KidsMatter program grows next generation of philanthropic leaders through community connections

Teen Philanthropy Initiative building on first three years of nonprofit education

KidsMatter Executive Director Nina Menis and life-long banking executive and community leader Mark Trembacki had the same idea in mind when they partnered as co-chairs to launch the Teen Philanthropy Initiative in 2023. Their plan was to strengthen youth leadership and the Naperville-area nonprofit community by giving high school students a hands-on introduction to the philanthropic world.

Teen Philanthropy Initiative (TPI) is doing just that — and recently graduated its second cohort of high school seniors from the immersive two-year program. Armed with real experiences in grantmaking, fundraising, relationship-building and strategic volunteerism, more than 50 TPI graduates are beginning their collegiate years with a broad understanding of how nonprofit organizations operate, secure funding, share their missions and make a difference.

“We are preparing future philanthropic leaders; it is up to the students to choose how they use their knowledge — some will become nonprofit board members, or perhaps an executive director,” Trembacki said. “At a minimum, we are confident they will be more aware of unmet needs in their communities that they can work to solve, as well as be more informed donors.”

Menis and Trembacki worked together to build consensus around launching TPI in Naperville and to secure college credit for participating students through North Central College. They leveraged KidsMatter’s broad network of community partners to introduce the program as an affiliate of the Oak Park-based Three Pillars Initiative, a national nonprofit that aims to provide teens with comprehensive leadership skills and experiences so the next generation can sustainably impact community philanthropy and civic improvement during their lifetime. TPI students have come from Naperville School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204 and Benet Academy.

“At KidsMatter, we focus on empowering youth to realize their purpose, build resilience and pursue meaningful pathways to success in college and careers,” Menis said. “TPI — and the network of support we’ve built around the program — introduces students to the ways they can advance their passions and make a positive impact through charitable work.”

With retired Naperville Community Unit District 203 educator Janet Sommerville as the Program Coordinator, and a host of dedicated mentors guiding students, TPI continues to deliver an innovative curriculum about grantmaking, event planning, appeal letters, personal asks and nonprofit communications. These project-based authentic learning experiences allow students to grow in confidence and maturity and to build relationships with adults in the philanthropic realm.

Trembacki, a longtime volunteer board member for organizations including Naperville Education Foundation, DuPage Children’s Museum and the Chicago History Museum, didn’t learn much about the world of nonprofit operations until he was in his 40s. But through his partnership with KidsMatter to create TPI, that doesn’t have to be the case for today’s Naperville-area students.
Rising high school juniors who are interested in joining TPI can apply by visiting kidsmatter2us.org/teen-philanthropy-initiative/.

TPI is just one part of KidsMatter’s work to build resilient kids who say “No” to destructive choices and “Yes” to their endless possibilities. KidsMatter aims to help youth realize their purpose, know their value and find their pathway through programs in leadership development, career exploration and youth mental health. Now celebrating its 25th year, KidsMatter continues to proactively build community connections to best support youth and families against the stressors of everyday life.

For details or to become a supporter of the Teen Philanthropy Initiative, visit kidsmatter2us.org/teen-philanthropy-initiative/. To support KidsMatter’s array of programs to strengthen youth, visit kidsmatter2us.org/ways-to-give/.

About KidsMatter: Recognized as Naperville’s proactive, youth-oriented human services organization, KidsMatter’s mission is to build resilient kids who say “no” to destructive choices and “yes” to endless possibilities. Established in 2001, and now celebrating its 25th year, KidsMatter empowers kids to realize their purpose, know their value, and discover their pathway through programs addressing youth mental health, leadership development and career exploration. A leader among nonprofits, KidsMatter harnesses the power of partnerships to help young people build developmental assets, including positive values, healthy relationships and self-esteem. KidsMatter has been highlighted by NBC 5 Chicago’s Making a Difference in 2024 for providing Youth Mental Health First Aid courses and by CBS News Chicago in 2023 for the Kindness Counts Campaign. With programming focused on preventing problems in the lives of youth before they start — and an extensive network of parents, educators and resources — KidsMatter equips youth and families with essential tools to manage the societal pressures and stresses of everyday life.