FAQ

Lead4Change is a FREE leadership program where students identify and use their leadership skills by doing a service project. The ready to use lesson plans will take you through the steps of leadership and service. All resources are available to registered members for free. Register here

6-12th graders. Take the first step and check out our “Start to Finish Guide“

Student teams (3 or more students in 6-12th grades) with an adult teacher or club advisor

There are 2 lesson tracks, both containing the same content.  The 12-lesson track can be used as a stand alone class or club, or the 36 activities can be spread over the year.  

There is also a 6-lesson track.  The 6- lessons suggest 75 minutes per lesson. 

The Lead4Change Challenge is open to submitting entries all year long. For the 2020-21 year there are two deadlines for entry: February 12th or May 14th.  

Enter when your students complete the lessons and project and you will receive Certificates of Completion and the option to order Graduation Honor Cords for seniors.

Full Lead4Change Challenge Rules are here. 

Yes! For those who complete the lessons and a project, the Lead4Change Challenge is the contest component of the Lead4Change Student Leadership Program. Each year winning teams are awarded grants for their charity or school. Full Lead4Change Challenge Rules are here. 

The kind of service project and number of hours committed is up to you. Lead4Change fits nicely into service learning expectations for schools and clubs as you will design a project that works for your team.

To enter your team’s project into the Lead4Change Challenge you will partner with a local charity or public organization. This certifies that they are a US registered qualifying organization and can accept a grant if your team wins.  

Many 501c3 organizations do work globally so where you serve is not limited to the US. To help in finding a registered 501c3 in your area, www.charitynavigator.org is a helpful website.

Your school, if it is a public organization may also qualify. Many school districts and private schools have a public foundation.

For questions, click the Contact Us button at the bottom of any web page.  

If you are looking for ideas on projects we have built a page just for you! Check out our Virtual Project Ideas or in-person Project Ideas

There are 2 lesson tracks to choose from, both containing the same content.  The 12-lesson track can be used as a stand-alone class or club, or the 36 activities can be spread over the year.  

There is also a 6-lesson track.  The 6-lessons suggest 75 minutes per lesson. In each lesson track, each lesson consists of 3 activities.

The program provides an insights-driven approach to leading people and achieving a big goal — by meeting a need in their community or globally.  Leadership is about getting people to work together and to get excited about making a difference in an organization. This training will give students the confidence to lead others or to work as a team member. Skills like collaboration and teamwork, problem solving, creativity and communication are all a part of learning. Many states require civic learning and student volunteer hours for graduation and many school boards have built in “Responsibility to the Community” as part of their academic goals.

Lead4Change is aligned with national education standards and 21st Century Skills. You can find standards alignment guides and subject integration guides in the Member Resources section.

Lead4Change also meets the community service requirement for many associations, clubs and school districts.

As a teacher or youth club adviser you will find that Lead4Change helps shape your own leadership skills. You can also lead your student teams to enter the Lead4Change Challenge, where they can win a grant for your charity or school.  Lead4Change recognizes teachers through social media and through the Educator Advisory Board. Lead4Change also offers you a free, fully prepared set of lessons that will meet curriculum requirements for most subject areas which can be found here. 

Take the first step and check out our “Start to Finish Guide.” You can review a sample lesson here.

Register to receive access to all lesson plans. On the member dashboard, click the Lessons button.  Lessons are available to download and print, or import into your school’s e-portal. Students will be able to work in teams while you are the coach on the sidelines. It’s that easy! 

The program is based on the book, Taking People With You, so working in teams is a key part of this leadership training that helps students make big things happen. Teams should consist of at least three students (grades 6-12) — there is no limit to team size. Each team must have a teacher/adult advisor.

In order to submit a project to the Lead4Change Challenge, you will work with a local charity or public organization for your community service. The organization needs to be registered as a public organization or 501c3 organization. This certifies that they are a US registered organization and can accept a grant if your team wins.

Many public organizations do work globally so where you serve is not limited to the US. To help in finding a registered 501c3 in your area, www.charitynavigator.org is a helpful website

Your school, if it is a public organization may also qualify. Many school districts and private schools have a public foundation.

For questions, click the Contact Us button at the bottom of any web page.  

All Lead4Change Challenge grants for  winning teams must go to registered public organizations.

That being said, we want to find ways for you to meet this requirement while still ensuring your winning grant continues the project work started by your students.

Try checking a couple of simple solutions first:

1. Does your school have 501c3 status?
2. Does your school or school district have a Foundation (often called a Community Foundation) that is a registered 501c3?
3. Is there a local 501c3 organization that would align with you to accept winning funds earmarked to continue your project work?

Anyone of these options can be a perfect solution.

We are happy to help you understand and define 501c3 qualifying organizations in your area.

Reach out through the Contact Us form on our website, or send a note to your Outreach Consultant.

Students will benefit from a meeting with your chosen charity. During this meeting they can understand the greatest need. This may be different from the students’ original idea for a project, and will take them through the process of looking at their community and their choices in a different light. Using an insight driven approach is covered in the lessons.

Yes!  There are many ways to do community service right in your school. And, there is no fundraising requirement to participate. Invite a few of your local charities to come and talk about ways you can help without cost or transportation.

Or, students may find an issue or need in their school.  School projects are highly effective because students see real change  with immediate benefits from improving their surroundings. 

Yes!  there are many registered 501c3 organizations doing work globally.  Previous Lead4Change teams have worked with Water for Haiti, Stop Hunger Now, and many other charities.  Check out our Project Ideas page or the project idea document here.  In addition, see our “In the News” page for the latest projects students are doing from coast-to-coast.

At Lead4Change we love to hear from you and your students!! You can share on social media on our Facebook page, Tweet to us or post your photos to Instagram and tag @lead4changeorg or #NowGoLead.

You will also post your progress through the steps on your Member Dashboard once you’ve created a team name.  Every step also starts to build your Challenge entry.

The Lead4Change Challenge is open to submitting entries all year long. For the 2020-21 year there are two deadlines for entry: February 12th or May 14th.  

Enter when your students complete the lessons and project and you will receive Certificates of Completion and the option to order Graduation Honor Cords for seniors.

Full Lead4Change Challenge Rules are here. 

All guidelines are outlined in the Lead4Change Challenge project submission rules document here.

No, there are not weekly check-ins.  To share your story, you will create a team(s) on your member dashboard and then the educator or students can enter the “Now What” information from the end of each lesson.  

In all cases, the information is also stored on the Challenge Entry Form. This makes completing your entry much easier when your team finishes their project(s).

You can contact us at any time for support.  

Use the contact us email form or email to hello@lead4change.org.  A Lead4Change team member will contact you, by phone or email,  usually within 4 hours. 

Thank you for taking the time to develop students who are ready to Now Go Lead!