They serve as wonderful community outreach efforts by impacting those who live in the community while building a sense of trust. There is no better way to get people on your side than to offer to aid the youth that will eventually hold leadership positions in that community. The other benefit youth programs give is the chance to build strong community partnerships that will provide a sense of ownership of your establishment in the students and other members of the community. That sense of commitment and ownership will help cultivate future allies for the organization. If the support is strong enough, it can lead to the community soliciting on behalf of your institution.
Youth programs can also serve as excellent means for fundraising.
In recent years, funding foundations and similar organizations have become increasingly anxious to make their money go further and impact a greater number of people. Challenges in Creating a Youth Program Setting up youth programs as a form of community outreach can sometimes lead to complacency. It is easy to think that once you create a successful youth program, there is no need to further enhance your involvement with the community. Be sure to continue to search for opportunities to strengthen your museum's partnership with the community. The other challenge is to not let your work with youth serve as your museum's sole community access mechanism.