*Students from Warstler Elementary School present a grant for $1,000 to Second Chance for Animals during their school’s Giving Ceremony, or “Kindness Celebration.”*

Magnified Giving recently concluded its 2025–2026 Youth Philanthropy Program year with a series of Grant Giving Ceremonies, celebrating thousands of young people who spent the school year learning about community needs, engaging with local nonprofits, and awarding real grant funding to causes they care about.

Through more than twenty in-person ceremonies and more than a dozen virtual ceremonies, participating youth had the opportunity to reflect on their philanthropic experiences, present their selected nonprofit organizations, and announce youth-directed grants. Many ceremonies brought together multiple schools, allowing students to learn from one another and expand awareness for nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, Northern Kentucky, and Northeast Ohio.

This year, youth presented grants totaling more than $200,000 to nearly 100 nonprofit organizations.

During each ceremony, program facilitators shared how they implemented Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program in their schools and organizations. Students then presented their experiences and announced the nonprofit recipients they selected, while nonprofit representatives shared their missions with a broader audience and connected directly with young people who had become passionate advocates for their work.

One teacher, Ashley Turpin of Miamisburg High School, shared the value of bringing Magnified Giving into a Financial Literacy class, saying, “So much of financial literacy is very self-focused. It’s about making more, saving more, investing more, and so it’s a nice break to take some time to think outside of ourselves and to remember that our money, just like our time and our talent, are things that we can use, not only to help ourselves but also to help others.”

*Students from Mason Middle School joined other Warren County schools for a Giving Ceremony at Kings School and awarded a $500 grant to Safe Passage and a $1,000 grant to Rooms with Love.*

At a Grant Giving Ceremony hosted by Kings High School, student leaders reflected on the growth they experienced through service and grantmaking.

“We have learned that our time is a currency and our voices are tools for change,” the students shared. “We’ve watched our club transition from students following a program to young leaders driven by empathy.”

For many students, the Grant Giving Ceremonies are a meaningful culmination of the year. They offer youth the chance to strengthen their confidence, practice public speaking, advocate for causes they care about, and see their learning translated into real community impact.

“These ceremonies are a powerful part of the Magnified Giving experience,” said Alison Kaufman, VP of Programs for Magnified Giving. “Youth are not only announcing grants. They are standing in front of their peers, educators, families, and nonprofit leaders to say, ‘This mission matters, and we chose to support it.’ That kind of ownership changes how young people see themselves and their role in the community.”

Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program helps young people recognize that they have time, talent, and treasure to offer their communities. By researching nonprofits, engaging in service, raising additional funds, and making grant decisions, students learn that philanthropy is not something reserved for adulthood. It is something they can practice now.

As the 2025–2026 program year comes to a close, Magnified Giving celebrates the students, educators, donors, and nonprofit partners who made this year’s impact possible. Together, they are helping raise up the next generation of philanthropists, community leaders, and changemakers.