Philanos Board members Clare O’Brien and Ann Marie McGee launched a three-week Young Philanthropists Cohort in September 2024, bringing together Philanos affiliates interested in starting or strengthening programs that engage the next generation of collective giving.

Many Philanos Affiliates are looking to increase the number of younger members in their organizations but are not always sure where to begin. Through the cohort experience, participating circles heard from affiliates with established young philanthropist programs, were able to ask questions and learned practical strategies for recruiting, engaging, and retaining younger members.

In response to the strong interest generated by the cohort, Philanos has now added the Young Philanthropist Affinity Group to its roster of ongoing affinity groups. Like other affinity groups, the YP Affinity Group is designed to be highly interactive. Participants connect with peers across the network, share ideas, discuss challenges, and exchange tips, stories, and data on building and sustaining YP programs within their giving circles.

The next YP Affinity Group session will take place on April 30 at 12:00 PM ET and will focus on “Growing and Engaging Your YP Community.”