About Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program
The goal of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program was to challenge area youth to use their skills, creativity and energy to help make Carmel / Clay Township in Indiana a greener, more sustainable community. Created, developed, and administered by teens, this nonprofit program empowered young people to take action by funding youth-driven projects that reduced pollution, conserved natural resources, saved energy, or restored native habitats or species.
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, the middle-school youth group Carmel Area Roots & Shoots 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 partnered with us to finance the program, allowing us to continue to educate the Carmel community and empower our youth for ten additional years. Throughout its tenure, the program had the support and guidance of numerous local, nonprofit sponsoring organizations, the Carmel Clay school district, and many dedicated community volunteers. This support allowed us to keep the program sustainable, year after year, as Carmel Green Teen youth board members moved on to attend college and new students took their places. We give thanks to these partners described below.
From 2009-2021, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program funded 67 hands-on, youth-driven green projects to help make Carmel / Clay Township a greener, more sustainable community. This program is unique in that it was created, developed, and administered by teens for the purpose of motivating and empowering other students within our community. Micro-Grants were reviewed by a committee of volunteers comprised of teens from Carmel schools and adults from the Carmel area. Over 90% of our budget went directly to funding the environmental youth projects. In thirteen years, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program awarded $40,713.37 in funding to over 1300 students directly participating in 67 youth-led sustainability projects, providing Carmel residents over $120,000 in savings and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 500 tons annually . Please visit our environmental impact page for details.
Would you like to start a Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in your community? Our entire program is open source (free) 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 admin@carmelgreenteen.org.
Download a summary of our program and the 67 projects funded 2009-2021 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, the middle-school youth group Carmel Area Roots & Shoots 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 partnered with us to finance the program, allowing us to continue to educate the Carmel community and empower our youth for ten additional years. Throughout its tenure, the program had the support and guidance of numerous local, nonprofit sponsoring organizations, the Carmel Clay school district, and many dedicated community volunteers. This support allowed us to keep the program sustainable, year after year, as Carmel Green Teen youth board members moved on to attend college and new students took their places. We give thanks to these partners described below.
From 2009-2021, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program funded 67 hands-on, youth-driven green projects to help make Carmel / Clay Township a greener, more sustainable community. This program is unique in that it was created, developed, and administered by teens for the purpose of motivating and empowering other students within our community. Micro-Grants were reviewed by a committee of volunteers comprised of teens from Carmel schools and adults from the Carmel area. Over 90% of our budget went directly to funding the environmental youth projects. In thirteen years, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program awarded $40,713.37 in funding to over 1300 students directly participating in 67 youth-led sustainability projects, providing Carmel residents over $120,000 in savings and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 500 tons annually . Please visit our environmental impact page for details.
Would you like to start a Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in your community? Our entire program is open source (free) 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 admin@carmelgreenteen.org.
Download a summary of our program and the 67 projects funded 2009-2021 by clicking HERE.
Our partners
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About City of Carmel and Carmel Utilities - financial sponsor 2011-2021
We give sincere thanks to Carmel Utilities and the City of Carmel, the financial sponsors of the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program, from 2011-2021. With a population of over 100,000 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 and Carmel Utilities for their generous support and dedication to both the environment and to the youth of Carmel. |
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About Green Heroes Grant Program - financial sponsor 2009-2011
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 received an additional ten years of funding from Carmel Utilities and the City of Carmel. |
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About Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots - inspiration, encouragement, & organizational support
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 Carmel Middle School students, created the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in 2009 and 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 United Way of Central Indiana's Youth as Resources - organizational support and non-profit sponsor 2009-2015
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 Youth as Resources youth grant program framework at no cost. The Carmel Green Teen grant application, grant review process, awards ceremony, and project review forms were all adapted from the Youth as Resources grant program. |
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About Carmel Clay Schools Green Team - encouragement and promotion 2009-2021 / organizational support and non-profit sponsor 2015-2016
The CCS Green Team is a group of parents, students, and staff that encourages and facilitates initiatives within the Carmel Clay Schools community to support and protect the Earth and promote sustainable life skills. The CCS Green Team and Carmel Clay Schools administration were strong and consistent advocates for our program throughout its history. The CCS Green Team served as a bridging organizational and nonprofit sponsor from 2015-2016. |
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About Hamilton County Community Foundation - organizational support and non-profit sponsor 2016-2021
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. We are thankful for their non-profit sponsorship. |