Centering youth. Shifting power. Funding bold futures.
The Next Wave is a youth-led giving circle powered by CoThinkk to amplify social change philanthropy across 12 counties in Western North Carolina.
Choose an option below to get started.
What We Fund
Projects that reflect your vision, voice, and values.
We’re excited to support ideas that make a real difference — created by and for young people. If your project focuses on one or more of the following areas, you’re in the right place:
Youth Programs & Early Education
Tutoring, enrichment programs, scholarships, and other tools that help youth learn, grow, and thrive.
Mental Health & Therapy
Projects that support emotional well-being, healing, and mental health access for young people.
Multicultural Events
Celebrations of culture, diversity, and unity through community events and creative gatherings.
Community Building
Ideas that strengthen neighborhoods — like youth-led beautification projects, green spaces, or art installations.
Hurricane Helene Relief
Recovery efforts that help rebuild communities and businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Youth Businesses
If you’ve got a business idea, we want to help you launch it and make it sustainable.
What You’ll Get
Funding, support, and a whole network behind you.
We’re not just offering grants — we’re offering partnership. Here’s what’s available:
Treasure: Grant Funds
- $30,000 allocated to youth-led individual projects
- $10,000 allocated to youth-led businesses or nonprofit programs
- Up to $1,000 per award for organizations and $1200 for individual grants, depending on the project
- We will give out 35 grants in 2025.
Time, Talent, Testimony: Ongoing Support
- College & career readiness resources
- Leadership development opportunities
- Networking with community partners
- Access to tools, supplies, and mentoring
Trajectory: Grant Timeline
- Grant Open: September 8 – 29
- Next Wave Internal Grant Review Process: September 29 – October 19
- Grant Awards Communicated Publicly: October 20
- Community Celebration & CoThinkk Documentary Showing & Talk Back: November 15
Who Can Apply
If you’ve got ideas and the drive to make them real — this is for you.
To apply, you must:
Be 14–18 years old
Live in one of the 12 counties CoThinkk serves
Youth of all backgrounds are welcome to apply
Have a project idea that aligns with our funding focus areas
First-generation student, a youth of color, from a low-resourced or rural community, or someone facing language or systemic barriers are encouraged to apply.
What We Look For
We’re looking for projects with heart, vision, and impact.
In your application, we’ll be reviewing:
Purpose – What’s the main goal of your project?
Impact – How will your project make a positive difference?
Growth – How do you see your project developing? What activities in your project are helping to move it forward? How do you envision this project evolving?
Personal Connection/Affected – Do you have a personal connection or are you personally affected by this project of focus?
Collaboration – Are you working with others to bring your vision to life?
Demographics – Who will be impacted by your project? We want to make sure our grants reach a wide variety of young people in the AVL area.
Ripple Effect – will you know your project is making a difference? What clues or indicators will you see?
How to Apply
Simple process. Big possibilities.
Application Details:
1. Click Apply below
2. Complete questions 1 – 21
3. Video submission: Click the provided link to record a short video expressing why you want the grant and what your project is all about. It will open in a new tab.
3. Return to the previous tab to complete question 22, and click Done.
