How Funders Can Boost Youth Voter Turnout and Civic Engagement

In an age where young people are increasingly disconnected from traditional political processes, philanthropy has a unique opportunity to address the gap by supporting initiatives that center youth voices in civic discussions. One promising approach can be seen in Baltimore, where the Baltimore Beat, a grantee of The Pivot Fund, collaborated with nonprofit Wide Angle Youth Media to create a youth-centered voter guide. This initiative provides a roadmap for funders looking to boost youth voter turnout and engagement by investing in civic news and information tailored to young audiences.

Here are key takeaways from Baltimore’s efforts, along with actionable steps for philanthropists to follow in their footsteps:

1. Identify Key Youth Partners

Baltimore’s youth-focused voter guide’s success stemmed from its collaboration with Wide Angle Youth Media, an organization that works closely with system-impacted youth. Similarly, funders looking to support civic engagement among young people should start by identifying youth-led or youth-serving organizations in their community. These groups offer invaluable insights into the priorities and concerns of young people, which traditional institutions often overlook. Investing in partnerships with these organizations fosters trust and ensures that the issues young people care about are elevated in civic conversations.

2. Create Space for Authentic Youth Voices

A critical component of Baltimore’s initiative was placing youth voices at the center of the voter guide. Rather than consulting young people, they gave them decision-making power and a platform to express their concerns and ideas directly. Funders can replicate this model by encouraging projects involving young people in creating content. Whether through writing, videos, or other creative outlets, supporting youth-led storytelling ensures that voter guides—and by extension, civic engagement efforts—reflect the real experiences and concerns of young people rather than tokenized participation.

3. Focus on Issues That Matter to Youth

Young people care about issues that directly impact their daily lives, but these concerns are often underrepresented in voter education materials. In Baltimore, young participants prioritized topics like public safety, housing, and education—issues that resonate deeply with them. Philanthropy can play a vital role in helping media outlets and community organizations tap into these concerns by funding research and outreach efforts to identify key issues for young people in their communities. Ensuring these topics are central to civic news efforts can make voter guides more relevant and meaningful to youth.

4. Use Youth-Friendly Formats and Platforms

Baltimore’s voter guide stood out by using art and design created by young people, making it more engaging and accessible. For philanthropy to maximize impact, it’s important to support projects that utilize media formats young people already consume and enjoy. Whether it’s short videos, infographics, or interactive online platforms, funders should encourage creative approaches that go beyond traditional text-heavy guides. Ensuring that civic information is delivered in a way that resonates with youth can significantly increase engagement.

5. Distribute Civic Information Where Youth Are

Another key factor in the success of the Baltimore voter guide was its innovative distribution strategy. Instead of relying on traditional outlets like newspapers or mail, they distributed the guide in spaces frequented by young people, such as community centers and schools, and leveraged digital platforms. Philanthropists can support similar distribution efforts by helping organizations reach young audiences where they are—both online and offline. Investing in digital tools, social media campaigns, and partnerships with schools or local nonprofits ensures that voter education reaches youth more effectively.

6. Measure Impact and Foster Long-Term Engagement

Supporting youth civic engagement shouldn’t end with a single election. Funders can follow Baltimore’s lead by encouraging ongoing conversations with young people to measure the impact of voter guides and continuously improve them. Collecting feedback from youth, tracking distribution reach, and assessing the effectiveness of various formats can inform future projects. Philanthropy can also support efforts to keep young people engaged in civic life year-round, ensuring that their voices remain part of the conversation long after Election Day.

Baltimore’s collaboration between Baltimore Beat and Wide Angle Youth Media offers a powerful example of how funders can play a transformative role in fostering youth civic engagement. By investing in partnerships with youth organizations, supporting creative, youth-led content, and ensuring information reaches young people where they are, philanthropy can empower the next generation of voters. With sustained support and a focus on long-term engagement, funders can help build a more inclusive and active electorate—one where young voices shape the future of our democracy.