Chamber Foundation: Youth Leadership Program - 2025 Day of Service RFP

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

Youth Leadership is an innovative leadership development program administered by The Chamber Foundation and designed to develop the academic, social, and life skills of area high school youth. This program collaborates with Dutchess County school districts and includes the local community, business leaders, and Foundation staff. Students emerge from this dynamic program more confident, well-rounded, with improved leadership skills and a better understanding of themselves, their community, and the ambition needed for success after high school. Furthermore, Youth Leadership helps students build relationships and local career opportunities that increase students’ likelihood of returning to the Hudson Valley after college graduation and re-investing in the local economy.

The Day of Service is being implemented as a service-learning project tool for our sophomore high school students. This project is designed to foster real-life interpersonal, organizational, and public leadership skills. This service-learning project will be coordinated and executed by the participating students, with supervision by the Youth Leadership staff and mentors. All community-based and local non-profit organizations that would benefit are encouraged to apply to partner with the Youth Leadership Day of Service 2025. Students involved in the Day of Service are typically high school sophomores.


IMPORTANT FOR ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS:

-Organizations must be in good standing, a current member of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a 501C(3), non-governmental organization.

-Projects benefitting political or religious purposes will not be considered. In addition, program participants will not solicit donations, prizes, or funds for the awarded organization outside the scope of the proposed project.

-Partnering organizations are asked to provide their own supplies and funding (as needed) for this project.

***Due to student capabilities, projects should not involve specialized skills such as complex building projects or other projects that require professional-level expertise, training, and/or credentials.
At the same time, the proposed projects should challenge participants within the developmental capabilities of students ages 14-16 to think critically and apply leadership skills as part of this collaborative project.


WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY:

-The organization awarded will receive 25-30 students, to complete a project for your organization. On Saturday April 26 (Rain Date: Saturday May 3) from 9 AM until 3 PM. The organization will be highlighted, receive publicity/recognition during the months before and after the project’s execution.

-The Chamber Foundation will provide the students’ time, labor, preparation, and prior knowledge of leadership and community partnership skills.

-Chamber Foundation mentors will supervise students during this project, at a 1:6 student-to-mentor ratio.

-The Youth Leadership students will gain opportunities to apply their personal and interpersonal leadership skills to real-life inter-organizational scenarios. Opportunities to network with community leaders and stakeholders, thereby forging meaningful professional relationships. This project incorporates the students’ time, energy, and knowledge, as they apply their learned leadership skills.


PROPOSALS WITH THE FOLLOWING WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED:

(1) Projects that can be started and completed in one day; should fill a full days’ worth of work.
(2) Propose projects that challenge the students to apply their leadership and critical thinking skills.
(3) Ability to provide a budget/donation for supplies and light fare for volunteers.
(4) Articulate uniqueness and positive impact of the project on your organization.
(5) Bring multiple partners to the project, leverage funds such as matching dollars, and/or attract other volunteers to maximize the project’s benefits.
(6) Planning to begin in January with completion on Saturday, April 26, 2025.


PROPOSAL EXAMPLES:

(a) Upcycling donated items
(b) Riverfront clean-up
(c) Garden beautification planning and implementing at a local community space
(d) Staffing a walk/run
(e) Co-organizing a local blood drive
(f) Coordinating meal delivery for patients

-Date of Service: Saturday, April 26, 2025