At the Alliance, we are building lasting youth organizing infrastructure
and civic power through three interconnected roles.
1
Capacity Building
Strong organizations build lasting movements. As a Capacity Builder, the Alliance strengthens the programs and operational infrastructure of our Affiliates, equipping them with the tools, training, and resources they need to lead high-impact campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. Rather than relying on external consultants who may not fully understand youth-led work or our local communities, we offer in-house, tailored Capacity Building support grounded in our Network’s real-world experience and needs.
Our organizational strengthening efforts provide:
- Strong advocacy programs that improve the lived experiences of the Network’s base
- Sustainable base-building initiatives that are reflective of our communities
- Successful civic engagement programs that educate and activate the Network’s target audience
- Robust development programs and organizational norms to ensure sustainability
The Alliance’s Capacity Building work supports a large network of Affiliates across the nation. Want to know more about the organizers and local groups leading this work on the ground?
Check Out Our Network Here▸
2
Ecosystem Leader
At the national level, we seek to support local organizing and grow youth organizing infrastructure to ensure young people have a political home and are part of a movement that reflects their lived realities and speaks to their values. This includes:
- Expansion: Seeding and supporting the launch of new youth-led organizing initiatives in emerging states.
- Coordination: Collaborating with national, youth-focused partners to align strategies and amplify collective impact.
- Narrative Building: Conducting research and developing messaging tools, insights, and polling to strengthen youth civic engagement across the country.
- National Program: Addressing critical gaps in the civic engagement ecosystem that fall outside the scope of our Network or grantee partners.
3
Funding Intermediary
As a funding intermediary, the Alliance bridges the gap between national resources and local organizing.
We work with national donors and philanthropic partners to raise funds that bolster our Network’s growth and utilize transparent processes to allocate resources equitably. Our funding strategy is deeply rooted in our organizational values: we strive to center movement building and BIPOC organizing, fund local organizing efforts, and leverage relationships to connect our Network directly to funders.
Our grantmaking strategy is designed to raise national funding and deliver general operating and program support to local organizers. From 2023 to 2024, we granted over $15 million to 53 organizations, with projects ranging from campus organizing on over 200 campuses, influencer work on civic education, youth organizing on HBCUs & Native American reservations, to student-run voter registration drives in high school campuses nationwide. Through this work, we’re helping create the next generation of leaders of civil society and democratic principles, and the architects of a more responsive and equitable government.