About The Change Machine's $500 Grants
The Change Machine provides $500 grants to support, celebrate, and showcase unique youth-led initiatives with the power to incite positive change. Change Machine projects are innovative, non-traditional ideas that focus on current issues and challenges faced by youth, and inspire a diverse group of participants to be more active, involved, and civically-engaged.
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Who Can Apply?
Young people (ages 18 and younger) from Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities of Southwestern Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for support.
Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed on the first Fridays of February, May, August, and November. Decisions are typically announced 5-6 weeks after each deadline.
How to Apply
The preferred method for submitting your application is to use the Sprout online form
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Alternately, you may submit your application via email, postal mail, or hand delivery. Email attachments should be sent to apply@sproutfund.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to
The Sprout Fund, attn. Change Machine, 5423 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206-3423.
Application Questions
Project Description
Tell us about your idea for a project that inspires change in your neighborhood, community, or school. What do you hope to see change as a result of your project?
How? The Plan
Describe how you will make your project happen, including examples of specific activities and events. What might be challenging or difficult about your project? How do you plan to deal with these challenges?
Who? The People
Who will benefit from your project? How will they participate? Who are the other team members and what will they do?
What? The Promotion
How will you let people know about your project? Do you have plans for promoting, marketing, or advertising?
When? The Timeline
When will your project start, how often will activities take place, and when will it finish?
Budget
How will you use $500 for your project?
Write Your Own Headline
Upon successfully completing your project, what will the headline be when the newspaper writes about it?
Change Machine Funding Guidelines
Sprout’s Change Machine is intended to support new small projects designed and led by youth and their peers. Change Machine funding may not be used for benefit events or projects planned primarily for fundraising, activities with a primary purpose that is religious or political in nature, or for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the decision announcement.
Have Questions or Need Help?
Members of the Change Machine Advisory Committee are available to answer questions and provide additional support for your application. Email your questions to apply@sproutfund.org or call (412) 325-0646 and Sprout will connect you with a mentor.
