Helping Children by helping the agencies

that take care of them through

the Three Es

Investments made in YouthBridge are used to fund three initiatives, which we call the three "Es" of YouthBridge: Education, Enterprise investments and Endowment building. Each is designed to create financial sustainability in the agencies that serve children and youth.

Education

Funding your nonprofit organization - or your idea to start one - is an on-going challenge.  YouthBridge exists to help nonprofits get capitalized and be sustainable so they can successfully serve their worthy causes.  To do that, we believe nonprofit leaders must think like entrepreneurs and manage their organizations much like a for-profit business.

Each year YouthBridge, in partnership with Washington University’s Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, sponsors the YouthBridge Social Enterprise and Innovation Competition ( SEIC) and the free, four-session Skandalaris Seminar Series: Developing Entrepreneurial Skills, Perspectives and Relationships. The SEIC and the Skandalaris Seminars comprise our Education module.

Sixth Annual YouthBridge Social Enterprise and Innovation Competition
Win your share of more than $100,000 in Seed Money

The purpose is to energize the St. Louis region's entrepreneurial spirit with entrepreneurial education and an exciting business plan competition, in which winning nonprofits may receive seed money to put their plans into action.  Nonprofits that do not win the competition often find other funding through this experience, or at least walk away more knowledgeable, more connected and better equipped to grow their organization.

This is the largest social enterprise business plan contest in the United States.  In its first five years, 23 competitors were awarded more than $650,000.   New and established nonprofits may enter to compete for cash awards, in-kind services and mentoring by InnovateVMS, the Venture Mentoring Service of Innovate St. Louis*. Those who present the best social enterprise business plan are selected as winners by judges from academic, business and nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis Community.  Awards for 2010-2011 competition will be granted from the following community partners.

• YouthBridge:  $35,000 to fund a venture serving children and youth
• Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis:  $30,000 to fund an organization promoting a healthier community
• Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis:  $25,000 to fund an organization serving the poor and vulnerable
• Skandalaris Center:  $25,000 to fund a venture with an innovative solution to effect social change
  

*Innovate VMS offers mentoring for social and commercial entrepreneurs. Find more information at innovatestl.org/IVMS.

Skandalaris Seminar Series: Developing Entrepreneurial Skills, Perspectives and Relationships

A free 4-session series for both aspiring and practicing social and commercial entrepreneurs

The Skandalaris Seminar Series consists of four lectures and four panel discussions held over a seven-week period, is free and open to the public.  All are welcome to attend part or all of the series selecting the topics that are of interest to you.  The seminars provide practical skills, and the panel discussions offer an opportunity to hear accomplished social and commercial entrepreneurs discuss how they applied those skills in their own venture and personal development.  Each day concludes with a networking reception where you can continue the conversation and connect with others.

An important part of the YouthBridge SEIC curriculum is the need for agencies to develop a social enterprise. In most cases, such initiatives require investment capital. YouthBridge, along with other philanthropic investors, venture funds and mentors such endeavors.  Mentoring is done in partnership with Innovate VMS Social Venture Mentoring part of  Innovate St. Louis, www.innovatestl.org/IVMS.  Read how St. Louis ArtWorks, a YouthBridge SEIC prizewinner, developed an innovative social enterprise called the Boomerang Press with venture funding and mentoring from YouthBridge at www.stlartworks.org.

YouthBridge believes all charities should build an endowment to provide a perpetual income stream to support operations, provide for emergencies and expand the mission.  Few agencies have the expertise or discretionary funds to invest in the long-term planned-giving effort. When children’s agencies meet the YouthBridge criteria, we provide the consulting expertise, legal guidance and financial services necessary to build and manage an endowment program. At the Good Shepherd School for Children, www.goodss.org, our endowment building partnership is creating capital and sustainability for children with special needs.