Welcome, Avis!
Avis (top left) with other past NYEF youth interns— Darius Smith (top center) and Ramiyah Jackson (top right) — presenting at the Unity Summit in 2025
Northside Funders Group is excited to welcome Avis Wheeler as our 2026 Youth Intern for the Northside Youth Enrichment Fund (NYEF). As our youth intern, Avis will play a central role in the evolution and success of NYEF, including:
Advising on the design of the NYEF funding opportunity and application process
Nominating, selecting, and orienting the next cohort of youth grantmakers
Participating in grantee info sessions
Co-Facilitating the grant review process
Leading evaluation activities of NYEF grantees and presenting lessons learned to NFG representatives.
Serving as an ambassador for the NYEF and NFG in community
A Northside resident and former youth grant reviewer for the program, Avis is bringing unique and critical insight to help us co-create a truly youth-led grant process.
As she shared with us in her application, Avis’ experience and passion are perfectly matched to this position. She’s worked with a variety of non-profits, including V3 Sports and Environmental Initiative, and recently wrapped an internship at Best Buy where she facilitated conversations with Teen Tech Center youth across seven hub groups nationwide and analyzed Best Buy Foundation Twin Cities Fund grant applications to help inform future funding decisions.
“I am deeply passionate about driving meaningful, impactful change in my community, especially in a underserved community like the Northside,” she said. “This internship aligns perfectly with my personal mission to pour into youth-centered programs that highlight authentic youth voice. Since I am a youth myself, I am able to bridge the gap between community needs and organizations goals. My previous work as a grant reviewer introduced me to the world of philanthropy, sparking a lasting interest in community giving. I will bring that perspective to NYEF to ensure our Northside community is provided with youth input and enrichment opportunities that benefit the next generation.”
From left: Avis in 2026 reviewing NYEF grants and at the NFG Summer Social in 2025
“In this internship, I hope to deepen my understanding of philanthropy and community-centered grant making,” she added. “My time at Best Buy has shown me the corporate giving side. I am very eager to learn how NFG is creating a focused fund directly empowering North Minneapolis. I am looking forward to sharpening my collaborative decision-making skills in discussions and hope leave this internship with the tangible project management experience and skills that will be transmittable to other endeavors.”
Stay tuned for the upcoming application for 2027 NYEF Youth Grant Reviewer in October, and learn more about the program here!