WeareexcitedtosharethisStrategicPlanthatoutlinesourcommitmenttoenact participatoryphilanthropyasourpracticeforgiving.Weareeagertoelevateyouth voice,amplifycommunityengagement,andembracecollaborativeopportunitiesto domoregoodforyouthwell-being.
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At Snow-Redfern Foundation (SRF), we believe in the potential of all young people and aim to create opportunities for them to become thriving adults. SRF was born in 1951 with Arvilla Snow-Redfern’s bequest of her family’s 20,000-acre cattle ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills The Nebraska Boys Ranch, as it was known, offered an environment of security and possibility for young men battling homelessness, hunger and family struggles.
Today, we no longer provide direct services as we did on the ranch Instead, we provide funding to the many organizations working to create opportunities for youth We believe all have a tremendous opportunity to impact young lives through partnerships with other funders, generous donors and change agents SRF provides funding directly to youth as well as youth serving organizations in effort to live out our mission.
Our Board includes a total of fifteen members who provide leadership and actively participate in various committees that drive our work.
Read more about Arvilla, our history, and our team at snowredfern org
SRF is committed to elevating youth voice and community engagement through Participatory Philanthropy. How we serve is amplified in collaboration with others as we empower progress and inspire change It is because of people who care, that SRF is able to make a difference in Nebraska.
Nebraska youth thrive within inclusive communities and participatory systems of care.
To empower youth, inspire change makers and energize partnerships for impact.
Youth Voice
Community Wisdom
Meaningful Engagement
Collaborative Learning
Trust through Transparency
Participatory Philanthropy is a value based practice of giving that prioritizes community participation. It aims to redistribute power in decision making back to those closest to the need.
SRF contributes to the youth-serving system of care by advocating for participatory practices, engaging communities, supporting partners and providing resources The majority of SRF funding is distributed through grants to community organizations, and historically directed toward three areas: Basic Needs, Well-Being and Education. SRF also funds scholarships, administers a young women’s leadership program and collaborates with partners to advance career readiness
Recently, SRF has facilitated special projects to better understand the needs of young people and how we might elevate their voices into the system of care that serves them. Through Participatory Philanthropy, we can promote youth and community involvement by activating their role and empowering them for action
This 2024-2026 Strategic Plan reflects our commitment to implementing participatory design in all we do. The three-year roadmap will advance business processes that promote inclusivity in the planning, grantmaking, implementation and evaluation of youth focused initiatives To begin, we’ve reorganized our funding framework for an improved pathway to ‘Invest in the Good Life for Kids’.
Participatory Grantmaking involves community in all parts of the giving process as to build and strengthen social movements for good. Our funding framework distributes resources through three tracks:
Funding initiatives that directly serve youth and amplify their capacity to do more good.
Funding community-based organizations that implement programs and services for youth.
Funding initiatives that advance the youth serving system of care with youth and community participation.
SRF is enacting a Participatory Philanthropy framework to elevate youth voice and engage communities in the art of giving. This practice intentionally shifts power from traditional decision makers to people with lived experience through a structured process that empowers social change These priorities document the shifts we’re making internally and externally as we ‘Invest in the Good Life for Kids’.
Implement participatory practices that elevate youth and community voice.
Engage youth and community partners to build capacity for inclusive impact.
Activate participatory business processes for meaningful engagement.
DETERMINED YOUNG PEOPLE: SRF believes there is great worth in every child We are thrilled to support these change makers as they grow and shape the future Helping young people is the inspiration that moves us
DEDICATED PARNTERS: SRF celebrates our many partners across Nebraska and their contribution to the youth-serving organization. We are grateful for the collaboration and collective impact.
COMMITTED BOARD: SRF reveres our board members for sharing their time, wisdom and leadership in support of our mission.
COMPASSIONATE DONORS: SRF is honored that so many people entrust us to invest in the good life for kids! We are deeply appreciative for their giving
