S.U.R.F. (Student Understanding Real Futures) Board Youth Grantmakers– Davie County, NC

Problem/Rationale: 

A 2004–2005 needs assessment  surfaced major youth concerns such as drug abuse, a 33% dropout rate, few positive activities, harassment, limited jobs/transportation, and lack of places to gather. echoing broader findings of youth disconnection. Davie Community Foundation (DCF) recognized the need to empower youth as problem-solvers and include them directly in identifying needs and funding solutions.

Goals: 

• Empower youth to address youth-defined issues through grantmaking and service.
• Build lifelong habits of volunteering, philanthropy, and leadership.
• Increase youth voice in community decision-making and project design.
• Grow a diverse youth leadership pipeline that reflects the county.

Project Summary: 

Launched by the Davie Community Foundation (DCF) in 2005 after a community needs process, the Youth in Philanthropy effort evolved into the S.U.R.F. Board Youth Grantmakers—a youth-led board that raises funds and awards grants for youth-led projects. Early cohorts (high school, Eagle Academy, and community college students) surveyed peers ages 13–24 and publicly presented findings (e.g., “nothing to do,” “no place to hang out,” “no jobs,” “racism,” “tech access”).

Today, S.U.R.F.:

• Recruits annually (aiming for balance of freshmen–seniors and geographic/racial diversity); youth select their own members and elect officers.
• Hosts an annual retreat (team-building, needs review, fundraising/grants planning).
• Runs the POPSICLE 5K each February to fund grants; youth secure sponsors, manage volunteers, and direct race logistics.
• Designs and funds projects that respond to the original issues and current needs (e.g., tutoring during COVID via Zoom).

Engagement Strategies: 

• Peer-led surveys, dialogues, and public presentations to surface youth-defined needs.
• Youth-run fundraising (POPSICLE 5K) with business sponsorships.
• Competitive youth grantmaking with board interviews and youth officers leading meetings.
• Partnerships with schools, nonprofits, faith groups, and local government for project delivery.
• Targeted inclusion efforts (middle-school outreach; bilingual and minority recruitment).
• Digital engagement (Zoom learning/tutoring; virtual dialogues on race).

Outcomes: 

• Volunteerism: Youth volunteer hours grew from 300+ to 600+ annually.
• Fundraising/Grantmaking: $84,091 raised; 65 grants awarded totaling $79,089; POPSICLE 5K yields $8,000–$14,000/year.
• Board Diversity: Minority representation increased from ~5% to a consistent 13–18%.
• Issue Response & Sample Grants:
  • Access/Belonging: Birthdays in a Box ($960) for families in need; Wardrobe Warriors ($1,000) for teen clothing access.
  • Food Security: Hunger Fighters ($4,000) weekend food boxes for students’ families.
  • Places to Gather: Teen Center grants (YMCA, Farmington Community Center); hammock area at Park at Lake Louise.
  • Learning/Inclusion: Makerspace at Cognition; Special Olympics track uniforms (teen-coached); special-needs soccer equipment; autism awareness/enrichment.
  • Racism/Bullying: Diversity lunches (2007); anti-bullying films (2010); 2020 Zoom dialogues on bias and social justice.
• Education/Technology: Community progress reflected in the new Davie County High School (2017) and K–12 tech access.
• Leadership Trajectory: Alumni become school leaders and recipients of competitive scholarships (e.g., Park, Levine, Morehead–Cain).
• Community Impact: More youth activities/jobs (parks, greenway, sports facilities); youth voice engaged in economic development conversations.

Resources

• S.U.R.F. Board website
• Davie’s AAC presentation