Application

Vision

ABOUT US
Our Mission We connect youth by eliminating barriers, providing resources, and promoting Media programming as essential for building lives and inspiring future stewards of the planet.Our vision is for all youth to have the opportunity for meaningful experiences in Entertainment Media.
Core Values Diversity
From our staff, to our board, to our grantees, we value diversity and strive to be inclusive.
Attentiveness
We listen and learn so that we can remain relevant and effective, using our leadership role to address needs as they arise.
Life-Changing
We expect more of our work, navigating new pathways to transform the way youth interact with Entertainment/Media Industry.
Flexibility
Our leadership role demands that we adapt with an open mind and heart, keeping lines of communication open, and making adjustments to achieve shared goals and to embrace opportunities.
Catalyst
We ignite momentum, attract resources, and rally support for a cause that demands attention and action.
Stewardship
We practice prudent stewardship of our financial resources and the resources of the Media Field, in order to serve future generations of youth and to honor the trust of Media donors.

Built My Way Foundation Initiatives Overview BMWF current strategic initiatives include:

Built My Way Foundation (BMWF) is a three month workforce and professional development program for 10-25 year-old Detroit residents. BMWF participants learn and practice a variety of skills necessary to become leaders. In addition to receiving diverse training, BMWF participants will be trained in Radio,Television, Magazine Publication, Photography, Videography, Clothing Lines, group management and professional skills. BMWF participants also receive guidance and connection with employment opportunities within the field upon completion of the program.
Built My Way Relevancy Institute
In partnership with the Youth Development Network, BMWF will facilitate a series of workshops for a select group of youth-serving, outdoor-focused organizations, forming a powerful and dynamic learning community that will fuel organizational change. These workshops, paired with coaching, are designed to help participating organizations improve their ability to reach and engage young people of color and/or low-income youth.
Built My Leaders Forum
Built MY Way Leaders Forum is aimed at diverse, rising leaders who currently hold mid to entry-level positions within Media education organizations and are also committed to affecting change within their own organization or the field as a whole. BMWF will facilitate a series a workshops with these leaders designed to strengthen their capacity to affect change, and develop these skills in a safe, supportive network or like-minded individuals.

Responsive & Interactive

GRANT MAKING
Grant making Criteria & Review Process
Grant making Criteria & Guidelines
Please note that our 2015 grant making period has ended. We will be accepting Letters of Intent for our 2016 grant making period in the fall of 2015.
Grant Program Guidelines
The grant program supports organizations that improve the lives of underrepresented youth by providing greater access to Media experiences through programs that are Entertainment relevant to the communities they serve. The organizations we support and the programs delivered will be geographically located in the Michigan service territory.
What does underepresented mean?
BMWF strives to serve youth who are underrepresented in the Media and Entertainment Fields.. Examples include, but are not limited to low-income youth and youth of color.
What is cultural relevancy?
BMWF defines cultural relevancy as a commitment to continually improving how an organization effectively reaches and engages youth in its community. Culturally relevant programming resonates with the context and values of the intended community, and culturally relevant organizations are present and engaged in the communities they serve. BMWF identifies a culturally relevant organization as one that has a demonstrated competency or a commitment to strengthening its capacity in the following areas: organizational leadership, partnerships and community engagement as well as program design reflects and supports the community it serves.
Grant Program Priorities
Environmental Stewardship, Progressive Media-Based Learning Opportunities, Focus on Entertainment Through Media, Hands-on Learning Opportunities.
Grant Program Objectives
i. Increase the participation of underrepresented youth in successful Media urban and Entertainment programs that provide meaningful, impactful, and progressive experiences.
ii. Improve the cultural relevancy of Media and Entertainment programs to better serve and reflect the diverse youth of Michigan.
iii. Make the outdoors a more integral part of youth’s lives to improve their general health and well-being.
iv. Increase the quantity and quality of nature-based leadership and career building opportunities available to underrepresented youth.
Applicant Minimum Eligibility Criteria
i. The organization must be exempt under 501(c)(3) and/or classified as a public charity or a public agency, school district, or a federally recognized tribe, or a fiscally sponsored project of an exempt organization.
ii. The organization and the youth it serves must receive a PG&E bill at its headquarters and at their primary residences.
iii. The organization must have a budget of $1.5 million or less.
iv. The organization must serve youth between the ages of 10 to 25 (non-school-based projects), or between 6th and 12th grades (school-based projects).
Follow this link to download more information about BMWF's grantee review process:
External Advisory Panel
Part of BMWF's grantmaking process includes an External Advisory Panel, and we would like to continue adding members to the panel.
We are seeking experts/champions who:
- Understand the importance of Media competency
- Are able to represent perspectives from the conservation, Media, or entertainment education fields;
- Are familiar with youth development models.
External Advisory Panel candidates must commit to the following:
1. Reading and scoring approximately 40 pre-screened 3-Page Letters of Intent (LOIs), over a one month period, from organizations seeking funding of up to $50,000;
2. Holding a full day open for an External Advisory Panel meeting in Michigan.
If you believe you can offer a valuable perspective to our grant review process, and you want the opportunity to influence the direction of diversity and inclusion Media education across the state of Michigan for the next three years, please email think_gil3rd@yahoo.com

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BMWMF RESOURCES
The Foundation for Youth Investment strongly encourages sharing resources and information that can improve youth access to the Media. We have compiled some basic information on finding Buildings and open spaces, transit to Office spaces and finding Entertainment Media programming for youth.
BMWMF
will be posting more information on Entertainment relevancy and inclusivity in the Media field, but to get started, we recommend.

Results

The Goal is to make the youth and Young adults better citizens, Take them off the streets and prepare them for a career in media, to reach out to discover a new you.

Tablet Ready

DONATE: It’s easy to make a difference with a gift to support the Foundation for Youth Investment:

$500 will provide a local teacher with a bus to transport a class to an Entertainment Event.
$1,500 will pay for a class to learn problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills on the ropes course.
$5,000 gives stipends to 50 kids working in a service learning program.
$10,000 allows BMWF to deliver the coursework and training to give one at-risk teen the skills and certifications necessary to become a future leader of Multi-Media programming.

Other Ways to Give
Checks can be mailed to:
Built My Way Youth & Young Adult Foundation

Gifts of Stock/Securities
BMWF accepts gifts of stock, which can have significant tax benefits.
BMWF can work with you and your financial advisor to make a transfer of stock.

Requests
Making a Request to BMWMF is a meaningful way to make a contribution, and also has many tax benefits. It is often a relatively simple process, and BMWF can work with you and your legal counsel to include a bequest BMWF in your will.

For assistance making a bequest, to arrange a gift of stock or for any questions regarding your donation, please contact Development Office

Thank you for supporting BMWMF's mission. We pledge to use each gift efficiently and effectively, and to keep you informed of our shared success in connecting youth to the Media/Entertainment.
BMWF Tax ID # is 00-000000. Your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

© 2015 Built My Way Youth & Young Adult Foundation