Youth Philanthropy

FIST (Forever Improving Steuben County Together) seeks to inspire the youth of Steuben County to become leaders of tomorrow by sharing their resources and empowering others to donate their time, talent, and treasures.

Students from Hamilton, Angola, and Fremont become members as 8th graders and remain through high school. Each school has an adult representative. FIST meets monthly to plan ways to empower the youth of Steuben County and assist in service projects.

Grants

FIST offers grants to nonprofits and school projects that promote youth involvement in philanthropy and impact the youth of Steuben County. Any school employee or nonprofit organization in Steuben County or that serves Steuben County can apply for a FIST grant, including churches and service clubs. Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to activities that correspond with the FIST mission statement. The application requires a description of the project, an itemized budget or estimates, and a demonstration of how it connects with the mission of FIST. FIST will not fund shipping/handling, food items, or transportation costs. Organizations can also request volunteers for events. The grant cycle is open from August 1 to October 31.

Community Projects

Collectively, FIST donates more than 1,000 hours a year of their time to improve their communities. Each year, FIST develops new ideas about making a difference in Steuben County. In the last few years, projects have included:

  • Trick or Treat for Canned Goods, where FIST gathered around 10,000 canned goods items each year to donate to local food pantries.

  • FLIP (Future Leaders in Philanthropy), where FIST members teach 5th-grade students across Steuben County about giving their time, talent, and treasure. They also teach them about grantmaking and help the classes award $500 grants to nonprofits.

  • Volunteering with other nonprofits and community events, such as Cahoots Coffee Cafe, the WLKI Pie Auction, Cops for Kids, and Lake James Christian Camp & Retreat Center.

  • Collaborating with Jenny Lou’s and the Heritage Club to create a Growing Together Picnic for Heritage Club members.

FIST BOARD

Jedidiah Mortorff
President

Marissa Mercer
Secretary

Kiersen Crowl
Treasurer

Gabriella Concus
Public Relations

Delaney Bock
Vice President

Want to learn more about our youth philanthropy initiatives?

Contact us at FIST@steubenfoundation.org or 260 665-6656.