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The 2009 - 2010 NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture "Be A Changemaker Challenge"*


Want to change the world? Find out how you can get up to $1000 and the support to do it!

The "Be a Changemaker" (BAC) Challenge is a partnership* between the NYU Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship and Youth Venture. We invite all NYU undergraduate students of the New York and Abu Dhabi campuses who want to change the world to compete for $1,000 seed grants and a Grand Prize Award of up to $10,000.

Who is Eligible:

  • All NYU undergraduate students enrolled in the New York or Abu Dhabi campuses.
  • Teams must consist of two or more people.
  • One lead team member must be under the age of 21 years.
  • Teams must identify an adult "ally" who will support the concept of the venture.

Who Gets Funded:

  • Ventures can be any student-created, student-led organization, program or business that benefits the community and/or has a positive social impact.
  • Ventures must be new initiatives not already in existence or a major new initiative of an existing organization.
  • Ventures must be sustainable with clear and attainable goals.
  • Up to 25 $1,000 seed grants will be awarded.
  • Grand Prize Award of up to $10,000 will be awarded to the Best Overall Venture.

How it Works:

  • Complete and submit a 300-word minimum Executive Summary that outlines the idea (Download the Executive Summary Guildelines (PDF));
  • Work with NYU Reynolds and Youth Venture to fine tune the Executive Summary and prepare a more in-depth e-Action Plan, and
  • Submit the e-Action Plan online.
All teams that submit a valid e-Action Plan will:
  • Be invited to pitch their venture proposals before a Selection Panel;
  • Receive feedback on their proposal, and
  • Meet with NYU Reynolds and Youth Venture to receive the seed grant award.
The top teams that receive seed grants will:
  • Be invited to pitch their idea a second time to a panel of expert judges for a chance to be awarded up to $10,000 in capital and the title of "The 2009-10 NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture Best Overall Venture."

How to Find Out More: The NYU Reynolds Program and Youth Venture will be sponsoring information sessions, mixers, and technical assistance opportunities to help you get started. Some of these events are optional, while other are required (see schedule below for details).

2009-10 Timeline for the Challenge:
Events with an asterisk [*] are required.

Weeks of September 21 and 28, 2009: Introductory Workshops
In these optional, hour-long interactive workshops, NYU Reynolds and Youth Venture will introduce potential venturers to the world of social entrepreneurship and the BAC Challenge.

  • September 25, 2009, 12:00-1:00pm - Jersey Conference Room
  • September 29, 2009, 12:00-1:00pm - Lafayette Conference Room
  • September 29, 2009, 5:30-6:30pm - Lafayette Conference Room
  • October 2, 2009, 12:00-1:00pm - Rudin Forum for Civic Dialogue
    • *All events take place at the Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor.

October 14: NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture "Be a Changemaker" Bash
 There's still time to get involved! Come and kick-off the 2009-2010 NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture "Be a Changemaker" Challenge. Meet fellow venturers!! Form your team!! Find teammates for your venture idea!! Food and refreshments will be provided.

  • 7:00pm - Rudin Forum, Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor

October 2009: Executive Summary Workshops
Sign up for group sessions or individual meetings to receive assistance on buidling an idea and venture and completing the Executive Summary.

Download the Executive Summary Guildelines (PDF).

  • October 20, 2009, 5:30-6:30pm - Mulberry Conference Room
  • October 30, 2009, 12:00-1:00pm - Jersey Conference Room
  • We'll be holding open "office hours" to work one-on-one on your executive summaries on October 29 from 3:00-7:00pm and October 30 from 9:00am-11:45am and 1:15pm-2:00pm in the WagnerWorks Cafe and/or lobby area of NYU Wagner.
  • To sign up for a one-on-one session outside of the open "office hours" above, please email Stephen Douglass or Nate Taylor

November 20, 2009: Executive Summary Deadline* EXTENDED
All teams participating in the BAC Challenge must draft a 300 word minimum Executive Summary of their venture idea.

December 2009 - January 2010: Action Plan Workshops*
Teams receive learn how to transform their Executive Summaries into effective Action Plans. Download the Action Plan Workshop Presentation and the Action Plan Guidelines.

  • December 9, 12pm - Mulberry Conference Room, NYU Wagner, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
  • December 9, 2pm - Mulberry Conference Room, NYU Wagner, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
  • You may sign up for a one-on-one session by emailing Stephen Douglass or Nate Taylor.

January 2010: Online e-Action Plan Launched

  • On January 22 from 3:00-5:30pm in the Jersey Conference Room at NYU Wagner, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor, we will be holding one final session to answer any last minute questions you may have on the submission of the action plan.

February 1, 2010, 12:00am: Action Plan Submission Deadline*

  • Find a sample Business Plan outline template here. Please use this only as a guide and pick and choose the parts that are most relevant for your Action Plan.
  • Email your completed Action Plans to reynolds.youthventure@nyu.edu.

Week of February 22, 2010: Selection Panels*
All teams that submit a a valid e-Action Plan will be invited to present their venture proposals before a Selection Panel. Teams will receive any will receive any further feedback and be required to follow-up with NYU Reynolds and Youth Venture on any specific issues before seed-granting is awarded.

  • Dates TBD

Week of March 15, 2010: Seed-Grants Awarded and Ventures Launch

Week of March 29, 2010: Grand Prize Award Judging
The top $1,000 seed grant recipients will be invited to pitch their idea to a special panel of expert judges and compete for up to $10,000 in capital and the title of the "2009-2010 NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture Best Overall Venture."

  • Dates TBD

Week of April 12, 2010: NYU Reynolds/Youth Venture Best Overall Venture Announced










 
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4. LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA: HIGHER EDUCATION AFFILIATION a. Identification as a Learn and Serve America Program. The Grantee must identify the program as part of a larger national effort and must agree, within reasonable limits, to participate in other activities such as common training events, their state’s Unified State Service Plan, service days and conferences. b. The Learn and Serve America name and logo. The Grantee must use the Learn and Serve America name and logo on, stationery, application forms, recruitment brochures, orientation materials, participant curriculum, signs, banners, press releases and publications created by Learn and Serve America participants in accordance with Corporation guidelines and requirements. The Corporation provides a camera-ready logo. The Grantee may not alter the Learn and Serve America logo (except as provided in the Corporation’s Graphic Standards, www.cns.gov/resources/graphicstandards.pdf). 34. PUBLICATIONS a. Acknowledgment of support. Publications or other products, including, but not limited to software designs, training manuals, curricula, videotapes, CD-ROMs, books, articles, or web pages created by grantees or participants must include a Learn and Serve America logo if they are consistent with the purposes of the Grant. The Grantee is responsible for assuring that the following acknowledgment and disclaimer appears in any external report or publication of material based upon work supported by this Grant. “This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service under Learn and Serve America Grant No. 08LH089400. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Corporation or the Learn and Serve America Program.