Youth Venture

A Youth Venture is a club, business, or other type of organization that is youth-led and benefits the community. Understanding the differences between clubs, businesses, and nonprofit organizations will help you determine the best way to organize your Venture.

A business is generally a for-profit organization created to generate revenue (income). Businesses can be as small as one person and as large as hundreds of thousands of people. Many businesses also benefit the community in some way.

• An example of a business is A&J Curb Appeal. Jeremy started A&J Curb Appeal, a landscaping business, in his hometown of Hampstead, New Hampshire, because he saw a need for more affordable landscaping services. Jeremy offered services for free or at minimal cost to elderly individuals and community organizations, but also made a profit by charging a fee to people who could pay full price.

A club is generally an association of people united by a common interest or goal. The term “club” can refer to voluntary or charitable activities or to groups of people that are devoted to a specific hobby, sport, game, or issue.

• An example of a club is C.O.O.L. (Controlling Our Own Lives). Mayghen and classmates formed C.O.O.L. to aid youth in their community make healthy decisions and take responsibility for their own actions. C.O.O.L. has planned activities such as “lock-ins,” movie nights, paintball, and hiking trips. C.O.O.L. recruits student members. Each member signs a pledge card indicating their commitment to the articulated C.O.O.L. values, including individual growth, being a positive role model, and staying substance-free.

A non-profit organization is an organization that is formed for reasons other than making a profit. It typically serves a public benefit. Nonprofits only seek to earn enough to cover their operating costs. Organizations such as social service agencies, advocacy groups, and many hospitals are often nonprofit.

• An example of a nonprofit is AYUDA. Jesse and Nicolas formed AYUDA (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad) to help youth suffering from diabetes in Ecuador and other parts of Latin America. Jesse and Nicolas worked to publish English and Spanish workbooks about diabetes, organize summer camps for diabetic children, and establish a letter writing drive that paired Ecuadorian children with American peers. In the ten years since AYUDA was founded, it has become a driving force for diabetes support and advocacy in Ecuador.

“Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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