FORWARD TURN
The Student Philanthropy Project
About Forward Turn | Grant Guidelines | Grant Application | Grants Given
GRANT GUIDELINES
GUIDELINES FOR YOUTH GRANT APPLICANTS
S. Murray Rust and Mary H. C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project
A community program of the Piedmont Community Foundation
WHO
ARE WE?
Founded in 1999, the Piedmont Community Foundation is a publicly supported,
tax-exempt organization that benefits both philanthropists and charities
in northern Virginia, specifically Loudoun and Fauquier Counties. The S.
Murray Rust and Mary H.C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project (SPP)
was started in 2006 by the Piedmont Community Foundation via a grant from
the Rust Family Foundation to honor the principles of encouraging youth
philanthropy which were of high importance to Mr. and Mrs. S. Murray Rust
during their lifetimes. The children, grand-children and great-grandchildren
of Stirling Murray Rust and his wife Mary Hilton Coburn Rust seeded a permanent
charitable endowment to provide an on-going grant-making program, advised
and self perpetuated by students. The project empowers and encourages youth
volunteerism and permanent strategic student philanthropy.
A Steering Committee, comprised of local high school students, is responsible
for determining the needs of youth in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, preparing
a Request for Proposal, reviewing grant applications, and making funding
recommendations to the Piedmont Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Consideration will be given to youth-driven organizations that provide programs
or services relating to one or more of the focus areas listed below.
WHAT ARE OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES?
The Steering Committee will consider projects that focus on one or more
of the three target areas:
1. Encouraging Community Involvement: Reaching out to
youth and encouraging participation in school and community activities
that build confidence and enthusiasm to further their successful interaction
and participation as a citizen.
2. Strengthening Positive Lifestyles: Supporting activities
that promote positive alternatives to negative influences and offer a
path for individual responsibility and success. Specifically encouraged
are alternatives to substance abuse, bullying and gang activity.
3. Creating United Communities: Supporting a community
where neighborhoods and schools share an interest in building common bonds
that unify residents and encourage a strong sense of community wide identity,
fellowship and understanding of one another.