How to Apply to the Contribution Project

Our next cycle for applications will open up in February 2025! Until then, learn about the process below and get inspired with ideas.

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply for the Spring 2025 cycle if all three criteria below are true:

  1. You are affiliated with one of our partner organizations* or heard about it from one of our partners.**

  2. You are between the ages of 14-25 years old.

  3. You currently live in the United States/US Territory.***

*If you’re an undergrad at one of partner schools, Cornell or one of SUNY partners, then you will use a separate application.

**You do not need to be “affiliated” with the partner org—i.e. if you heard about it through a friend who’s at a SUNY school, but you’re not at SUNY, that’s okay!

***Thanks to a generous partner, we have 50 spots available just for youth (age 14 - 25) who are living in the greater Cincinnati region!

What can I pursue for my Contribution Project?

All Contribution Projects must meet the following criteria:

  • It should be feasible, meaning you can reasonably take action on your project in the next six weeks.

It cannot:

  • be reasonably imagined to cause harm to yourself or other people.

  • be used to purchase weapons or to engage in, support, or promote violence of any kind.

  • be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

  • be used to engage in political activities or voter registration drives.

  • be spent outside the United States/US Territory

Inspiration for Projects

Not sure what to do? Here are some ideas and real examples of past Contribution Projects!

  • Podcast

    Create a podcast that covers emerging issues that are important to our community

  • Gaming

    Create a communal gaming center for students to have an outlet to build a sense of community

  • Nature

    Teach a fly-fishing class as a way to teach a relaxing and sustainable hobby

  • Business

    Start an online haircare retailer, marketplace, and research center dedicated to people with textured hair

  • Health Care

    Partner with a local organization to provide holistic health care to people in rural areas

  • Food

    Create a program to reduce food waste and food insecurity on our school campus

  • Financial Literacy

    Build an app to teach beginners the basics of financial literacy in a fun and interactive way

  • Animal Welfare

    Buy a digital camera for a local animal shelter, then take nice photos of dogs to help them get adopted

  • Family Care

    Provide free diapers, wipes, and toys for soon-to-be parents in a community in need

  • Sports

    Host a free soccer camp for local children and youth in the area

  • Access

    Expand access across our school campus by installing braille signage

  • STEM

    Create biomedical engineering kits for young girls to learn about engineering in an engaging way

  • Crafting

    Create handmade, crocheted stuffed toys for children in hospitals to spread kindness, happiness, and hope

  • Celebration

    Host an event to celebrate first-generation students on campus

  • Community Art

    Launch a community art project that highlights belonging and unity within your neighborhood

  • Virtual Book Club

    Organize a virtual neuroscience book club with students across the globe who meet over zoom

  • Healthy Eating

    Host a free cooking class on how to cook with whole foods on a limited budget

  • First Aid

    Led a free CPR course for the local community to increase access to lifesaving medical care

  • Music

    Buy a turntable, learning how to DJ, then starting a student-DJ business on campus

Project Timeline

Key Dates and Required Deadlines for the Spring 2025 Cycle of the Contribution Project

Application Open
Feb 1 - Feb 25, 2025

Pre-project survey & application window

Notification
Feb 28, 2025

Accepted applicants
notified

Launch Deadline
March 7, 2025

Deadline for all accepted contributors to complete launch steps

Contribution Projects
March 8 - April 18, 2025

Six-week Contribution
Project window

Final Deadline
April 25, 2025

Deadline to spend NCP award and upload receipts

Survey
April 25, 2025

Deadline for all contributors to complete post-project survey 

How It Works

Click each item below to learn more information

    • We know that purpose matters in young people’s lives and we are exploring the connections between purpose and contribution.  We’re particularly interested in learning more about how purpose is cultivated, so we’re asking you to help us.

    • The application process starts with a consent form that tells you more about this research.

    • Then you fill out a pre-project survey (about 30 minutes long) to share more about what’s true for you today.  

    • And finally, you complete a simple application to share your idea for a contribution.

    • As recognition for participating in the research project, you’ll receive a $10 Amazon egift card within two weeks of doing the survey, whether or not you are accepted as a contributor.

    • We select contributors among all eligible applications.


    Only three questions to apply!

    You can submit your application in ANY format — you decide! Videos, audio, essays, presentations, etc. Choose the format where you are most comfortable and confident!

    1. What contribution would you like to make?

    2. Why does this contribution matter to you?

    3. You have six weeks for your Contribution Project. In detail, tell us what you plan to do during that time. (Consider sharing your thoughts about timeline, budget, and general goals.)

  • If you are selected to participate in the National Contribution Project, you will have one week to complete your launch paperwork. This includes:

    • Signing an agreement.

    • Completing a W9 to verify that you are, in fact, a human 😀. Here’s why we ask for a W9 doc, which is just used for internal recordkeeping and is not reported to the IRS.  

    • Telling us how you’d like to receive your $400 award to spend on your Contribution Project

  • Once accepted participants have completed all their launch steps, they will receive $400 directly to spend on their Contribution Projects.

  • You are in complete control, independently planning and acting on your project throughout the six-week project window.

  • At the end of your six weeks, participants will submit receipts to show how they’ve spent their award money. We know that many Contribution Projects will continue beyond the six-week window, which is great! We just ask that award money is spent and all receipts are submitted by the end of the six weeks.

  • All applicants who completed a pre-project survey will be invited to complete a post-project survey, regardless of whether you were selected to receive a Contribution Project award.

    • Take the post-project survey to help us learn about the impact that contributing has on young people.

    • For participating in the post-project survey, you’ll receive a $20 Amazon egift card within two weeks of completing your survey.

 Frequently Asked Questions

  • You’re eligible to apply if all three criteria below are true:

    • You are affiliated with one of our partner organizations, or heard about it through one of those organizations.

    • You are between the ages of 14–25 years old 

    • You currently live in the United States/US Territory

  • Awards may not be issued to anyone living outside the US.

  • The application process is meant to be short and simple. We will randomly select among the applications that meet the following criteria: 

    • It should be feasible so that you can reasonably take action in the next six weeks. 

    • It cannot  be reasonably imagined to cause harm to yourself or other people. 

    • It cannot be used to purchase weapons or to engage in, support, or promote violence of any kind. 

    • It cannot be used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

    • It cannot be used to engage in political activities or voter registration drives. 

    • It cannot be spent outside the United States/US Territory

    If you have questions, contact us at hello@contributionproject.org.

  • If you applied, were accepted, and launched a Contribution Project in the past, you are not eligible to apply again. If you applied but weren’t accepted and/or you applied, were accepted, but did not launch, you are eligible to apply again. If you completed the GripTape Learning Challenge, you are not eligible to apply for the Contribution Project.

  • No, you can only apply once per application cycle. If you are considering multiple ideas, please choose the contribution that is most important to you.

  • Everyone must apply independently, so while you may work together as a group, everyone must submit their own application. You are welcome to work with others toward your project goal. You may also pool funds with others who have received Contribution Project awards, but each individual must submit their own application.

  • No. Every contribution idea that is selected for funding will be awarded $400. Of course, it is entirely up to you how you allocate these funds as you pursue your project.

  • Please see the part of the website for APPLICATION DETAILS to see the most up-to-date deadline.

  • All applications that meet the eligibility criteria are entered into a random selection process by organization. We have reserved 20 spots for Contribution Project awards in each organization, assuming there are 20 eligible applicants.

  • Step 1:  Complete the launch steps in your personal Contribution Project dashboard we’ll share with you once you’re accepted. You have one week to complete the following launch steps (see APPLICATION TIMELINE above for the exact dates):

    • Sign an agreement

    • Completing a W9 to verify that you are, in fact, a human 😀 – here’s why we ask for a W9 doc, which is just used for internal record-keeping and is not reported to the IRS

    • Tell us how you’d like to receive your $400 award to spend on your Contribution Project (physical or digital Visa card, check, or direct deposit)

    Step 2: The Contribution Project window is six weeks long. We know that many projects will extend beyond the six weeks, which is great! We just ask all participants to do three things by the end of the six weeks, including:

    • Spend your award money in alignment with the contribution criteria (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

    • Keep all of your receipts as proof of how you spent your award money and submit them through your personal Contribution Project dashboard (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

    • Complete a post-project survey so we can learn more about your experience (by the deadline; see the timeline above) 

  • Awards cannot be transferred. They may not be issued to organizations or anyone other than the accepted individual. 

Any questions?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@contributionproject.org