The Youth Investment Council is giving young people in New Bedford, Massachusetts, an opportunity to take part in something much bigger than a traditional youth leadership program. Selected Council members will have a direct role in deciding how major funding is invested in organizations serving young people in the New Bedford community.

The initiative, titled “Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford,” is a partnership between the Atrius Health Equity Foundation and the Women’s Fund SouthCoast. It is designed to bring approximately 12 young people between the ages of 14 and 22 together to learn about leadership, philanthropy, community change, equity, health equity, and the grantmaking process.

What makes the opportunity particularly significant is that participants will not simply attend workshops or listen to speakers. They will have real decision-making power.

Youth Council members will help establish criteria for evaluating organizations, review grant applications, potentially interview finalists, and ultimately participate in decisions about how funding is allocated to organizations working with young people in New Bedford.

The opportunity is also paid, with participants expected to receive approximately $500 for completing the full process, in addition to support designed to remove barriers to participation.

What Is the Youth Investment Council?

The Youth Investment Council is a youth-centered community grantmaking initiative created through a partnership between the Atrius Health Equity Foundation and the Women’s Fund SouthCoast.

The program recognizes that young people should not only be recipients of decisions made by adults. They should also have an opportunity to participate directly in decisions affecting their communities.

Through the Council, approximately 12 young people will come together to learn about how community organizations, nonprofits, philanthropy, and funding decisions work.

More importantly, they will then use what they learn to help determine how funding is invested in organizations working with young people in New Bedford.

This means Council members will have an opportunity to move beyond traditional youth participation and become active participants in community-level funding and decision-making.

Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford

The initiative is centered around the broader goal of creating a healthier and more equitable New Bedford.

Participants will explore issues affecting young people and communities, including:

• Health equity
• Racial equity
• Gender equity
• Economic equity
• Community change
• Youth leadership
• Philanthropy
• Nonprofit organizations
• Grantmaking
• Community investment
• Decision-making

The program is intended to help young people understand not only the challenges facing their communities but also the systems and resources that can be used to address those challenges.

Participants will gain insight into how philanthropic organizations decide where funding should go and how organizations are evaluated when they apply for grants.

What Will Youth Investment Council Members Do?

Council members will take on meaningful responsibilities throughout the program.

Their work will include learning, discussion, evaluation, collaboration, and funding decisions.

1. Help Decide How Major Funding Is Invested

One of the most important responsibilities of Council members will be helping determine how significant funding is invested in organizations working with young people in New Bedford.

Rather than simply providing feedback, young people will have real decision-making power in the process.

This provides participants with firsthand experience in how community investments are made.

2. Learn About Philanthropy

Participants will learn how philanthropy operates within their community.

They will explore how foundations and other funding organizations identify community needs, evaluate organizations, and determine where financial resources can have an impact.

This can provide valuable knowledge for young people interested in nonprofit organizations, social impact, community development, public health, advocacy, leadership, or philanthropy.

3. Learn About Nonprofit Organizations

The Council will also introduce participants to how nonprofits operate.

Participants will gain a better understanding of the work nonprofit organizations do in communities and how those organizations seek funding to support their programs and services.

4. Explore Racial, Gender, and Economic Equity

Equity is an important part of the Council’s work.

Participants will explore how racial, gender, and economic inequalities can affect communities and how funding decisions can be designed to address inequities.

The program therefore goes beyond traditional leadership training by connecting leadership with broader questions about fairness, opportunity, access, and community wellbeing.

5. Learn About Health Equity

Another major focus is health equity.

Council members will explore what health equity means and consider ways communities can improve health outcomes for young people.

This is particularly relevant because the initiative is focused on creating a healthier New Bedford.

6. Help Develop Grant Review Criteria

Council members will have the opportunity to help create the criteria that will be used to evaluate organizations applying for funding.

This gives participants an opportunity to understand an important part of the grantmaking process: determining what makes a proposed program or organization deserving of investment.

7. Review Grant Applications

Participants will review applications submitted by organizations seeking funding.

This means Council members will have to consider information presented by applicants and use agreed-upon criteria to assess the organizations and their proposed work.

8. Potentially Interview Finalists

Depending on the process, Council members may also participate in interviews with organizations that become finalists.

This can give participants direct experience evaluating organizations and asking questions that can help inform funding decisions.

9. Make Funding Decisions

After learning, reviewing applications, and potentially interviewing finalists, Council members will participate in decisions about which organizations receive funding.

This is one of the most distinctive aspects of the opportunity because young people will have an actual role in deciding where community resources are invested.

10. Build Leadership and Decision-Making Skills

Through the process, participants will develop practical skills such as:

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Evaluation
• Decision-making
• Collaboration
• Community engagement
• Understanding community needs
• Understanding nonprofit organizations
• Grant application review

These skills can be useful for future education, employment, community involvement, and leadership opportunities.

No Previous Leadership or Grantmaking Experience Required

One of the most accessible aspects of the Youth Investment Council is that applicants do not need previous experience in:

• Grant writing
• Grant review
• Philanthropy
• Nonprofit organizations
• Formal leadership programs
• Community leadership

You do not need to have previously served on a youth council or community board.

You also do not need to have worked for a nonprofit organization.

The organizers specifically recognize that young people have different experiences and levels of involvement in their communities.

Someone who is already highly active in community work can apply, but someone applying for their first leadership opportunity can also be considered.

The Council Wants Diverse Youth Voices

The organizers want the Youth Investment Council to reflect the diversity of New Bedford.

They are therefore seeking young people with different:

• Racial and ethnic identities
• Gender identities
• Neighborhoods
• Cultures
• Languages
• Economic backgrounds
• Abilities
• Educational experiences
• Levels of previous leadership experience

This means applicants should not assume that they need a particular background or leadership profile to be competitive.

The purpose is to bring together young people with different experiences and perspectives so that funding decisions can be informed by a broad range of youth voices.

Compensation for Youth Council Members

The Youth Investment Council is a paid opportunity.

Participants will receive compensation for their time and participation.

The stated compensation includes:

• $100 for the four-hour orientation
• $50 for each two-hour Council meeting
• Additional compensation for time spent reviewing applications

Based on the expected participation, most Council members are expected to receive approximately $500 for completing the full process.

This is important because participants are not expected to volunteer all of their time without compensation.

The program recognizes that young people are investing their time, energy, and skills into the community funding process.

Food and Participation Support

The organizers are also providing support to make participation more accessible.

Meals

Dinner will be provided during evening Council meetings.

Food will also be provided during the orientation.

Financial Support for Participation Barriers

Funding is available to help address barriers that could otherwise prevent young people from participating.

Examples specifically identified include:

• Transportation
• Technology
• Accessibility
• Language support
• Materials
• Other participation-related needs

This support is particularly important because young people may face practical barriers to attending meetings or completing work outside meetings.

Youth Investment Council Meeting Schedule

All Council meetings will take place in person at the Women’s Fund SouthCoast office in downtown New Bedford.

The schedule is as follows:

Applicants should carefully consider whether they can attend the scheduled in-person sessions before applying.

Additional Work Outside Council Meetings

Participation is not limited to attending meetings.

Council members will also spend time outside scheduled meetings reviewing applications.

This means applicants should be prepared to commit additional time to the grantmaking process.

The outside work may involve carefully reviewing information submitted by organizations and contributing to the Council’s evaluation and decision-making process.

Because the Council is making real funding decisions, participants should be prepared to take the responsibility seriously.

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity may be particularly suitable for young people who are interested in:

• Youth leadership
• Community development
• Public health
• Health equity
• Social justice
• Racial equity
• Gender equity
• Economic equity
• Nonprofit organizations
• Philanthropy
• Community organizing
• Grantmaking
• Civic engagement
• Leadership development
• Social impact
• Community change

However, applicants do not need to already be involved in these areas.

A young person who simply wants to learn, contribute to New Bedford, and gain experience in community decision-making can also be a strong fit.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

Many youth programs focus primarily on teaching leadership skills through workshops, training sessions, or discussions.

The Youth Investment Council goes a step further.

Participants will be given the opportunity to use their leadership skills in real community decision-making.

They will not simply learn what philanthropy is. They will participate in the process.

They will not merely discuss community needs. They will help determine how funding is directed toward organizations working with young people.

They will not simply learn about grant applications. They will help review them.

This practical component makes the opportunity particularly valuable for young people who want firsthand experience with community investment, nonprofit funding, philanthropy, and social impact.

Important Deadline

The application deadline is:

October 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning applicants are encouraged to submit their applications rather than waiting until the final deadline.

Because applications are reviewed as they are received, submitting earlier may be advantageous.

Important Dates at a Glance

For applicants considering the opportunity, the key dates are:

Application deadline: October 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST

Orientation: October 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Council Meeting 1: November 10, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Council Meeting 2: December 1, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Council Meeting 3: December 15, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Council Meeting 4: January 12, 2027, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Council Meeting 5: January 19, 2027, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

READ DETAILS AND APPLY HERE

What Participants Can Gain From the Experience

Beyond the approximately $500 in compensation, participation can provide young people with valuable practical experience.

Council members can gain an understanding of how community organizations seek funding and how foundations make investment decisions.

They can also develop experience in:

1. Leadership – contributing to group decisions and taking responsibility for community outcomes.
2. Teamwork – working alongside other young people with different perspectives and experiences.
3. Critical thinking – evaluating information and considering different approaches to community challenges.
4. Decision-making – weighing evidence and making informed funding recommendations.
5. Equity analysis – considering racial, gender, economic, and health equity in community investment.
6. Grantmaking – gaining firsthand exposure to how funding applications are evaluated.
7. Community engagement – understanding local needs and how organizations respond to them.
8. Philanthropy – learning how philanthropic funding can support community change.
9. Communication – discussing ideas, asking questions, and collaborating with other Council members.
10. Social impact – understanding how funding decisions can influence programs and services for young people.

A Chance to Influence New Bedford’s Future

At its core, the Youth Investment Council is about giving young people a meaningful voice in the future of their community.

Young people often experience community challenges directly, yet funding and policy decisions are frequently made without their direct involvement.

This initiative creates an opportunity to change that dynamic by putting young people at the table.

By participating in the Council, selected youth can help determine which organizations receive support and which initiatives have the opportunity to make an impact among young people in New Bedford.

The experience can therefore be both educational and practical.

Final Thoughts

The Youth Investment Council: Youth Creating a Healthier New Bedford offers young people an unusual opportunity to combine leadership development, community engagement, philanthropy, health equity, and real-world decision-making.

Approximately 12 young people ages 14–22 will be selected to learn how philanthropy and nonprofit organizations operate, explore racial, gender, economic, and health equity, help establish grant review criteria, review applications, potentially interview finalists, and participate in real funding decisions.

The opportunity also provides financial compensation, meals during scheduled activities, and funding designed to address participation barriers such as transportation, technology, accessibility, language support, and materials.

Importantly, previous experience is not required. The Council is intentionally seeking young people with different backgrounds, experiences, identities, and levels of leadership experience.

For eligible young people who live in or have a strong connection to New Bedford, this can be an excellent opportunity to gain practical leadership and grantmaking experience while directly contributing to the future of their community.

Interested applicants should submit their application by October 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Since applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, eligible young people are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

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