YAC Nonprofit Forum
Sunday, December 13, 2026
5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
The Sidney and Pauline Friedman
Jewish Community Center
Our community’s youth are our future leaders, and engaging them now in philanthropic endeavors matters to The Luzerne Foundation and our community’s well-being.
Twelve years ago, The Luzerne Foundation established the Youth Advisory Committee, otherwise known as “YAC”. YAC’s mission is to empower high school youth to identify needs and fund them responsibly. YAC consists of 30 students from 9 Luzerne County High schools eager to help support local nonprofit organizations through a professionally run comprehensive program.
Only the first 20 qualified participants will be selected, so act quickly!
The submission deadline is Wednesday, November 18, 2026, or until we announce that the Forum is full! Don’t delay in sending your application!
Applications must be submitted through our Grant Portal.
Things You Should Know:
Participation in the YAC Forum does not preclude your charity’s eligibility to apply for a spot in The Luzerne Foundation’s Spring 2026 Nonprofit Forum. The first 20 applicants will receive a confirmation email and a commitment form. Once the commitment form is signed and returned, your 3-minute slot in the Forum is secure.
- You will be allowed 2 additional PowerPoint slides should you choose. The Luzerne Foundation will supply one introductory slide.
- Only one person from your organization may speak, and no additional props are allowed.
- Please be sure that you can participate on 12/07/25 before committing to ensure the best experience possible for everyone. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH OUR GRANT PORTAL. This method records the date/time confirmation of each application since we are limited to the first 20 submissions.
- Following the Forum, the YAC students will deliberate and narrow the field down to 6-8 finalists.
- YAC invites *all qualified 501 (c)(3) public charities that provide services to Luzerne County
- Organizations that received YAC funding in May 2025 are ineligible to participate in this funding cycle.
- If you are a finalist, a YAC student will follow up with you to arrange a site visit. Members of the YAC Group will visit your organization, ask questions, and collect data to be used in their final deliberation process in April 2026.
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to receiving your RFP.
Enriching Young Lives Through Philanthropy
The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a program designed to introduce local high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both the participating students and local charities.
Students work in the community to raise money, build endowment funds, and make grants to non-profit organizations improving the lives in our community. YAC is an opportunity to prepare young people to be active, lifelong community citizens.
YAC awards grants to support programs working to improve the Luzerne County Area. Grants are reviewed by YAC members and awarded in late spring, at the end of each school year.
YAC Students learn and experience a first-hand look at their community by:
Community Outreach
Monthly meetings include guest speakers who work within our community, and discuss the importance of supporting our area in ways that are meaningful and impactful.
Fund Raising
Students are tasked with finding creative ways to raise funds. They make connections with businesses and local community members to develop a fundraising plan. All funds raised help build the YAC endowment, allowing more money to be awarded in grants each year.
Grant Making
Students will invite nonprofit organizations to apply and present at their nonprofit forum in December. Each presenter has 3 minutes to share their story and how funding from YAC will support their mission. YAC students deliberate and select 4-6 organizations to be awarded grants at their annual award banquet.
2026-2027 Program Sponsor
2026-2027 YAC Kickoff Dinner
2025-2026 YAC Awards Banquet
YAC Grantmaking Since Inception
Total Nonprofits Supported: 51
Total Grants and In-Kind Gifts: $235,775
2025-2026
| $6,000 | Willow Foundation |
| $5,000 | ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund |
| $4,500 | Gather Community Space |
| $4,500 | Collaborative Autism Movement |
| $3,000 | SPCA of Luzerne County |
| $3,000 | Volunteers of America of PA |
2024-2025
| $5,000 | A Moment of Magic |
| $5,000 | Catholic Social Services |
| $5,000 | Helping Hands Society |
| $5,000 | The JumpStart Cart |
2023-2024
| $7,000 | MamaBird NEPA Inc. |
| $4,000 | Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. |
| $5,000 | United Way of Wyoming Valley |
| $6,000 | Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania |
2022-2023
| $3,000 | Wilkes University |
| $3,000 | The Jump Start Cart |
| $4,000 | Restored Church |
| $5,000 | Dinners for Kids, Inc. |
| $2,000 | CASA of Luzerne County |
| $3,000 | Family Service Association of NEPA |
2021-2022
| $5,500 | Parenting Autism United |
| $4,500 | United Way of Wyoming Valley |
| $4,000 | NEPA Philharmonic |
| $3,500 | Volunteers of America |
| $2,500 | Think Big Pediatric Cancer Fund |
2020-2021
| $5,000 | Domestic Violence Service Center – Playground Expansion |
| $5,000 | Catholic Youth Center – Taste and See Program |
| $5,000 | Catherine McAuley Center — Virtual Learning Supplies and Purchases |
| $1,000 | Camp Koala — Scholarships |
2019-2020
| $5,000 | The Wright Center for Community Health – Stratus Video Language App |
| $5,000 | The Family Service Association of NEPA ~ Help Line/211 Service |
| $5,000 | Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation — for the purchase of a drone to assist with watershed mapping |
2018-2019
| $5,500 | F.M. Kirby Center - Sensory Friendly Theater |
| $5,500 | PA Environment Council - Community Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program |
| $5,000 | Mom-n-Pa Dental - Dental Program June 7 & 8 at Mohegan Sun Arena |
2017-2018
| $5,000 | Family Service Association of NEPA |
| $5,000 | Camp Orchard Hill |
| $5,000 | The Hope Center of Wyoming Valley |
| $1,000 | Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center |
2016-2017
| $5,000 | Helping Hands Society, Bringing the Outside In |
| $5,000 | McGlynn Center, Weekend Program |
| $5,000 | Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, The Community Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program |
| $1,000 | St. Joseph’s Center, medical equipment for Luzerne County Intermediate Care |
| $775 | CASA of Luzerne County, Resource Library: Special gift of games/toys |
2015-2016
| $5,000 | Hazleton Integration Project, After School Scholarship Program |
| $5,000 | Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, SPOT On Preschool Camp |
| $3,500 | YMCA of Wilkes-Barre, Tasty Thursday Program |
| $2,500 | Women’s Resource Center, Safe Housing Program |
2014-2015
| $5,000 | Children’s Service Center, Music Intervention |
| $5,000 | Ruth’s Place, Staff Expansion |
| $3,000 | Cori’s Place, Mind & Body |
| $3,000 | The United Way of Wyoming Valley, Success by 6 |
2013-2014
| $5,000 | CASA of Luzerne County, CASA Training Classes |
| $5,000 | Volunteers in Medicine, A Healthy Smile for a Healthy Start |
| $5,000 | Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, Multi-Sensory Room |
| $1,000 | Marlee’s Mission, Scholarships |
