Philanthropy and Youth
PaY Committee
Learn about how your committee can navigate this PaY year and find resources in the PaY Committee section.
2024 - 2025 Theme
Proactive, one of The Barry Foundation’s five values, encourages us to lead with purpose and seek out opportunities to create meaningful change instead of reacting to the world around us.
The symbol of the flower blooming from the lily pad embodies the idea that growth and success come from intentional care and action, requiring both the calm waters of preparation and the nourishing rainstorms of challenges. Just like the flower blooms from water, we too can bloom into action by cultivating our own ideas and bringing our passions to life.
PaY Core Team
The Core Team is a student leadership group within PaY that volunteer their time and talents to enhance the PaY experience for all. They assist with facilitating PaY-wide events, provide support to PaY Committees across the region, and serve as an ambassador for PaY within their community.
Applications open Monday, February 10th, 2025.
Philanthropy
and Youth
Philanthropy and Youth (PaY) introduces high school students to the importance of leadership and service through grantmaking. PaY is modeled after Youth in Philanthropy (YiP), an initiative of The Winnipeg Foundation, and each year we build upon that partnership and start new initiatives of our own. Run as an extracurricular activity in high schools, student-led committees first identify and area of focus, then research community nonprofits, and visit organizations before deciding how to award the grant funds provided. There is also an annual Fall Conference, quarterly gatherings, and summer internship and volunteer opportunities. Since 2007, over 6,000 students have participated in PaY and have collectively provided over one million dollars of grants to their communities.
2025-2026 Theme
Flash Forward
Passion, one of The Barry Foundation’s five values, calls us to inspire with purpose, lead with conviction, and share with generosity as we work toward meaningful change.
This year’s theme, Flash Forward, invites us to move boldly and intentionally—illuminating the path ahead for ourselves and others.
The symbol of the firefly and lightning represents the balance between presence and potential. The firefly hovers with intention—signifying clarity, transformation, and resilience. Lightning, bold and bright, captures the spark of passion that can illuminate even the darkest skies.
When we steady ourselves and strike with courage, we become luminaries—using our light not to outshine, but to lift others and light the way forward.
We also highlight Philanthropy: Forward, our community of young professionals passionate about making a lasting impact. They reflect what it means to flash forward—investing in the future while grounded in purpose.
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Forward Winter GatheringMon, Dec 22Fargo
February PaY+Mon, Feb 09Bell Bank- April PaY+Mon, Apr 13Detroit Lakes
- PaY CelebrationTue, May 05Fargo
- December PaY+Mon, Dec 01Moorhead
Philanthropy and Youth (PaY) introduces high school students to the importance of leadership and service through grantmaking. PaY is modeled after Youth in Philanthropy (YiP), an initiative of The Winnipeg Foundation, and each year we build upon that partnership and start new initiatives of our own. Run as an extracurricular activity in high schools, student-led committees first identify and area of focus, then research community nonprofits, and visit organizations before deciding how to award the grant funds provided. There is also an annual Fall Conference, quarterly gatherings, and summer internship and volunteer opportunities. Since 2007, over 6,000 students have participated in PaY and have collectively provided over one million dollars of grants to their communities.