As the birthplace of the Three Pillars Initiative, the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP) in Oak Park, Illinois has been growing and evolving since its inception in 2010. Originally founded by current TPI President Rick King with his wife and longtime educator Cheryl King, this program has successfully laid the groundwork for all other TPI Affiliate programs to follow.

FPP is sponsored by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation and will shortly begin its fifteenth year with a new cohort of 30 juniors. With a team of more than 10 experienced mentors, several of whom have been involved for nearly a decade, they continue to expand and adapt the program to allow the students to have as many learning opportunities and as much community impact as possible.

This year, the Junior Cohort will be granting a record high $80,000 to local community organizations during their grantmaking round, which will allow their total funds granted of all time to eclipse $500,000. The Senior Cohort will also be aiming for a monumental milestone during their fundraising campaign, as they will have the chance to cross $1,000,000 for total funds raised of all time through the Future Philanthropists Program.

This program and the people involved from students to mentors and coordinators have put a great deal of time and effort into the work since the start thirteen years ago, but they are just getting started and we at TPI are incredibly excited to see them continue to pave the way for other communities to follow.