About Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program
Created, developed, and administered by teens, this nonprofit program empowers young people to take action by funding youth-driven projects that reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, save energy, or restore native habitats or species. The goal of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program is to challenge area youth to use their skills, creativity and energy to help make Carmel / Clay Township in Indiana a greener, more sustainable community.
In 2009, the makers of Green Works natural cleaners created the Green Heroes program to identify and fund five eco-friendly community projects across the country. Through this program, Carmel Area Roots & Shoots, our local Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots youth group, was awarded $10,000 to fund its eco-friendly project called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. Although this initial funding was exhausted in 2011, the City of Carmel and Carmel Utilities have partnered with us to support the program, allowing us to continue to educate the Carmel community and empower our youth. In 2016 the Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliated Legacy Fund took over administration of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program to provide program stability and sustainability which were needed due to youth board members continuously graduating high school and moving on. In 2018, the Legacy Fund was renamed the Hamilton County Community Foundation.
Thus far, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program has funded 57 hands-on, youth-driven green projects to help make Carmel / Clay Township a greener, more sustainable community. Please visit our environmental impact page. This program is unique in that it is created, developed, and administered by teens for the purpose of motivating and empowering other students within our community. Micro-Grants are reviewed by a committee of volunteers composed of teens from Carmel schools and adults from the Carmel area. Over 90% of our budget goes directly to funding the environmental youth projects.
Would you like to start a Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in your community? Our entire program is open source for nonprofit groups. Visit http://yourgreenteen.weebly.com/ for details.
The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program and its members have been recognized for contributions to the environment, community education, and youth empowerment by receiving several awards. Learn more on the awards page. Meet our talented and hard working volunteer board here.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at mackenziep@cicf.org.
View a summary of all 57 projects funded 2009-2018 by clicking HERE.
In 2009, the makers of Green Works natural cleaners created the Green Heroes program to identify and fund five eco-friendly community projects across the country. Through this program, Carmel Area Roots & Shoots, our local Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots youth group, was awarded $10,000 to fund its eco-friendly project called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. Although this initial funding was exhausted in 2011, the City of Carmel and Carmel Utilities have partnered with us to support the program, allowing us to continue to educate the Carmel community and empower our youth. In 2016 the Central Indiana Community Foundation affiliated Legacy Fund took over administration of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program to provide program stability and sustainability which were needed due to youth board members continuously graduating high school and moving on. In 2018, the Legacy Fund was renamed the Hamilton County Community Foundation.
Thus far, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program has funded 57 hands-on, youth-driven green projects to help make Carmel / Clay Township a greener, more sustainable community. Please visit our environmental impact page. This program is unique in that it is created, developed, and administered by teens for the purpose of motivating and empowering other students within our community. Micro-Grants are reviewed by a committee of volunteers composed of teens from Carmel schools and adults from the Carmel area. Over 90% of our budget goes directly to funding the environmental youth projects.
Would you like to start a Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in your community? Our entire program is open source for nonprofit groups. Visit http://yourgreenteen.weebly.com/ for details.
The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program and its members have been recognized for contributions to the environment, community education, and youth empowerment by receiving several awards. Learn more on the awards page. Meet our talented and hard working volunteer board here.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at mackenziep@cicf.org.
View a summary of all 57 projects funded 2009-2018 by clicking HERE.
Our partners
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About Hamilton County Community Foundation
The Hamilton County Community Foundation, (formerly called the Legacy Fund,) is an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). It is a $56 million public foundation that serves Hamilton County by administering charitable funds, foundations and organizational endowments for individuals, families and not-for-profit entities. The Hamilton County Community Foundation's goal is to inspire philanthropy as it helps people enhance their family and charitable legacies in tax-smart ways. It has three main priorities: consult with donors, family foundations and professional advisors on charitable giving; award grants; and provide leadership to address community needs. The Hamilton County Community Foundation provides administrative support and facilitates grant-making opportunities for two youth advisory councils in Hamilton County, the LINK Youth Advisory Council and the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program, because cultivating the next generation of philanthropists is vital to the future success of our community. Learn more at www.cicf.org. |
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About Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots
The Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for people, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in more than 120 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe. Carmel Area Roots & Shoots, the youth group comprised of middle school students who created the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in 2009, modeled the program after Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to create a way for young people to become empowered and make a difference in the world around them. |
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About City of Carmel and Carmel Utilities
We give sincere thanks to Carmel Utilities and the City of Carmel, the current financial sponsors of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. With a population of over 80,000 residents, the city of Carmel, Indiana, located just north of Indianapolis, is committed to promoting environmental stewardship through community education. The City of Carmel has been recognized for its many environmental initiatives, including its numerous gas saving roundabouts, hybrid city vehicles, LED street lamps, and more. The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program thanks our city for its generous support and dedication to both the environment and to the youth of Carmel. See this report to find out more. |
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About Green Heroes Grant Program
Between January 15 and February 28, 2009, the Green Works Natural Cleaners team invited individuals to nominate eco-friendly community projects for a Green Heroes grant by submitting online a photo and short essay about the project for consideration. A panel of eco-experts including representatives from the Sierra Club, EcoFabulous.com and Josh Dorfman, the Lazy Environmentalist, reviewed all submissions and selected 10 finalists. The five winners were selected by popular online vote from March 23 until April 10, 2009. (For more information, click here.) Through this program, the local youth group Carmel Area Roots & Shoots was awarded $10,000 to create and fund its eco-friendly new project called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. From 2009-2011 this Green Heroes Grant covered the costs of administering our program, which included funding sixteen youth-led environmental projects in Carmel, Indiana. After these initial funds were exhausted, our program has received ongoing funding via Carmel Utilities and the City of Carmel. We are currently being administered by the the Hamilton County Community Foundation , an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). |
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About Previous Partnerships
There would never have been a Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program were it not for the guidance and support of the kind staff at United Way of Central Indiana's Youth as Resources, who offered not only their non-profit umbrella but also the entire framework for our youth grant program. Volunteer members of the CCS Green Team and staff at Carmel Clay Schools have also offered their full support and have been instrumental in promoting our program. It takes a village to raise a child. We are truly grateful for the help our our greater community. |