LINK Youth Advisory Council

The LINK Youth Advisory Council was created in 2002 by Hamilton County Community Foundation, the Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliate serving Hamilton County. The council is comprised of high school students, who work alongside foundation staff and its board of directors to award grants to Hamilton County organizations. LINK was created to bring together and inspire leadership in high school students, as well as to improve and influence Hamilton County through service, grant-making and educational opportunities.

LINK Youth Advisory Council members represent high schools around Hamilton County and are required to make at least a one-year commitment to the program. Members may serve on two Hamilton County Community Foundation board sub-committees: the grant review committee, which determines grant awards to area not-for-profits, or the community leadership committee, which determines where the foundation can provide proactively addresses community issues.

Hamilton County Community Foundation provides $15,000 for the council to award each Spring. As part of the grant-making process, council members conduct site visits throughout the year to the different organizations that make up the charitable community in Hamilton County. The goal of these visits is for council members to understand the needs of the community and to consider ways council members can either fund a program with a grant or volunteer their time.

Council members also raise funds for the LINK Youth Advisory Council endowment fund, which ensures that future students will have an opportunity to have an impact on the community.

The Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Hamilton County Community Foundation office, or when best available for the council.