Generator Z

  • "I loved having an outlet to express myself in a way that actually mattered and I knew it was going to be applied to something bigger. "

    - Trinity B, age 14

  • "I was given control and a voice to figure out what can and will happen, with no judgment. I love the fact that teens were paid and in charge of selecting ideas. "

    - Omega, age 14

  • "This experience helped me see life in a different way. We young people have a voice and we can change the world. I liked how the adults involved genuinely cared."

    - Jordanne L, age 14

  • "Reading teen stories was a reminder - not just at their age but even at my ripe age - that courage, vulnerability, agency and empathy are things that we should not take for granted. There are not enough outlets in life that offer this space."

    - Nichole Christian, Workshop Coach

  • "I loved being able to express my voice on a platform outside of school to new and different people. I was encouraged to say exactly what I thought and it was empowering knowing that others were listening."

    - Owen R, age 15

  • "The grant application process was really fun! We got to hear directly from teens through their individual stories and match our programming to what they wanted. We really had to keep iterating to figure out our idea."

    - Monica, North Star Reach, Grantee

  • "Through this project, a different model for funding and community engagement has emerged, giving other foundations a blueprint for how to think differently about longstanding systems. Generator Z proves that there are other ways to do the work."

    - Suma, Inside Out Literary Arts, Grantee

  • "Nobody knows your story until you share."

    - Cierra H, age 16

Generator Z was an ideas lab for teens and afterschool providers to reimagine the future of afterschool in a changing world. It flipped the script on traditional grantmaking by redistributing power to teens to direct millions of dollars in grants in ways that mattered to them. It acknowledged teens as the experts of their own lives and afterschool providers as the source of out-of-school opportunities. Over 1,000 teens, known as Generators, led the conversation with their personal stories and insights to generate the change they cared to see, earning $1 Million for their expertise.  Afterschool providers learned from Generators, turning insight into ideas. Nearly 100 providers received grants totaling $4 Million to bring these ideas to life. 

What it is.

2020 was marked by the global COVID-19 pandemic, politics, injustices, protests, vaccines, and variants, deeply affecting the everyday lives of young people and the non-profits serving them. Generator Z launched with teens in quarantine, isolated from school and friends, and afterschool providers transitioning from physical to virtual programming. The initiative created a safe space to be seen, heard, and valued. Generators were diverse –  from cities, suburbs, towns, and rural communities – identifying across ethnicity and race, family dynamics, citizenship status, and school enrollment. Grantees ranged from large to small, with some dedicated exclusively to teens and others hosting teen programs through school, government, arts, faith-based, and community organizations. During a time of so much uncertainty, Generator Z met teens and afterschool providers where they were.

Why it matters.

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Website

Date

2 years, 2020-2022

People

1,012 teens; 93 nonprofit organizations

Place

Western New York & Southeast Michigan

Team

100+ people including Hyperakt (brand identity and web development), Olu & Co (digital marketing and social media), Good Done Daily (brand application), Lakeshore Connections (grants administration), Reel Clever Films (visual storytelling); build create (website maintenance); University of Pittsburgh (program evaluation); team of facilitators, trauma specialists, and storytelling consultants

Client

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

Investment

$5 Million: $1 Million to teens, $4 Million to non-profits

  • "We see how passionate they are about positive outcomes for a lot of issues, such as climate change and acceptance of others despite differences. It's inspiring for me as an adult to see young people with such a passion and drive to make the world a better place."

    - Second Wave Michigan

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