YouthRoots

A nonprofit organization

$47,468 raised

95% complete

$50,000 Goal

YouthRoots teaches teenagers how to change the world. Yes, that's what we do! Our leadership program uses philanthropy to teach tomorrow's leaders how to tackle big issues. The impact of every investment in YouthRoots is infinite as our graduates continue to change the world.

There is $15k on the line! Thanks to a generous donor, your donation to YouthRoots will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000. This is the best time to give because your donation to young leaders and change-makers will be DOUBLED! And today, on #CoGivesDay, your donation will go even further thank you to @firstbank's Incentive Fund.

Our Impact

Check out these quotes from participants:

"Through YouthRoots, I have not only developed invaluable leadership skills that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life but have also discovered my passion for philanthropy and nonprofit work that I hope to pursue in the future."

"Thank you for an extraordinary year. I can't even comprehend the quality and quantity of what I learned. I learned about grants, and nonprofits, but most importantly about who I am and how I interact with others! I owe it all to you! I cannot thank you enough for changing my life thus far, and there are more years [of being involved with YouthRoots] to come!"

"I love that everything is real: real pitches, real businesses, real grants and real change. It's not just a class or a simulation.

"YouthRoots' ability to catalyze the potential in our community is what the world needs. Youth aware of community issues, youth assured of their ability to impact, and youth dedicated to listen and take initiative in solving the issues is the secret uncovered by the program. I now realize that YouthRoots does not refer just to solving the root issues of our community, but to the importance of us-the youth in the world."

"I just wanted to check in and tell you that this summer I was working at an internship in China. Many of the skills that were needed in my job I learned from the group meetings and discussions that occurred during YouthRoots meetings. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put in to not only helping out many high school students but also the greater Denver area."

"The best thing YouthRoots has done for me is show me that if I take responsibility and step up to the plate, there IS a way for me to make a difference. It's given me confidence that just because I'm a high school student doesn't mean I can't make an impact in my community."

Mission

Unleashing the power of youth to change the world.

Background Statement

We remember being teenagers. We remember having lofty goals, faith in humanity, and little fear of failure… and we also remember people who told us why our big ideas couldn't work. Frankly, though, it's up to today's teenagers to solve tomorrow's problems. Instead of being another discouraging voice, we want to give tomorrow's change-makers the tools and the mindset to do it.

So in 2009 we built YouthRoots, a one-year program that teaches Colorado's most passionate high school students how to change the world. They set the goals. They do the work. We give them the support they need. Tangibly, this board of high school students will fund and help projects that they care about. But YouthRoots also has a lifelong impact that participants begin to recognize years after completing the program. YouthRoots graduates embrace the world with the confidence, tools, and optimism they need to make their dreams reality.

Since being founded in 2010, 874 participants have raised and granted over $387,000 to more than 70 nonprofits through their grant making fund while developing life and leadership skills. This continued success has enabled our organization to expand from 1 to 10 YouthBoards, while also adding additional leadership opportunities to multi-year students through the Executive Committee and Summer Intern program.

COVID-19 lead to new and creative ways for YouthRoots to achieve our mission of elevating youth voice in the decisions that impact their lives. We developed the GIV Fellowship, a philanthropy internship program from young adults 18-24 from communities underrepresented in the field of philanthropy. We also developed The YouthScan Project as a tool to systematically capture youth perspective on issues and solutions in their schools and communities.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

YouthRoots

Year Established

2010

Tax id (EIN)

27-1325457

Category

Youth Development

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

3435 S. Inca Street #C-112
Englewood, CO 80110

Service areas

Arapahoe County, CO, US

Phone

720-443-3462

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