2025 Cohort will be backed by $2.4 million in funding to shape a safer digital ecosystem

February 5, 2025 — Today, the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) announced $2.4 million in funding to support 18 youth and intergenerationally-led organizations working to create a safer and more equitable digital ecosystem. This is RTYPF’s second year of investing in the youth-led responsible technology movement, and its newest cohort arrives at a crucial moment, bringing innovative solutions and fresh perspectives to enhance the future of online safety. 2025 grantees will use grant funding to advance work across a variety of issues, including tech accountability, youth mental health, responsible AI, and technology-based climate solutions.  

The 2025 cohort includes young advocates responsible for raising awareness of the Kids Online Safety Act and censorship of women’s health ads and information on social media platforms, and four individuals recognized by Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for their work across social media and AI. In a first, the fund is led by an intergenerational steering committee that spearheads strategic planning, grantee selection and programming decisions. RTYPF’s Young Leader Advisors (YLA) are key decision-makers, differentiating this grantmaking approach as youth-led and youth-driven. 

“As a generation raised by technology, we believe that young people are essential to building a more responsible and humane technology future,” said YLA grantee Trisha Prabhu, Founder and President of ReThink Citizens, “We have a unique perspective shaped by growing up in a digital world – and that drives our commitment to creating a better, more responsible tech ecosystem for us, our peers, and future generations.” 

“We’re proud of RTYPF’s innovative model, which empowers young people to make meaningful decisions about grantee funding and support,” said Yoelle Gulko, Director of documentary film Our Subscription to Addiction, “This inter-generational approach not only unlocks new opportunities for grantees – it helps young people become leaders in the movement for a more ethical tech landscape.”

The fund’s grantees are receiving between $50,000 and $125,000 in one-year grants, which were allocated based on capacity and funding needs. The 18 organizations joining Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund’s second cohort are:

• AI Consensus (Young Leader Advisor grantee), is a student movement working to transform education through the responsible use of AI. Their mission is anchored in empowering students and engagement across stakeholders.
• Center for Intimacy Justice (renewal grantee) is a nonprofit changing tech platforms’ discriminatory suppression of women’s health information online. They lead investigations, legal actions, and multi-pronged media and advocacy strategies to change biased tech practices that censor women’s health.
• Cyber Collective’s Internet Street Smarts program (renewal grantee) is revolutionizing digital safety education through a culturally relevant, engaging approach that speaks directly to Gen Z and historically marginalized communities. 
• Decifer Studio (new grantee) is a research and design studio leveraging creative technology and storytelling to demystify the socio-political workings and impact of technology, for and with the public.
• Design It For Us (renewal grantee) is a youth-led coalition advocating for safer online platforms and social media. They aim to drive and achieve key policy reforms to protect kids, teens, and young adults online through the mobilization of youth activists, leaders, and voices. 
• Encode (renewal grantee) is a coalition of youth activists and change makers fighting for human rights, accountability, and justice in artificial intelligence. Harnessing a global network of volunteers from all over the United States and world, they champion informed AI policy and encourage youth to confront the challenges of the age of automation through political advocacy, community organizing, educational programming, and content creation.
• Generation Patient (Young Leader Advisor grantee) represents adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions across the United States and internationally. They focus on peer support, advocacy, and access to educational information and resources as fundamental pathways to empowerment.  
• #HalfTheStory (renewal grantee) is the pioneering non-profit on a mission to empower the next generation’s relationship with technology through research, education, and advocacy. 
• Innovation For Everyone (new grantee) is building a youth-led AI ethics literacy movement by sparking nuanced conversations about AI from the classroom to the board room to equip the public, and especially youth, to think critically about the sociotechnical impacts of AI and their role in re-envisioning a more equitable and just digital world.
• The Los Altos Institution‘s (new grantee) mission is to give youth around the world the opportunity to conduct academic research, regardless of their socioeconomic status. They connect students to research professionals and fund their projects in order to help develop the thinkers of tomorrow.
• Our Subscription to Addiction (Young Leader Advisor grantee) is a documentary that captures a young filmmaker’s raw and vulnerable experience with phone addiction. After hitting rock bottom down the YouTube rabbit hole, she is determined to repair her relationship with her phone and reclaim her life by finding her voice in a growing youth-led digital well-being movement.
• Paragon Policy Fellowship (new grantee) provides college students with real policy experience while building tech capacity for state and local governments.
• People’s Public Lab (new grantee) is bridging the gap between research and community through their community-led projects that empower and amplify people who have faced historical and systematic oppression, displacement and other forms of social injustice.
• ReThink Citizens (Young Leader Advisor grantee) leads with a mission to tackle cyberbullying and foster digital literacy by equipping all youth with the tools and education they need to safely take on today’s digital world.
• Rooted Futured Lab’s (new grantee) mission is to address the systemic neglect and exclusion of environmental justice in technology development and application.
• Seek Common Ground (Young Leader Advisor grantee) and its Student Action Network for Equity supports student organizers advancing democracy, racial justice, and education equity. 
• trubel&co (pronounced “trouble and co”) (new grantee) is a tech-justice nonprofit that recruits, trains, and mobilizes the next generation to tackle social and environmental challenges using data, design, and technology.
• Young People’s Alliance Education Fund (renewal grantee) empowers young people through student-led organizing and advocacy. Their student advocates work at colleges across North Carolina, state legislatures, and on Capitol Hill to amplify youth voices.

###

About the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF): The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund is a first-of-its-kind philanthropic initiative aimed at supporting youth and intergenerationally led organizations shaping the responsible technology movement. The Fund, now in its second year, has raised over $4.5 million to support 501(c)3 eligible public charities, with award amounts ranging from $50,000 to $125,000, depending on the organization’s stage and funding needs. Learn more about the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund and the 2025 cohort at: www.rtyouthpower.org.

The organizations partnering to invest in the fund are Omidyar Network, Hopelab, Susan Crown Exchange, The Archewell Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, The Carmel Hill Fund, Enlight Foundation, AI Collaborative, Oak Foundation, Pinterest, Pivotal, and Reynolds Lookup Fund. 

CONTACT: rtyouthpowerfund@evergreenstrategygroup.com 

In youth sports, the influence of a well-trained coach can transform the experience for young athletes, shaping their development both on and off the field. The Million Coaches Challenge (MCC) is an ambitious initiative to revolutionize youth sports by training one million coaches in youth development principles. This effort is not just about increasing the number of trained coaches, but about changing the culture of youth sports and continuing to build demand for coaches who are equipped with the skills to foster positive, inclusive, and growth-oriented sports environments.

This past month partners of the Million Coaches Challenge were in Baltimore for the Project Play Summit where we listened to leaders discuss the state of youth sports. Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program hosted two days of critical conversations where MCC partners were featured in conversations around understanding the impact of coach training and building a national coaches strategy. It was a great time to connect, strategize, and celebrate with leaders from across the country. MCC also got a shout out from emcee Greg Olsen! 

We followed the Project Play Summit with two days of further discussion at the Million Coaches Challenge convening where members of the MCC cohort strategized on how to equip a generation of coaches with knowledge and tools about youth development techniques. 

Conversations about our current efforts inspired us, but our thinking did not stop there. We looked past the immediate goal of providing evidence-based training and began cultivating the MCC legacy. We explored ways in which this group could ensure coaches are well-versed in youth development and skill-building techniques long after the challenge goal is met. 

The MCC also released our Impact Statement, “The Power and Possibility of Coach Training in Youth Development”, which found that 88% of MCC coaches agree that participation in training made them better coaches. The statement underscores the significant positive impact of structured, evidence-based training programs. It features data from our dedicated partners who are committed to creating quality sports experiences for all young athletes, regardless of their background. Here are some of the highlights: 

Coaches believe training is effective

Ninety percent (90%) of coaches who have completed MCC training programs are highly likely to recommend these programs to others, attesting to their effectiveness and the value they provide. Furthermore, it’s noteworthy that many coaches who undergo training in MCC partner programs also engage in coaching additional sports outside of their primary focus. This underscores the versatility and applicability of the training they receive, highlighting how it equips them with skills and insights that are transferable across various sports disciplines.

Leaders within organizations have recognized the value of trained coaches in enhancing the atmosphere of sports activities, leading to a dual focus on fun and the teaching of life skills. This approach fosters a positive environment, as evidenced by a high percentage of coaches who report that their organization’s atmosphere has improved as a result of the training they received. Additionally, these coaches experience increased enjoyment in their roles, further highlighting the benefits of specialized training in creating a more engaging and beneficial sports experience for all involved.

Young People want Consistency

Youth perspectives highlight the importance of consistent coaching, and leaders believe trained coaches are more likely to continue their involvement season after season. This continuity is partly attributed to the perception of adequate training, with many coaches, especially those from programs like Girls on the Run, feeling well-prepared and thus more inclined to return to their roles. When describing their experiences, the words “supportive,” “fun,” and “positive” emerge most frequently from coaches, painting a picture of a rewarding and enjoyable coaching environment.

74% of responding coaches perceived that their participation in training had a positive influence on athlete retention (American Institutes for Research, 2024).

A Call to Action

For coaches –  it’s crucial to remain at the forefront of youth development by actively participating in training programs designed with a youth-centric approach. Aligning with organizations that not only prioritize but also offer comprehensive training programs in this area can significantly enhance a coach’s effectiveness. Moreover, the landscape of youth development is ever-evolving, necessitating a commitment to continuous learning and skill updating to meet the latest needs.

For Families and caregivers – you play a pivotal role in the athletic and personal development of young athletes. Choosing programs where coaches have undergone training in youth development is essential. Moreover, advocating for the prioritization of coach training within community sports programs can lead to a more enriching environment for young athletes. Sharing and promoting information about available training opportunities with community sports leaders can further enhance the quality of coaching.

For Sports programs and organizations – you have a responsibility to ensure coaches are well-prepared to meet the needs of youth development. This involves providing access to and encouraging participation in training programs designed to address these needs. By continuously seeking out new training opportunities, programs can stay ahead of the curve. Furthermore, advocating for the importance of coach training across different regions, sports, and networks can elevate the standard of coaching universally.

For funders and philanthropists – investing in training programs that prioritize evidence-based approaches to coach training is crucial. This not only elevates the quality of coaching but also ensures that young athletes receive the best possible guidance and support. Supporting organizations dedicated to offering high-quality, evidence-based training programs can make a significant impact on the sports ecosystem, fostering an environment where young athletes can thrive.

The Million Coaches Challenge is more than just a numerical goal; it’s about changing the narrative around coaching. By training one million coaches, MCC is helping to build a legacy where every young athlete has access to a quality coach who prioritizes their development and well-being. Join the Million Coaches Challenge today and be part of this transformative movement. To learn more about MCC and its partners, visit https://www.millioncoaches.org/