The idea for creating a youth philanthropy leadership education program was planted in 2010 by Rick and Cheryl King, long-time residents of Oak Park. Being a nonprofit executive and a teacher respectively, they both served on numerous nonprofit boards and philanthropic projects over the years. Rick served on the Oak Park-River Community Foundation Board and it was through that experience that he and his wife created the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP). The design was built on the Project-Based Learning pedagogy wherein the student’s classroom learning would be accompanied by real-time community-based activities in grantmaking, fundraising and community service.
The program design was also based on the goal of becoming financially sustainable within a short period of time. Rather than using paid staff, the program is run by adult volunteer mentors in the community who train the students in the skills needed for effective fundraising and grantmaking. The students’ goal is to raise more money than they give away in grants each year. With the excess of funds accumulating each year, the program is able to set up its own charitable fund which is invested in the financial markets where it can grow. And, as a result, they can distribute more grants each year to nonprofits who serve those in need.
Since launching the program in 2010, FPP has demonstrated how a community can reap great benefits by providing teens with the Three Pillars Experience:
FPP Fund Value (as of 6/30/23): $1,218,585
Current Annual Grants Distribution: $ 80,000
Total Amount of Grants Distributed: $ 430,000 to 43 local nonprofit organizations
Community Service Hours: 2,600 hours and counting
Given the success of the Oak Park program, and a desire to share this model with other communities across the country, the Three Pillars Initiative (TPI) was incorporated in October 2018. TPI is a 501(c)(3) philanthropy service organization whose mission is to create youth philanthropy education programs which prepare the next generation of leaders committed to community and civic engagement.