Once you sign up to be Powered By Service you will have access to different tools to plan your service project. Some grants have tools that can help you learn about a specific issue, while others just require you to review the general tools that can help you understand an issue, your own power and the strategies you can use to achieve change.

1. Make sure you review all the tools recommended for the grant you are applying for. It is especially important that you use and upload the “exploding the issue” and “power map” tools to your personal profile. These tools will help you become Powered By Service and help our youth review board understand how to help you developed your project plan.

2. Once you have used the tools to plan your project you’ll be ready to apply for a grant. In order to apply you must be between the ages of 12 and 20, be located in one of the focus communities, and partnering with a community organization. The grant application will ask you questions about your idea, how you are using your unique talents, how you will track your progress and what success means to you. You will need to tell us how you will involve other peers and what organizations and adult supporters you are working with. You must have an organizational sponsor. If you are working with one of our preferred partners, your grant will go through them, no problem. If you choose to work with a different partner, that partner will need to contribute 20% of the funding for your project (up to $100).

3. Your grant will be reviewed by our Youth Philanthropy and Advisory Council. It takes about two weeks for you to know whether or not your received a grant. If you want to be one of the first Powered By Service grant recipients you need to apply no later than October 1st. Otherwise, applications will be accepted until November 6th for this fall’s applications.

4. If you receive a grant, you will be expected to submit a progress report on the project and the money you spent every 4-6 weeks. A member of the Youth Philanthropy and Advisory Council will contact you by email with more details. Don’t forget, through your Powered By Service profile you can blog and upload video about your project.

We look forward to working with you to make your community Powered By Service!

THE POWERED BY SERVICE TOOLS & RESOURCES:
Click on these links to download your resource tool...