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Meet the Top 24 under 24 Youth Changemakers

Earlier this month, I was very excited to learn about these young people who are changing America for the better through what might seem like an unlikely route for someone so young: deep engagement in policymaking and governance in their communities and states.

FULL list: Top 24 Under 24 Youth Changemakers

Selected by the young members of the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council, these 24 youth are working with lawmakers at various levels to improve policies and strengthen the systems that touch their lives. (Read more about the selection process.)

They have testified about HIV/AIDS in front of Presidential Commissions, been elected as voting members of their school boards and helped redesign foster care. They have crafted innovative approaches to solving the national debt, and worked with city and tribal governments to overhaul local environmental policies. And that's just naming a few.

“On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the triumph and courage of those who signed the Declaration of Independence and established our democracy,” says Alex Wirth, 19, chair of the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council.  “These 24 young people embody the can-do spirit of the founding fathers as they work to keep our democracy strong for generations to come.”

“This is especially important at a time when partisan divisions threaten the effectiveness of our government, and when conditions both real and perceived are alienating some young people from the political process,” says Avantika Krishna, 19, deputy director of the Campaign. “We must do better to make space for and engage young people in government.  When young people are involved, the result is a better government for everyone.”

The profiles are available online at SparkAction.org/24under24 and include stories, images and multimedia. (You can find sharable social media posts and images here.)

Congratulations to these inspiring young people.  We know that rather than the exception, they are the norm, and represent only a tiny fraction all the amazing young people working to transform our communities and strengthen our democracy. This fourth of July we salute and celebrate every one of you!

From SparkAction.

Summer of Service Ideas: International Youth Day - August 12

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on August 12. The United Nations Focal Point on Youth selects a theme for the day with input from youth organizations and members of the UN Inter-Agency Network in Youth development (still to be announced for 2013).  It also organizes a commemoration of the Day at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Youth around the world are encouraged to organize activities that raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country and highlight organizations, programs, and policies that support youth leadership. YSA encourages you to use the day to plan a service project, an event to raise awareness about your organization, or host a membership drive for the new school and program year about to start! http://social.un.org/index/Youth/InternationalYouthDay.aspx

Organized by the United Nations

Youth-Related Grants & Awards

World Summit Youth Award

Deadline: July 30

 

The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) is a global contest to bring together young innovators who are creating digital content through mobile and Internet technology to put the UN's Millennium Development Goals into action. If you are working towards social good, then this is your chance to be recognized! Winners will be invited to the WSYA Winners´ Event in Colombo, Sri Lanka (October 24-26)! (Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for the winners.) http://bit.ly/M28wrv   

 

NBCUniversal Foundation 21st Century Solutions Grants

Deadline: July 31

 

The program is looking for high-impact, innovative programs in the areas of Arts and Media, Community Development, Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Jobs and Economic Empowerment, and Technology and Innovation. Qualifying 501(c)3 organizations within the viewing area of NBC affiliates in these cities are eligible: Bay Area, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, DC. One local organization and two runners-up will be awarded grants in each city. http://bit.ly/13n74ZW       

 

Home Depot Community Impact Grants

Deadline: August 13

 

Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. Priority will be given to volunteer projects that serve veterans and their families, whether that's repairing homes or improving facilities and/or that involve veterans volunteering to help other veterans. http://bit.ly/Me5GzA  

 

Open Meadows Foundation Grants

Deadline: August 15

The Open Meadows Foundation offers grants up to $2,000 to projects that are designed and implemented by women and girls, reflect the diversity of the community served, promote building community power, promote racial, social, economic and environmental justice, and have limited financial access, or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. Small and start-up organizations are strongly encouraged to apply. (Organizational budget should not exceed $150,000.) http://bit.ly/1a99Tk3  

 

Ben & Jerry's Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program

Deadline: September 13

The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program supports non-profit grassroots, constituent-led organizations across the country that are using direct action, grassroots community-organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. Proposals should align with the Foundation's broad interests in social justice, environmental justice and sustainable food systems.  The process starts with the Letter of Interest (LOI).  They fund organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. Grant awards are up to $20,000 for a one-year period. http://bit.ly/14iYptl   

 

Campus Engagement, Civic Development Project Grants 

Deadline: September 15

 

Bringing Theory to Practice Project is accepting proposals from universities and colleges in the United States for projects aimed promoting the nexus of engaged learning, civic engagement, and psychosocial well-being among college and university students. Types of grants include:
A) Seminar grants of up to $1,000 for projects that bring together diverse members of the campus community to discuss the civic mission of the institution and how that mission can be achieved.
B) Program Development grants of up to $10,000 to enhance or extend a program that promotes engaged learning, civic engagement, and the psychosocial well-being of students. http://bit.ly/13eItnv      

 

Project Learning Tree GreenWorks!  Grants

Deadline: September 30

 

Do you have an idea for a school/community native plant garden, a forest improvement project, a streamside restoration plan, a recycling program, or energy conservation project for your students?  Need funds to implement it?  Apply for a Project Learning Tree GreenWorks! grant. Grants are available in two award levels: 1) the popular and traditional GreenWorks! grants up to a maximum of $1,000 and 2) GreenWorks! grants up to $3,000 for registered PLT GreenSchools! (free online registration). http://bit.ly/13BDBHt    

 

Captain Planet Foundation Grants

Deadline: September 30

 

The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Grants are made for activities that promote and support high-quality educational programs that enable children and youth to understand and appreciate our world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities. Preferential consideration is given to requests seeking seed funding of $500 or less and to applicants who have secured at least 50% matching or in-kind funding for their projects. http://bit.ly/y1tPpz        

 

Lowe's Toolbox for Education

Deadline: October 15

 

For the 2013-14 school year, the Lowe's will give priority to meeting basic necessities, with a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact, such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/cleanup projects. Any individual public K-12 school or non-profit parent group associated with that public K-12 school is eligible to apply. The requested grant amount must be between $2,000 and $5,000. The deadline is October 15; however, if 1,500 applications are received before the application deadline, then the application process will close.  http://bit.ly/195qDKm  

 

Spirit of Innovation Challenge

Deadline: October 24

 

The Spirit of Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity for teams of students to create commercially viable products or services to address issues of global sustainability for the benefit of humanity. This annual competition is free and available to students, ages 13-18, from around the world.  Beginning Aug. 22, teens are invited to "Get Your Genius On" in the Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Challenge.  Teams from afterschool programs, science clubs, homeschool organizations and charter schools are also encouraged to participate. Deadline for the 2013-2014 one-page abstract qualification round is October 24.  http://bit.ly/15281qt  

 

Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60

Deadline: November 1

 

Up to $4,000 per year is available to any qualifying K-12 school enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60. The competitive, nationwide funding program can help your school jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. Whether you're just starting out with Fuel Up to Play 60 or looking to expand and extend an initiative that's already in motion, Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 can help.  http://bit.ly/13Na8uP      

 

KaBOOM! Let's Play Grants

Deadlines: Rolling

 

Dr Pepper Snapple Group & KaBOOM! are excited to offer $500 Let's Play Completion Grants to qualifying Do-It-Yourself communities to be used toward the improvement of an existing playground built using the KaBOOM! community build model and $750 Let's Play Maintenance Grants to communities who wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer and more inviting. More information about all of KaBOOM!'s grant programs is available at: http://bit.ly/12zv3lc   

 

World We Want Foundation Grants

Deadline: Rolling

 

The World We Want Foundation promotes and supports Young Global Citizens making positive social change in their communities and around the world. They work with and through Partner Organizations and Mentors youth applicants provide; help young people design and conduct meaningful Social Action Projects and acquire substantive knowledge and 21st-century skills while creating social value; provide micro-grants to support their Projects; provide an online funding platform to encourage and allow others to help fund their Projects; and provide an online Showcase to share their Stories of Social Impact with the world. http://bit.ly/11IE94t    

 

DoSomething.org Seed Grants

Deadline: Rolling

 

Are you working to start a community action project or program with your friends? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? A $500 Do Something Seed Grant is given out every week to help young people just like YOU! These grants can be used towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started, or to jump-start your program and realize your ideas for the first time. These grants can also be used towards projects that are already developed and sustainable, towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact. http://bit.ly/PQYfTr        

 

Thanks to Youth Service America for this great list!

Improve Donor Choice. End the Overhead Myth.

Common Ground has just joined GuideStar, Charity Navigator, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance in the pledge to end the overhead myth. Instead of focusing on the percentage of charity’s expenses that go to administrative and fundraising costs—commonly referred to as “overhead”—we need to focus on what really matters: impact.

GuideStar, Charity Navigator, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance published an open letter to the donors of America denouncing the “overhead ratio” as a valid indicator of nonprofit performance.  The letter, signed by all three organizations’ CEOs, marks the beginning of a campaign to correct the common misconception about the importance of a low overhead ratio.

The open letter, published on a new website overheadmyth.com, states that “Overhead costs include important investments charities make to improve their work: investments in training, planning, evaluation, and internal systems—as well as their efforts to raise money so they can operate their programs. When we focus solely or predominantly on overhead…we starve charities of the freedom they need to best serve the people and communities they are trying to serve.” The letter goes on to recommend that donors focus their attention on more relevant factors behind nonprofit performance: transparency, governance, leadership, and results.

Join me in spreading the word about this important topic. Nonprofits are encouraged to use the Overhead Myth letter in their donor solicitations or in any other way they choose—the letter is under a Creative Commons license and nonprofits are welcome to it for free and use it how they wish. You are welcome and encouraged to use this information on your own blog!

Let’s end the Overhead Myth TODAY! overheadmyth.com

Summer of Service Ideas: Mandela Day - TODAY - July 18

 

Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, and the ability to make an impact. The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. Everyone can give 67 minutes of their time.

 

Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals - for people everywhere - to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr. Mandela did.  Become a Mandela Day Changemaker, share your Mandela Day deed, spread the word, and find a list of 67 Ways to Change the World at: www.mandeladay.com/static/join 

Organized by The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664

Summer of Service Ideas: Directory of Summer Programs for High School Students

For four years, WKCD has compiled a directory of international summer programs that welcome high school students and combine volunteer work, cultural and language immersion. (They have not included programs where language study or touring are the primary focus - of which there are countless. The emphasis of this list is on summer abroad programs that put a premium on service.)

Two of the programs, Summer Search and International Youth Leadership Institute, share a commitment to providing ongoing and long-term support for low-income high school students. While the application deadline for some of these programs has passed, it's never too early to start planning for next summer. 

www.whatkidscando.org/resources/spec_summer.html 

 

Compiled by WKCD: What Kids Can Do

Summer of Service Ideas: Summer of Service Resources

Summer of Service (SOS) is a national initiative spearheaded by Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) which seeks to create positive alternatives for high needs and diverse middle school students during the summer. Employing a service-learning methodology, SOS engages youth as problem solvers and community leaders, providing the opportunity to enter their teenage years with a positive experience that reinforces community connections, enhances their education, and strengthens personal and civic values.

 

ICP offers a number of resources to help you create a Summer of Service program in your own community, including a Summer of Service Program Design Toolkit and Summer of Service Evaluation Toolkit. www.icicp.org/summer-of-service

 

Provided by Innovations in Civic Participation

21st Century Solutions Tech Grants

Would you like the opportunity for your non-profit to win $50,000?

The NBCUniversal Foundation is partnering with NBC Washington (and other NBC affiliates in major media markets) to launch 21st Century Solutions, a grant challenge for local non-profit organizations implementing new and innovative programs. Now through July 31, we’re looking for fresh ideas that are moving our community forward. The first place grant recipient will receive a $50,000 grant and two runners-up will each receive $25,000, totaling $100,000 in awards in each of ten geographic areas..

The competitive grant program is open to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that are implementing progressive programs that address emerging or ongoing community challenges in the areas of Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Jobs and Economic Empowerment, Media Arts and Technology. Our goal is to highlight organizations addressing our community’s issues in new and creative ways.

Please review the grant program’s eligibility requirements to ensure your organization falls within the guidelines before completing the application. Click here to apply.

Summer of Service Ideas: National Night Out - August 6

Your community is invited to join the over 37 million neighbors across 15,000 communities in celebration of the 30th annual National Night Out. Register today to receive your official organizational kit with guidelines, suggestions, and more & stay connected with NATW throughout the year. National Night Out events could include: block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars, in effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations.  www.natw.org  

 

National Night Out is only one night, what about the other 364 days in a year? Designate a particular problem in your registered community and work towards a solution to issues such as drugs, gangs, violence, or graffiti within an estimated 365 days between your annual National Night Out events, in effort to create a safer neighborhood. www.natw.org/about-nno/project-365/

Organized by National Association of Town Watch

Summer of Service Ideas: Prepare Your Community for Summer Disasters

Summer is the season for hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes... help make sure your community is prepared for a disaster this summer! YSA recommends the following resources to engage youth in preparing your community for a disaster:   

• Disney Friends for Change Get Prepared Action Kit provides a step-by-step action plan.
• FEMA's Ready Kids website helps kids be prepared in every situation by participating in Readiness U.
• The Be Red Cross Ready website helps you get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

Interested in preparedness throughout the year? If so, Pledge to Prepare at Ready.gov, and gain access to exclusive disaster readiness resources. www.Ready.gov