The Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program (CAYPP) of the Brandywine Health Foundation has announced it is requesting proposals from organizations dedicated to providing LGBTQ sexual health education and services in the greater Coatesville area.

Initiated during the summer of 2015 by the foundation, CAYPP is the first program to allow youth to direct significant philanthropic donations in the greater Coatesville area. Their philanthropic endeavors are being funded by a generous donation of $100,000 from Citadel, which will support the program for a total of five years.

“Putting dollars into the CAYPP members’ hands and letting them figure out what to do with it has been and will continue to be a great experience, not only for them but for all the organizations they interact with,” said Citadel CEO Jeff March.

The 15 Coatesville-area youth – young men and women between the ages of 14 and 18 who were accepted into the program – identified and determined a significant area of need in their community.

They met regularly during the fall and winter to learn how philanthropy works, and researched and discussed a myriad of possible philanthropic goals to improve their community, before deciding to fund programs that focus on the LGBTQ community.

Later this spring, after a review of applications and site visits, the CAYPP members will award $15,000 in grants in the range of $5,000-$10,000 to eligible organizations to support programs that provide LGBTQ sexual health education and services.

“It’s really been a great way to teach the youth about philanthropy and the network of non-profit organizations in the Coatesville area that work together to support their community,” said Alyson Ferguson, the program’s director, as well as the grant-making director for the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation.

The grant application is available online by clicking here or by calling 610-380-9080. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 8 at 5 PM.