Deadline: 1-Apr-23
The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund invites youth and intergenerationally led organizations to submit proposals for initiatives that are shaping the future of the responsible technology movement.
The RT Youth Power Fund aims to support organizations at all stages of development and will issue awards ranging from $25K to $200K.
The Fund believes that young people can be a powerful force in the fight for a more inclusive and equitable technology ecosystem. However, cultural, social, and infrastructural barriers often prevent youth-led organizations and intergenerational partnerships from accessing funding and realizing their full power and potential in shaping responsible technology.
Area of Interest
- The Fund is open to and looking for a wide range of responsible technology initiatives. However, some examples of areas in which their core funders have particular expertise include:
- The intersection of technology and mental health
- Harnessing connective opportunities technology provides to support belonging and well-being
- Building a better world online — that is safe, fair and compassionate
- Supporting learning, discovery and action focused on the ethical collection, protection and use of data
- Preventing online abuse and promoting the safety, protection, wellbeing and development of children
- Bridging the frontiers of artificial intelligence, data science, and social impact
- Empowering youth change-makers who are optimizing their digital world
Funding Information
- Funding levels will depend on the stage of your initiative.
- The levels of funding are as follows:
- Phase One: $25,000 – $50,000 (e.g. early stage of initiative or organization; little to no existing programming at the youth and tech intersection)
- Phase Two: $50,000 – $100,000 (e.g. pilot stage initiative or organization; moderate traction with at least a year of programming)
- Phase Three: $100,000 – $200,000 (e.g. scale stage organization or initiative; significant traction, track record of meaningful impact, partnerships and networks; at least a year of programming)
Eligibility Criteria
- You should apply if you are:
- A youth (up to age 25) or intergenerationally led organization or initiative — with a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity status or affiliation.
- Working within the responsible technology movement.
- Working on issues including but not limited to: mental health, digital wellbeing, mis- and disinformation, cybersecurity, digital divide, privacy, digital literacy, data equity, platform accountability, open source technology, algorithmic bias, and more.
- Groups based outside the United States can receive funding if they have an affiliation with a U.S.-registered 501(c) 3. This affiliation can come in two forms:
- Where the U.S. organization is serving as the fiscal sponsor for the international organization;
- Where there is a partnership agreement in place between the U.S-registered organization and the international nonprofit — in that the U.S. entity is able to receive the grant on behalf of the international organization.
For more information, visit RT Youth Power Fund.