Youth Venture

Mission

Youth Venture's mission is building a global movement of young people being powerful now, changemakers now, by investing in young people to have the transformative experience of launching and leading their own lasting social ventures, connecting our Venturers into a global network of likeminded young changemakers and spreading our message that investing in young people to become changemakers is the key factor for success in every part of society.

Programs

YV gives young people the support and resources to lead lasting social change by launching Ventures – any youth-created, youth-led organization or project designed to provide a sustainable benefit in school, neighborhood, or larger community. We then help youth to form a team and develop an action plan which is submitted to a panel for approval. The team then receives a cash investment from YV to start their project. Teams are given long-term support including fellowship with one another.

Current Projects on GlobalGiving

Youth Venture United States

Personnel Overview

Gretchen Zucker - Executive Director
Gretchen began her career in the Africa Bureau of the USAID. She has worked for the Ethiopian government and as a consultant in the Ethiopian Investment Authority. She helped launch the DC office of the Tigray Development Association, a development institution headquartered in Ethiopia. She then spent several years with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. in many locations.

Jason Bernhardt-Lanier - Director of Development and Operations
Before joining YV, Jason served more than eight years as Director of Development at Samaritan Inns, an award-winning community-based nonprofit that offers recovery to persons homeless because of addictions to drugs and alcohol

Marco Davis - Director of Fellowship and Mid Atlantic Region
Marco began his career as a leadership development counselor for high school students of color at Prep for Prep in New York City. He also took part in community organizing at the Center for Third World Organizing in CA. Prior to joining YV, he served as the Director of Leadership Development at the National Council of La Raza– the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the US.

Personnel Statistics

Gretchen Zucker,
Executive Director
Founded in 1996
Employees: 21
Volunteers: 500

Financial Statistics

Budget (2007): $ 2,063,916
Budget (2006): $ 1,202,219
Maximum Budget: $ 2,063,916
Overhead: 20 %
Other funding sources: Robert Wood Johnson, Foundation, Starbucks Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Omidyar Foundation
Religious Affiliation: None