YOUTH STRATEGIES:
Finding Funding

Mini-grants ranging between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars are available for youth-driven initiatives. Some of these opportunities are listed below.

Make sure you approach state and national organizations that are pursuing similar advocacy campaigns. For example, if you are leading an effort to reduce racism, ask around at Department of Education, NAACP, religious organizations--even Tolerance magazine.

Sometimes you can get lucky getting donations as a result of news coverage. One group of teens had a short article in the weekly community newspaper about their campaign to create a youth center and one reader sent the group $40,000. Publicity also increases your credibility which is helpful in seeking grants and here are a few leads.