Fresh Perspectives, Lasting Impact: Meet YouthBridge’s 2026 Summer Intern

A Summer of Purpose

This summer, YouthBridge was fortunate to welcome Senya Simmons, a Pershing Fellow whose passion for serving children and families, thoughtful perspective, and eagerness to learn made a lasting impact on our team. Through the prestigious Pershing Fellowship in Nonprofit Leadership, Senya spent the summer gaining firsthand experience in philanthropy while working alongside Vice President of Grants and Community Initiatives Sissy Swift. She reviewed grant applications, participated in nonprofit site visits, and experienced how strong partnerships and strategic grantmaking help strengthen organizations serving children and families throughout the St. Louis region.

Listening to Learn

The project Senya is most proud of was helping develop YouthBridge’s new Nonprofit Partner Survey. The survey will help YouthBridge better understand the needs and challenges facing nonprofit organizations, gather feedback on the grant application experience, assess the strength of its partnerships, and identify new ways to support nonprofits beyond traditional grant funding. “I was proud to be part of something that could help YouthBridge better serve its nonprofit partners,” Senya shared. Her work reflects YouthBridge’s commitment to listening, learning, and continually improving how we partner with organizations working to make our community stronger.

Inspired to Serve

For Senya, the experience was about much more than professional growth. “Every action at YouthBridge has meaning and purpose,” she reflected. “Watching the staff embrace challenges, adapt, and remain committed to serving others has been truly inspiring.” She leaves with a deeper appreciation for the role community foundations play in creating lasting impact and a commitment to keep supporting nonprofits wherever her career leads. We are grateful for Senya’s contributions and proud to have played a small part in developing one of our region’s next generation of nonprofit leaders.