Program Structure
Elements for Success
Twelve items were identified as the key elements of our Green Teen program; without these elements, the program would not achieve the same high level of success. We see these items as necessary for our program and for other programs that might seek to replicate it, so we urge you to think long and hard before deciding not to implement any one of these elements:
1. A youth/adult partnership
The board is composed of both youth and adults who work together to ensure the success of the program. In order to keep the program truly youth-directed, there must always be a greater or equal number of youth board members in comparison to adult board members. Youth and adults bring different talents and skills to the mix, as well as diversity of perspective and experiences.
Adults:
2. Funding
Without funding, there is no way to fund projects. Adequate funding must be acquired before beginning to advertise the availability of youth environmental grants.
3. Enabling environmental action by empowering youth
This element is the core of the Green Teen mission. We see the program as both an environmental impact program and a youth development program, with personal growth occurring in the young project leaders as they make a real impact on the world around them. We feel that, in giving young people the tools and mentorship necessary to help them empower themselves, we are creating a generation of confident, service-minded, compassionate leaders.
4. Buy-in from the community, especially schools and youth organizations
Engaging and connecting with the community in which the grant program works is absolutely vital to the program’s success. The program relies on community support in the form of nonprofit fiscal sponsorship, donors, board members, grant applicants, nonprofit project sponsors, locations that consent to projects taking place on their grounds, schools that consent to presentations about the program, and more.
5. Focus on environment
Although we also recognize that this type of granting program could function with a different service focus (ie, focusing on addressing humanitarian issues or animal issues), such a program would be fundamentally different from a Green Teen program.
6. Motivated youth, both board members and applicants
As the program is run by youth and for youth, young people must have a high level of dedication to the program, their projects, and the environment to help the program achieve its goal and be successful.
7. Focus on education-- through the project application process, as well as requiring an internal educational component as part of each project
Every step involved in this grant program – both for the board members and for the grant applicants – concerns education. Our board members are constantly learning about nonprofit administration, marketing, accounting, interviewing, public speaking, and more. Our grant applications learn about their environmental issue of choice, how to address it, how to apply for a grant, how to go through an interview process, and more. Furthermore, each funded project is required to include some sort of educational component. Examples include posters, video promotions, plaques, announcements, and flyers. These help expand the project beyond the individuals carrying it out and thereby create a wider impact.
8. Diverse board (age, skills, race, income, etc.)
Because the board must complete a broad range of tasks and reaching a diverse audience in order to successfully achieve the program’s goals, the board itself should be diverse, with a variety of areas of expertise, schools represented, interests, socioeconomic levels, ethnicities, and more.
9. A task-oriented “manager”
Although the board performs the majority of administrative tasks, with youth taking the lead, a program manager is essential to help keep track of the tasks being completed, to organize the board into committees, to be the point person of the program when necessary, etc. This manager – usually an adult – could be a dedicated unpaid volunteer or could be, if necessary and if funds allow, a part-time employee compensated with a stipend.
10. An organizational home with tax-exempt status
As outlined in Financial Management, unless your Green Teen program legally obtains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor must be obtained to avoid complications when accepting money from donors and when giving money to funded projects.
11. Community outreach and marketing
Without community outreach, young people will not be aware that grants are available for their environmental projects. Reaching out to schools, scouting groups, community partners, and media is necessary for the program’s success.
12. Positive program results, including outputs (such as numbers of volunteers) and outcomes (measurable impact on community)
Tracking the program’s success, both through measurable environmental impacts and through narratives of its impacts on young people, can give your program the legitimacy needed to earn attention and funding from donors and to encourage more young people to become involved in the program.
Twelve items were identified as the key elements of our Green Teen program; without these elements, the program would not achieve the same high level of success. We see these items as necessary for our program and for other programs that might seek to replicate it, so we urge you to think long and hard before deciding not to implement any one of these elements:
1. A youth/adult partnership
The board is composed of both youth and adults who work together to ensure the success of the program. In order to keep the program truly youth-directed, there must always be a greater or equal number of youth board members in comparison to adult board members. Youth and adults bring different talents and skills to the mix, as well as diversity of perspective and experiences.
Adults:
- Provide initial and ongoing organizational support
- Offer expertise regarding marketing, schools, accounting, community leaders, business, and fundraising
- Keep youth members on task
- Ask questions and offer choices, but make decisions with – not for – the youth. They don’t take over.
- Provide vision and advise how the program can best appeal to other youth
- Reach out to their peer groups and peer organizations (such as Scouts). Youth are more effective at presenting to other youth.
- Provide support on committees, including planning, policy, marketing and events. They bring energy, vitality, and humor.
- Provide technical expertise related to social media and web development
- Are effective when asking for donations. It’s hard to refuse them.
- Provide an example of community ownership of the program.
- Inspire adults with the purity of the mission
2. Funding
Without funding, there is no way to fund projects. Adequate funding must be acquired before beginning to advertise the availability of youth environmental grants.
3. Enabling environmental action by empowering youth
This element is the core of the Green Teen mission. We see the program as both an environmental impact program and a youth development program, with personal growth occurring in the young project leaders as they make a real impact on the world around them. We feel that, in giving young people the tools and mentorship necessary to help them empower themselves, we are creating a generation of confident, service-minded, compassionate leaders.
4. Buy-in from the community, especially schools and youth organizations
Engaging and connecting with the community in which the grant program works is absolutely vital to the program’s success. The program relies on community support in the form of nonprofit fiscal sponsorship, donors, board members, grant applicants, nonprofit project sponsors, locations that consent to projects taking place on their grounds, schools that consent to presentations about the program, and more.
5. Focus on environment
Although we also recognize that this type of granting program could function with a different service focus (ie, focusing on addressing humanitarian issues or animal issues), such a program would be fundamentally different from a Green Teen program.
6. Motivated youth, both board members and applicants
As the program is run by youth and for youth, young people must have a high level of dedication to the program, their projects, and the environment to help the program achieve its goal and be successful.
7. Focus on education-- through the project application process, as well as requiring an internal educational component as part of each project
Every step involved in this grant program – both for the board members and for the grant applicants – concerns education. Our board members are constantly learning about nonprofit administration, marketing, accounting, interviewing, public speaking, and more. Our grant applications learn about their environmental issue of choice, how to address it, how to apply for a grant, how to go through an interview process, and more. Furthermore, each funded project is required to include some sort of educational component. Examples include posters, video promotions, plaques, announcements, and flyers. These help expand the project beyond the individuals carrying it out and thereby create a wider impact.
8. Diverse board (age, skills, race, income, etc.)
Because the board must complete a broad range of tasks and reaching a diverse audience in order to successfully achieve the program’s goals, the board itself should be diverse, with a variety of areas of expertise, schools represented, interests, socioeconomic levels, ethnicities, and more.
9. A task-oriented “manager”
Although the board performs the majority of administrative tasks, with youth taking the lead, a program manager is essential to help keep track of the tasks being completed, to organize the board into committees, to be the point person of the program when necessary, etc. This manager – usually an adult – could be a dedicated unpaid volunteer or could be, if necessary and if funds allow, a part-time employee compensated with a stipend.
10. An organizational home with tax-exempt status
As outlined in Financial Management, unless your Green Teen program legally obtains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor must be obtained to avoid complications when accepting money from donors and when giving money to funded projects.
11. Community outreach and marketing
Without community outreach, young people will not be aware that grants are available for their environmental projects. Reaching out to schools, scouting groups, community partners, and media is necessary for the program’s success.
12. Positive program results, including outputs (such as numbers of volunteers) and outcomes (measurable impact on community)
Tracking the program’s success, both through measurable environmental impacts and through narratives of its impacts on young people, can give your program the legitimacy needed to earn attention and funding from donors and to encourage more young people to become involved in the program.