2024 High School Giving Circle Awards Grants to 6 Local Nonprofits
The 2024 High School Giving Circle brought together its most diverse group yet - 25 students from 14 different high schools across Washoe County. Meeting weekly over ten weeks, these young philanthropists took on the challenge of strategic grantmaking to address critical community needs.
Through their intensive evaluation process, students reviewed 86 nonprofit organizations and conducted thoughtful interviews with ten finalists. After careful deliberation, they awarded grants to six organizations making vital impacts in our community:
- Opportunity Alliance Nevada - Professional development training
- Northern Nevada Dream Center - Twin beds and frames for the Foster Care Intervention program
- Project 150 - Shoes for youth in need
- Arts for All Nevada - Artist in Residency program serving three classrooms
- Step 1, Inc. - Utility support for Alumni House
- Nevada Youth Empowerment Project - "Welcome Bundles" for program participants
The student leaders engaged deeply in every aspect of the grantmaking process - from identifying community priorities to making difficult funding decisions. Through meetings with nonprofit leaders and rigorous proposal evaluations, they gained firsthand experience in strategic philanthropy while making meaningful investments in our community's future.