Youth In Philanthropy
Impacting Youth
The Okoboji Foundation launched the Youth In Philanthropy program in 2010 to inspire philanthropy among local students and teach them the importance of supporting their community. Each year, students in grades 9–12 from Harris-Lake Park, Okoboji, and Spirit Lake are chosen through a competitive application process to participate. Meeting regularly from October through May students learn about how philanthropy drives a community to thrive, how to solicit donations, and how to read, score, and grant dollars to area nonprofits to make an impact.
raise funds
assess community needs
evaluate grant requests
Since 2010
OUR STUDENTS HAVE MADE AN IMPACT
$891K +
RAISED
$742K +
GRANTED
240 +
STUDENT ALMUMNI
2026
YIP GRANTEES
$40,000
Permanent Memorial Project
Veterans Memorial of Dickinson County
$35,000
Outdoor Patio and Stage Project
Iowa Rock 'N Roll
$35,000
Preserving the Portal Project
Dickinson County Museum
$11,000
Lobby Refresh Project
Lakes Area Hockey Association
2026 - 2027 Youth In Philanthropy Team
Front Left to Right:
Bethany Frostestad, Elanor Sinz, Colson Hanna, Karna Droegmiller, McKenna Beck, Ryder Neuharth, Colton Johnson, Wesley Evans, Dexter Peters, Cole Donnenwerth, Jake Neuharth, Trey Vander Pol, Emily Breuer
Back Left to Right:
Zoey Dodds, Kaden Meyer, Riley Meyer, Landon Schmitz, Kennedy Humphrey, Peyton Bosch, Cadence Carlson, Addy Petersen, Abi Mensing, Claire Kruger, Jada Vander Wolde, Cecelia Harris, Anthea Leupold, Anabel Sinz, Addie Munson, Hampton Evans, Beckett Halbersma, Addilyn Plathe, Gemma Tamisiea, Vaeda Franzen, Emerson Foster, Savannah Nussbaum