The Three Pillars of Philanthropy
FUNDRAISING
Teens engage in activities that expand their knowledge and hone their skills in donor solicitation, communications and marketing with individual donors, foundation program officers and business executives. Through learning and then applying basic and mid-level fundraising strategies and techniques, beginning with the development of a compelling case for support, they plan, organize and carry out a community-wide fundraising campaign during the school year. Money raised through their efforts goes into a designated fund which in turn provides the funds for future cohort charitable giving activities.
GRANTMAKING
Teens use the money raised by prior cohorts to make a real impact on their community through acts of giving. Focusing on local needs and local charitable sector service providers, teens discuss and determine which nonprofit sectors are of particular importance to the cohort and
community, then issue an RFP to gather and review proposals from local nonprofit organizations, conduct site visits and decide how to distribute the funds available. The total of grant requests from local organizations often exceeds the amount of funds available, thus teens learn consensus building skills to make their final decisions.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Teens learn to recognize and seize opportunities to proactively address felt needs and service gaps in their local community. Such needs are often hidden or simply ignored or overlooked in the busyness and distractions of daily life. Fulfilling those needs generally requires the teens to utilize their creativity, resourcefulness and critical thinking skills, which are important leadership attributes. Community service projects often include local advocacy or policy forum activities which in turn can result in systemic change in the community.
SYLLABUS
Teaching the art, science, and business of philanthropy to the next generation of community leaders & providing the knowledge, resources, and empowerment for them to lead positive community impact.
What Do Students Learn?
JUNIOR YEAR
• Understanding U.S. Philanthropy
• Eight Steps of The Giving Ladder
• Root Cause Analysis
• Charitable Fund Management Principles
• Economic Influences on Giving
• Grant Making Processes and Procedures
• Site Visit Assessment Techniques
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Consensus Building in Decision Making
• Social Entrepreneurship
SENIOR YEAR
• Fundraising Campaign Planning
• Concept and Practice of Affinity/ Capacity
• Creating a Case for Support
• Philanthropy-Driven Marketing
• Writing a Fundraising Appeal Letter
• Making Personal Asks
• Managing Fundraising Events
• Using Social Media to Raise Money
• Building Strategic Volunteerism
• Social Advocacy and Action
END OF YEAR PROGRAM IMPACT REPORT
$321,928 Raised by Youth – IN TOTAL –
2023-2024
$79,783 in letter writing appeals
$12,500 in grant writing
$76,260 in major donor asks
$59,012 in youth-planned events
776 Student Participants
$1,278,126 Funds raised by Senior Student Cohorts
VISION: Communities across the country are providing youth philanthropy leadership opportunities that inspire teens to change the human condition during their lifetime. TPI Affiliate Impact to Date
$776,000 Funds granted by Junior Student Cohorts 125 Unique Local Nonprofit Organizations Served
MISSION: Working with communities to develop and launch programs that teach the art, science and business of philanthropy to the next generation by providing hands-on experiences in fundraising, grantmaking and community service.
REPORT CARD
A 5-year study released in October 2024 from the prestigious Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University concludes that youth participants in the TPI program engage significantly more across every comparable measure of philanthropic activity; in some cases 100% higher.
Hypothesis 1: Youth participants highly engage in philanthropy activities.
Hypothesis 2: Youth participants have high prosocial orientations.
I am a I am a I am an I am philanthropist. fundraiser. grantmaker. donor. volunteer. engaged community member. part of making civil society happen.
I am a I am a I am an I am philanthropist. fundraiser. grantmaker. donor. volunteer.
engaged community member. part of making civil society happen.
I am a I am a I am an I am philanthropist. fundraiser. grantmaker. donor. volunteer. engaged community member. part of making civil society happen.
Hypothesis 3: Youth participants learned philanthropy knowledge & skills, defined by Social Trust, Agency/Efficacy and Prosocial Personality.
Youth who participate in
philanthropy
during their formative years are far more likely to become the civic leaders of tomorrow.
TPI youth participants had a 73% higher rate of civic community engagement after completing the program when compared to national averages
93% of TPI youth participants felt a sense of agency in life after the program compared to the national youth average of 38%
All TPI youth participants said the program changed them to become better leaders and community members
Youth Identity
IN COMMUNITIES AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION
97 %
identify as part of making civic society happen
9 9 %
identify as engaged community members
Printed with permission. Herzog, Patricia Snell, Natalie Penman, Shinyoung Park, Minette Lambert, Lexi Ortiz, Jeffrey August, Anna Morgan, M’lila Carey. 2024. “Youth Philanthropy: Studying Outcomes of Community Engagement.” Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
SCHEDULE
STRATEGIC GOALS
Expand the number of teens participating in Three Pillars Initiative programs by launching new TPI Affiliates across the country.
Build a national network of Affiliate programs that inspires collaboration, shares knowledge and promotes effective program design and delivery.
Demonstrate the sustainability of the TPI business model on the basis of programmatic, operational and financial outcomes.
TACTICS
Increase TPI human resources to achieve its strategic goals.
Implement a marketing and communications campaign in selected U.S. cities across the country.
Provide critical technical assistance and support to local communities in developing and launching an Affiliate program.
Deliver essential training and technical assistance resources to all Affiliate personnel and volunteer mentors.
OUTCOMES
Forty new Affiliate programs launched.
Three Pillars Initiative youth engagement model is revitalized and improved through continued research and development.
TPI is recognized nationally as the premiere youth philanthropy leadership development program.
IMPACTS
TPI program graduates demonstrate rates of charitable giving, fundraising and volunteerism that are 100% higher than the national rates for these measures.
TPI graduates show rates of prosocial orientation, social trust and agency that are 100% higher than national rates for these measures.
TPI graduates have more philanthropy knowledge and skills as well as a network of engaged peers and supportive adults at rates that are 100% higher than the national rates for these measures.
HISTORY
2010
Future Philanthropists Program founded in conjunction with Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation
• 15 Juniors serve in the first cohort
• $25,000 in grants distributed to local OPRF Nonprofits
2018
Three Pillars Initiative is incorporated to replicate the success of FPP across the country
2020
The Young Philanthropists in Buffalo, NY opens with 6 Juniors
• $3,000 in grants are distributed to Greater Buffalo Nonprofits
Susan Landis Youth Philanthropists Program in Beckley, WV opens with 15 Juniors
• $6,000 in grants are distributed to Beckley Area Nonprofits
Total Affiliate programs to date engage:
• 327 Juniors distributing
• $344,000 in grants
• 244 Seniors Raising $574,000 for future cohorts and to invest in endowments
2019
Future Philanthropists Program reaches approx. $500,000 in fundraising activities to date
2014
Future Philanthropists Program crosses $100,000 in grants distributed
• Current participants join the ranks of nearly 200 Junior and Senior alumni
First TPI Affiliate Opens: Youth Philanthropy Board in Grand Island, NE. 25 Juniors serve in first cohort
• $20,000 in grants are distributed to Grand Island Area Nonprofits
TPI hires its first two Program Officers
2022
LEAP Fox Valley in Kane County, IL opens with 21 Juniors
• $20,000 in grants are distributed to 7 Fox Valley Area Nonprofits
Youth Philanthropy Leadership Program in Wausau, WI opens with 14 Juniors
• $20,000 in grants are distributed to 5 local Wausau Nonprofits
Youth Philanthropy Board in Evanston/North Shore, IL opens with 19 Juniors
• $10,000 in grants are distributed to 5 North Shore Area Nonprofits
(continued on next page...)
2023
Teen Philanthropy Initiative in Naperville, IL opens with 31 Juniors
• $10,000 in grants are distributed to 12 Naperville Nonprofits
Youth Engaged in Philanthropy in Hamilton County, NE opens with 12 Juniors
• $10,000 in grants are distributed to 2 Countywide Nonprofits
Future Philanthropists Program's Endowment Fund Value surpasses $1.2M
131 Seniors Raising $322,128 this year and $1,278,000 to date for future cohorts and to invest in endowments
TPI crosses many landmarks:
• $1.3M total raised to date by youth for future cohorts and to invest in endowment funds
• $750,000 in grant money awarded
• Over 50 high schools engaged
• Over 100 Nonprofits funded
2024
Youth Philanthropy Council in Fairfield County, CT opens with 10 cohort members, and a unique model of including early year college students
Teen Philanthropy Network in Glen Ellyn, IL opens with 28 Juniors
• Will have at least $12,500 in grant funding to distribute to DuPage County Nonprofits
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University releases conclusive findings that youth participants engage significantly more across every comparable measure of philanthropic activity
• 738 Student Participants 2025
(...2022 continued)
Elmhurst Student Philanthropy Council in Elmhurst, IL opens with 13 Juniors
• $10,000 in grants are distributed to 7 Elmhurst Area Nonprofits
Total Affiliate Outreach reaches 131 Juniors (531 to date)
• Current grants reach $116,500 nationally and $561,500 to date
Senior Cohorts raise $121,322 nationally and $956,000 to date.
TPI embarks on a $250,000 National Expansion Campaign for growth in its second phase, setting the infrastructure and framework to reach 40 Affiliate programs across the US by 2030 operating at the highest Lilly Family School of Philanthropy impact standards
FACULTY & STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rick King, President
Alex Vandermeer*, Treasurer
Joe Smith, Secretary
Rabbi Barry Axler
John Burns*
Grace Derks*
Maggie Healy*
Tony Martinez, Jr.
PRESIDENTS COUNCIL
Tracy D’Angelo Barber
Risa R. Davis
Steve Derks
Joe Kassel*
Maille O’Donnell*
Peyton Olszowka*
Sydney Rayburn*
Frances M. Reckers*
Nina Rossiello
Gavin F. Sorensen*
Brian Tanenbaum
*TPI graduate. More than half of the board is represented by TPI graduates.
Scott Moller
Molly Philosophos
Myra Price
Annalynn Skipper, PhD
*TPI graduate
NATIONAL EXPANSION CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE
Rabbi Barry Axler
Rick King
Joe Smith
Gavin Sorensen*
STAFF
Remington Sheehan*, Senior Program Officer
Remy is a 2015 TPI graduate from the Future Philanthropists Program in Oak Park, Illinois. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he is the chief training and technical assistance source and works closely with each Affiliate program to support their program coordinators and mentors.
“The Three Pillars program is extraordinary. In the past fourteen years of working in philanthropy and community development, I have never seen a program so comprehensive and exciting. The students are dynamic and the relationship between mentor and young philanthropists will truly change our community for the better.”
-Chris, Program Mentor
AFFILIATE PROGRAM SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
Oak Park River Forest Oak Park, IL
Founded in 2010 Community Foundation
Greater Grand Island Grand Island, NE Founded in 2019 Community Foundation
Beckley Area Foundation Beckley, WV
Founded in 2020
Community Foundation Buffalo, NY Founded in 2020 for Greater Buffalo
Community Foundation of Wausau, WI
Founded in 2022 North Central Wisconsin
Evanston Community Evanston/North Shore, IL
Founded in 2022 Foundation
Hope Grows
Kane County, IL
Community Member Elmhurst, IL
Founded in 2022
Founded in 2022 Conglomerate
Hamilton Community Hamilton County, NE
Founded in 2023 Foundation
KidsMatter Naperville, IL
Founded in 2023
Fairfield County Fairfield County, CT Founded in 2024 Community Foundation
The DuPage Foundation Glen Ellyn. IL Founded in 2024
EMG Fundraising has been contracted to lead the efforts of the National Expansion Campaign. page
“It’s
Having achieved its first 5-year beta phase milestone (2019-2024), Three Pillars Initiative is embarking on a National Expansion Campaign in its second phase. This campaign will infuse resources into the national office for critical infrastructure needed to launch new programs and improve existing affiliate programs. Our goal is to have 40 Affiliate programs across the US by 2030 operating at the highest Lilly Family School of Philanthropy impact standards.
different from anything I’ve done, this goes beyond service. We learned about the organizations’ processes, how they use the money they receive, and how they can benefit from it. Once we handed out the grants, we developed a relationship with the organizations.”
—Emma B, ‘24, Cohort Member
“All the pieces of the puzzle seem to come together in TPI; what they’ve captured are the essential parts for sustainability of youth philanthropy.”
-Sharon
AffiliateLilly,Program Coordinator
“Watching them flourish in the company of other young people who are like minded and philanthropic minded is really heart- warming. Watching them realize how important this is to our community, to our country, to our world and really blossom in that, decide that it is something they want to continue doing their whole lives, it is amazing to see.”
-Karen Tardy, Affiliate Program Coordinator
Three Pillars Initiative is a proud recipient of GuideStar’s Gold Seal of Transparency.
FINAL EXAM
PLEDGE INFORMATION:
INITIAL PAYMENT: $ BALANCE:
PAYABLE: ONE TIME / OR OVER YEAR(S): 2 3
BEGINNING DATE: / /
PAYMENT SCHEDULE: MONTHLY QUARTERLY SEMI-ANNUALLY ANNUALLY
NAME / COMPANY INFORMATION:
NAME (AS YOU WISH IT TO APPEAR ON CAMPAIGN MATERIALS)
PHONE
PAYMENT INFORMATION:
O ONLINE: THREEPILLARSINITIATIVE.EJOINME.ORG/EXPANSION
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PLEDGE? PLEASE CONTACT EILEEN MULLIN-GASTEIER AT 312.909.2395 OR EILEEN@EMGFUNDRAISING.COM OR VISIT THREEPILLARSINITIATIVE.EJOINME.ORG/EXPANSION
Three Pillars Initiative is a national 501(c)(3) philanthropic service organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent provided by the law. Thank you for your generous pledge to benefit the National Expansion Campaign of the Three Pillars Initiative. We are
P.O. Box 4077, Oak Park, IL 60303-1286 threepillarsinitiative.ejoinme.org/expansion
The TPI program fosters positive youth outcomes, and at rates that are well beyond comparable rates for national and global norms.
Participants leave the program with higher rates of charitable giving, volunteering, fundraising, helping, and engaging than comparable national rates for these measures. Specifically, youth participants demonstrate rates 39% to 73% higher than national rates.
Participants leave the program with high prosocial orientations. Youth identify highly with philanthropic identities such as viewing themselves as engaged community members, volunteers, and fundraisers. Youth also have high levels of social trust and agency, which are 30% and 55% respectively higher than global rates for these measures.
Participants leave the program with 41% to 100% more philanthropy knowledge and skills and a 93% to 100% larger network of engaged peers and supportive adults.
Conclusions of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Report, Youth Philanthropy: Studying Outcomes of Community Engagement ~Authored by Dr. Patricia Snell Herzog
