In April 1998, the Board of Directors of Berks County Community Foundation approved the creation of a Youth Advisory Committee in order to give interested Berks County youth a hands-on experience in grantmaking decisions. Berks County Community Foundation strongly believes that young people should be able to participate in community decisions that affect them and their peers.

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is made up of approximately 30 high school students from different communities in Berks County. The main purpose of YAC is to involved young people in addressing the issues facing their peers in Berks County. Members of YAC have the responsibility of making decisions about the distribution of $15,000 in the Community Foundation's Youth and Philanthropy Fund grants to programs and projects that serve Berks County. All grants are approved by the Community Foundation's board before they are distributed.

To learn more about this unique group of teens and the work that they do, read the following reports, which were written by a former YAC members who interned in summer 2007:

Youth Advisory Committee: The Members

This report talks about the teen members of the Youth Advisory Committee and how being involved has made a difference in their knowledge, confidence and maturity.

Youth Advisory Committee: Grants That Make A Difference

This report details the impact YAC grants have had in Berks County over the past decade. Includes specific examples of grants that were funded and how they made a difference in the community.

Please email your Youth Advisory Committee program questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Communication Officer and YAC Advisor, or call 610-685-2223.

Click Here to Learn More About the Youth and Philanthropy Fund