The main goal of this project is to help the team in securing funding for the Youth Impact Challenge and develop strategic partnerships to support our mission and initiatives. This includes sustaining and expanding programs aimed at empowering young changemakers and fostering innovation to address social and environmental challenges.

As such we would like to collaborate with students to find and complete grant applications or other prospective funders. This will involve several different steps, including:

• Familiarizing themselves with our mission, vision and projects
• Contributing to the ongoing development of documentation like a funding prospectus that better captures the impact of our past work and the need for future funding
• Identifying potential sponsors and funding opportunities that are a good fit for our organization and project, while adding these to our prospect list
• Improving the clarity and persuasiveness of our company's grant proposal writing, working closely with senior management on such proposals
• Identifying new opportunities for projects that YIC can take on in alignment with our mission, needs for youth in the innovation space and funder priorities

By the end of the project, students should demonstrate

• Research funding opportunities from various sources such as government agencies, foundations, and corporations, adding these to a prospect list
• Work with other staff to write persuasive grant proposals and applications tailored to the priorities and guidelines of each funding opportunity.
• Assist in developing comprehensive and comprehensible grant budgets, financial narratives, and project plans, using guidance from senior staff
• Assist in collecting documentation required for grant application processes
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with organizations aligned with YIC's mission and values, including but also beyond funding opportunities
• Collaborating with partners to develop joint initiatives, projects, and programs, while maintaining ongoing communication and engagement.

Final deliverables should include:

• At least 25 new contacts added to our grant and prospect lists based on research
• Contribution to at least 4 granting proposals during the period of engagement
• Support in setting up at least 4 meetings with potential partners
• A refined funding prospectus and presentation for funders

Students will connect directly with us for mentorship throughout the project. We will be able to provide answers to questions about our organization, projects, previous grant applications, problems, direction from leadership or or anything else the students might encounter.

We will also offer training via a comprehensive onboarding alongside training and resource to enhance the students' ability to complete grant proposals or partnership development work at a high quality, which facilitating access to relevant information, databases, and networks to support students' research and outreach efforts. We will also offer feedback throughout the project to ensure students' success in the role and ask for their feedback as well.