Any 6-12th graders (with an adult advisor) in the United States are able to participate in the program. A student team can be made up of 3 or more students with an adult advisor. If you’re interested in setting up a student team, click here and someone from our team will be in touch!
Projects can be submitted any time between October 1, 2024 and June 1, 2025.
When your students complete the lessons and submit their project, your student team will receive Certificates of Completion and the option to request free Graduation Honor Cords for seniors or 8th graders.
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Project Rules
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Small Grants Program Rules
Yes! Student teams complete the lessons and submit a project and have the option to apply for a Lead4Change grant by creating a proposal asking for investment funds. Teams may request any amount up to $10,000 toward their cause (school or community nonprofit). A suite of winners is selected for each deadline, and we grant more than $150,000 every school year to fund the big ideas students create!
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Small Grants Program Rules
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Middle School Project Ideas
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High School Project Ideas
To enter your team’s project, you will partner with a local charity or public organization. This certifies that they are a US registered qualifying organization and can accept a grant if your team wins.
Many 501c3 organizations do work globally, so where you serve is not limited to the US. To help in finding a registered 501c3 in your area, Charity Navigator is a helpful website.
The program provides an insights-driven approach to leading people and achieving a big goal — by meeting a need in their community or globally. Skills like collaboration and teamwork, problem solving, creativity and communication are all key components of the program. Many states require civic learning and student volunteer hours for graduation, and many school boards have built in “Responsibility to the Community” as part of their academic goals. Lead4Change can qualify for that program according to state and district requirements.
Lead4Change is aligned with national education standards. You can find our most used alignment guides like 21st Century Learning or Project Based Learning in here.
Lead4Change also meets the community service requirement for many associations, clubs, and school districts.
As a teacher or youth club adviser, you will find that Lead4Change helps shape your own leadership skills. You can also lead your student teams to submit their project and proposal, where they can win investment funds for your 501(c)3 project partner or school. We also offer you a free, fully prepared set of curriculum materials including: lessons, teaching videos, student workbooks, assessments, and alignment guides for integration into many types of classrooms. You’ll also have one on one access with an Instructional Coach to assist you in the implementation at any point. Enroll here for free access.
You can enroll for free here. From there, you’ll immediately be able to access the member dashboard and view the lessons. Our simple facilitation guides make it easy to administer the lessons to students. Download and print the student workbook or share the e-version with your students.
Working in teams is a key part of this leadership training that ultimately helps your student team create a project to address a community need. Teams should consist of at least three students (grades 6-12) — there is no limit to team size. Each team must have a teacher/adult advisor.
Yes! There are many ways to do community service right in your school. And, there is no fundraising requirement to participate. Invite a few of your local charities to come and talk about ways you can help without cost or transportation.
Yes! there are many registered 501(c)3 organizations doing work globally. Previous Lead4Change teams have worked with Water for Haiti, Stop Hunger Now, North America World Literacy Foundation, and many other charities.
In Ohio, yes. Once completing the Lead4Change program and submitting their project, your students will receive 3 Industry Recognized Credential points towards graduation, recognized by the state of Ohio-even middle schoolers! Click here and scroll down to Lead4Change Student Leadership Program.
In Texas, yes. Lead4Change is an approved TEA resource to fulfill the Student Leadership Innovative Course (PEMIS Code: N1290010, STULEAD). Students who complete the Lead4Change Curriculum and submit a Project can receive 1.0 credit towards graduation through this course!
For other states: we’ll notify you if and when the state recognizes the Lead4Change Program as Industry Recognized Credential points towards graduation.
