Youth Venture

Other funding sources

A big thank you to young changemakers who are improving lives every day. These are other potential sources of funding for you in addition to the YV seed funding. Youth Venture does not endorse any other scholarships/funding opportunities and is not responsible for the contents of other organization’s websites.

Bank of America Local Hero Awards
Website: http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_localheroe...
Deadline: January 9- June 30th.

A hero who has been active in the community and inspired other community members will receive a $5,000 donation to a chosen non-profit organization and be honored at a local public ceremony. Check the website for geographic restrictions.

Bank of America: Neighborhood Excellence Student Leaders
Website: http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_studentlea...
Deadline: January 1, 2009 – February 20, 2009

High school juniors and seniors who want to improve their communities can apply to be a Bank of America Student Leader. Winners will participate in a leadership summit in Washington, DC (July 19 - 24, 2009) and receive a paid internship at a local nonprofit organization. Check the website for geographical restrictions.

Pay it Forward Foundation
Website: http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/mini-grant.html
Deadline: February 15, 2009
Your school, church or community youth group may apply for this $500 mini-grant to fund a one time project with a Pay It Forward focus. Applications will only be accepted by email to grants@payitforwardfoundation.com

AXA Community Achievement Scholarship
Website: http://www.axaonline.com/rs/axa/about-us/04-08-03_AXA_Achievement_Commun...
Deadline: February 15, 2009

All AXA advisors branches distribute up to twelve $2,000 scholarships for high school seniors in their area. These AXA achievers successfully set and reach goals, respect themselves and their communities, and are capable of succeeding in college.

Best Buy @15TM Scholarships
http://www.bestbuyinc.com/community_relations/scholarship.htm
Deadline: February 19, 2009

College bound high school students grades 9-12 are selected for this scholarship based on academic achievement, volunteer experience or work experience. One thousand high school students in the United States and Puerto Rico will each receive a $1,500 scholarship.

The Power of an Idea – sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin
Website: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/competition/
Deadline: February 20, 2009

"The Power of An Idea" 2008 Social Innovation Competition has a grand prize of $50,000! The RGK Center at the University of Texas - Austin is looking for college students nationwide with ingenious entrepreneurial ideas that will change the world. Dream up a plan that combines creativity and innovation and tackle a pressing social issue, and you can win $50,000 to put your plan into action! Existing ventures are eligible as long as they haven't been in operation for more than three years.

Young Eco Hero Award
Website: http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/ecoheroawards.html
Deadline: February 28, 2009

Youth ages 8-16 whose actions have significantly improved the environment can apply for this $500 award.

Heinz Ketchup Creativity 2009
Website: http://www.ketchupcreativity.com/about.aspx
Deadline: February 28, 2009
If you are a student in grades 1-12, harness your creativity to design the next Heinz Ketchup packet. 12 winners will have their artwork printed on approximately 19.5 million ketchup packets and receive $1,000 cash prize. The winner’s school will also receive $1,000 worth of ketchup and $1,000 to buy art supplies.

Do Something Award (formerly the Brick Award)
http://www.dosomething.org/awards
Deadline: March 1, 2009

Note: Your Venture must have 501(c)3 status to receive the grant money. An individual whose venture does not have 501(c)3 status can apply for the award, but will need to choose another non-profit to receive the funds.

The Do Something Awards highlight those who have worked to create powerful, positive change in their communities. Five winners will receive a minimum of $10,000. Of those five, one grand prize winner will receive $100,000 in community grants. Youth 18 and under receive both a scholarship and a community grant for a non-profit of their choice. Youth over 18 receive the same amount of money in the form of a grant for a non-profit organization of their choice. Applications are only accepted online and a letter of recommendation is required. The deadline is March 1, 2009.

Colin Higgins Youth Courage Awards
Deadline: March 2, 2009
http://www.colinhiggins.org/courageawards/nomin_mat.cfm
$10,000 grants will be awarded to two LGBTQ youth under age 21 who have stood up to intolerance based on their gender and/or sexual orientation and have worked for LGBTQ rights. You must be nominated for this award.

Energize Your Community
Website: http://www.energizeyourcommunity.com/
There are two submission periods. The first ends March 9. The second ends April 6.

Three to ten people who have an idea to improve the community can apply for one of ten awards worth $10,000. Your Venture must have 501c3 status to be eligible.

Wild Gift
Website: http://www.wildgift.org/index.php
Deadline: April 1, 2009
Five people ages 21-30 will be able to develop their leadership skills while developing and implementing a project that benefits the national environment and the human community over 17 months. A deep wilderness trek is included in this fantastic experience. Please see the website for more information.

Humane Society Youth Club Award
Website: http://www.nahee.org/awards/default.asp
Email: teens@humanesociety.org
Deadline May 15, 2009
Humane Society Youth provides the Teen of the Year Award to a youth club who has worked to benefit animals, either directly or by educating others. A group of students in grades K-12 may apply for the award.

Captain Planet Foundation
Website: http://captainplanetfoundation.org/
Deadline: March 31st, June 30, September 30, December 31st
The Captain Planet Foundation awards between $250 and $2,500 for hands-on environmental projects for youth ages 6-18 with appropriate adult supervision. Winners are notified four months after the deadline, so please plan carefully.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Website: www.barronprize.org
Deadline: April 30, 2009

The ten winners of the Barron Prize have made a significant difference in the world. Youth ages 8-18 need to be nominated by an unrelated adult for this $2,000 award.

The Garden Crusader Awards
http://www.gardeners.com/Garden%20Activist/gardenactivist,default,pg.htm...
Deadline: June 15, 2009
Prizes range from $2,500-$200
This award honors individuals who are improving the world by gardening. Categories are education, feeding the hungry, urban renewal and restoration, and nominees are notified by September 2009.

Ongoing opportunities

Changemakers Competitions
Website: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competitions
Deadline: Multiple ongoing and upcoming competitions

Changemakers, an initiative of Youth Venture’s parent organization Ashoka, offers open international competitions for people to propose solutions to the world’s most complex problems. Entrants post their projects online and they are discussed for approximately 11 weeks before 12 finalists are chosen and three winners win a US $5,000 prize. Regardless of if you want to submit an entry, the ideas proposed are amazing!

Plum Grants
Website: http://www.dosomething.org/plum_grants
Email: grants@dosomething.org

These outstanding $500 grants are given to youth who have already started an organization and need more money to fund it. No 501(c)(3) status is necessary. One letter of recommendation is required. A winner is chosen every week and will be featured on the website.

Mix It Up Grants
Website: http://www.tolerance.org/teens/grants.jsp

The Southern Poverty Law Center awards Mix It Up Grants for youth-led projects that work at knocking down social boundaries within school communities. This project must bring different groups together to work together, and the project should be an ongoing effort. Applications are accepted anytime and you will be notified after four weeks if your project has been accepted.

Jenny’s Heroes
http://www.jennysheroes.com/
limited to 18 years and older
Jenny Jones is giving up to $25,000 for projects to help the community. Online application forms are available. After submitting a form, a full proposal, including a detailed budget, may be requested before receiving funding.

www.servenet.org – Run by YSA, this website has links to many grant opportunities.

Youth Service Opportunities (no money involved)

Interested in Habitat for Humanity? Learn about youth programs here: http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/int/default.aspx

Global Youth Service Day
Website: http://ysa.org/GYSDUS/tabid/59/Default.aspx
April 24th-April 26th 2009
Sponsored by Youth Service America, Global Youth Service Day is April 24th-26th 2009. You can join countless others who are also serving their communities by registering your event on the website. Tools and resources to help make your event a success are also available on the website and will be sent to you by YSA upon registration.

www.kickbuttsday.org On Wednesday March 25th, 2008 youth and adults will unite to raise awareness of the harmful tobacco industry. Check out how you can get involved on Kick Butts Day.

Books

If your Venture is in need of books for children, there are several places where you can try getting books donated. You need a 501(c)(3) status. If you don’t have it, I would suggest pairing up with an organization that does have 501(c)(3) status and would also benefit from books.

The Lisa Libraries
Website: http://www.lisalibraries.org/frames.html
Email: books@lisalibraries.org
The Lisa Libraries donates children’s books to small grassroots non-profit organizations that serve low-income children. They have donated books to day-care centers, after school programs and prison visiting areas for children of incarcerated parents.

First Book
Website: http://register.firstbook.org/#book_bank

This organization offers nonprofits the opportunity to get books at a highly discounted price. It offers several programs based on your specific needs, but generally organizations need to be working with low-income children and/or incorporate literacy or reading into their programs.

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/sponsorship_loc...

Unfortunately Barnes and Noble does not give out grants or scholarships. However, they may offer you fundraising opportunities at the local level. Applications must be made to the store manager or community relations manager at your local Barnes and Noble branch.

Another website that has lists of additional scholarship and funding opportunities is The Freechild Project , found here: http://www.freechild.org/funds4progress.htm. The website also provides more information about issues that youth all over the U.S. are working on.