Sarah Beuning calls it the "snowball" effect.
"Young Philanthropists is a giving circle at the Community Foundation for people who want to get involved in philanthropy at kind of an early level," she said. "The more people who get together, the bigger impact we can have."
Every member gives $125 and the money is pooled and grants are awarded. The next round will be going out soon. A deadline of Nov. 3 is coming fast for those who work with children and want to apply.
Beuning is the 2014 Steering Committee Chair for the Young Philanthropists. One grant of up to $8,000 will be awarded this year, bringing the total given from the group to nearly $50,000.
Last year, a grant was given to the Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery.
"Our grant was able to fully stock diapers in the nursery," said Stacy Reed, the Community Foundation's Vice President for Programs. "But more so than that, there was one mother and her child experiencing real trouble."
Reed went on to say the newborn was having digestive problems and needed special formula that the mother couldn't afford. The nursery was able to obtain the formula and the prognosis improved.
"It was really a clear way to show how our small contribution can impact people in the community."
Young Philanthropists has been around since 2006. This year, there are 117 members.
