Guides & Toolkits
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Practical guides written for student changemakers at every stage.
Project Planning 101
A step-by-step guide to taking your project from idea to action plan. Covers goal-setting, team building, timeline creation, and resource mapping.
Fundraising Tips for Students
How to raise money for your project — from bake sales to grant applications. Includes email templates, pitch scripts, and donor management tips.
Starting a School-Based Project
Special considerations for projects based in or around schools. How to get approval, involve teachers and staff, and navigate school systems.
Project Proposal Template
A structured one-pager to document your project idea, goals, plan, and budget. Required for SHC grant applications.
Project Timeline Sheet
A Gantt-style spreadsheet for mapping your project milestones. Helps you stay on track and communicate progress to your mentor.
Budget Planner
Track income and expenses for your project. Includes columns for estimated vs. actual costs, funding sources, and remaining balance.
External Opportunities
Funding, Awards & Programs for Young Changemakers
Explore grants, competitions, fellowships, and recognition programs for student-led projects. Opportunities are updated throughout the year.
Karma for Cara Microgrant
$250–$1,000 for students age 18 and under to carry out community service projects in the U.S. A very good fit for students who already have a practical project idea and need startup funding.
National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Annual competition recognizing outstanding student-led social impact projects. Cash prizes + mentorship.
Riley's Way Call For Kindness Fellowship
Young leaders ages 13–23 can receive up to $5,000 to launch or grow a community-impact project, along with a year of leadership development and support.
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
A prestigious service award for young people ages 8–18 who have led an impactful project benefiting people or the planet. Winners receive $10,000 for education or their service project.
International Young Eco-Hero Awards
Recognition for young environmental changemakers ages 8–16 who have already carried out an environmental project. Winners receive recognition and cash prizes of up to $1,000.
Can't find what you need?
Tell us what resource would help your project. We regularly update our library based on what students are asking for — and we can often point you to something you haven't found yet.