If someone gave you $400 to make a difference in your community, what would you do with it?

Apply to The Contribution Project to pursue what matters most to you.

We offer $400 to accepted contributors to help you pursue your ideas.

The application for our Spring 2025 cycle is closed. Stay tuned for future opportunities!

So, what’s a contribution?

A contribution is something tangible that adds value to you and the community around you. What you add is part of a bigger picture. Below are examples of past Contribution Projects:

  • Robert paid the way for his Taekwondo team to go to Nationals

  • Amber funded a Mental Health Summit with a student org for self-identifying women of color

  • Simon built birdhouses around campus for Eastern Bluebirds and to help educate students

explore more projects

Receive $400

to make a contribution

The Contribution Project accepts applications from young people (ages 14-25) who are seeking to make an impact on their community, school, or neighborhood through contribution.

We offer $400 to accepted contributors to help you pursue your ideas.

This project is driven by a belief in the power of contribution — for you and those who benefit from your efforts.

For real?

For real.

Hear from Sokhnadiarra, a young person who did The Contribution Project in 2023.

Am I eligible? How do I apply? When is the deadline?

You are eligible to apply for our next cycle if the criteria below are true:

  1. You are between the ages of 14-25

    OR

    You are an undergraduate student at one of our partner universities*.

  2. You currently live in the United States/US Territory.

*Partner universities: Cornell, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Morrisville

All Contribution Projects should be feasible, meaning you can reasonably take action on your project in the next six weeks.

To learn more about what qualifies for a Contribution Project, how to apply, and the timeline, please click the button below.

what participants say:

"I got to reconstruct my life through leadership."

VALUABLE.

"I learned to take initiative."

GROWING.

"I got to reconstruct my life through leadership." VALUABLE. "I learned to take initiative." GROWING.

"I can have an impact."

JOY.

"An eye-opening experience.

FREEDOM.

"I can have an impact." JOY. "An eye-opening experience. FREEDOM.

"I made a real difference."

REWARDING.

"I'm emboldened to grow."

SOMETHING UNIQUE.

"I made a real difference." REWARDING. "I'm emboldened to grow." SOMETHING UNIQUE.

So, what’s the catch?

Contributions drive progress. We believe that your Contribution Projects will become catalysts for impactful innovation and positive change. Projects like yours create ripples that extend beyond the present moment and immediate surroundings.

And, science backs it! Research suggests that engaging in acts of service, innovation, and community-building don’t just benefit others; they fuel personal growth, well-being, and purpose.

We support your Contribution Projects in hopes of creating a brighter, more innovative future for everyone. We believe the world will thrive on your energy and groundbreaking ideas. We can’t wait to see what you do!

There isn’t one!

Partners & Supporters

The Contribution Project is a shared project of the Purpose Commons and PSiX at Cornell. The Purpose Commons aims to connect researchers and youth-serving organizations to apply the science of purpose in youth programming, leading to significant increases in youth purpose and overall well-being.  

The Purpose Commons and PSiX at Cornell bring together a diverse group of partners supporting The Contribution Project.