Gress adds Youth in Philanthropy grants awards will be determined in April, 2027. More information can be found at okobojifoundation.org/YIP or by calling 332-7177.
