Fund Your Big Ideas

We welcome applications from youth with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles. If you have a meaningful project idea and can secure a mentor, you are encouraged to apply. This includes:

  • Youth exploring nontraditional educational paths
  • Students whose learning styles may not fit traditional classroom settings
  • Those with limited access to research funding and resources
  • Students balancing school with work or family responsibilities
  • Youth from rural or underserved communities
  • Anyone with a passion for research, innovation, or creative work

Our evaluation process focuses on the merit of your project idea, your commitment, and the strength of your youth-mentor partnership—not on your background or circumstances.

Eligibility Requirements

Youth Applicants Must:

  • Be ages 14-24

  • Be currently enrolled in school (high school, college, graduate school) OR in a gap year

  • Have a compelling project idea

  • Have identified and secured a qualified mentor willing to supervise the project

  • Apply as a youth-mentor team

All Eligible Youth Are Encouraged to Apply

Apply for a Grant

Grant Tiers

Capstone Grant

$1,000

Best for: More complex research or creative work requiring substantial resources

Typical Projects:

  • Pilot studies or preliminary research

  • Small-scale creative projects

  • Have a compelling project idea

  • Proof-of-concept prototypes

  • Literature reviews with original analysis

  • Local community initiatives

Project Duration:
3-6 months

Rigor Level:
Moderate—clear methodology, defined deliverables, structured timeline

Mentor Commitment:
5-10 hours total guidance

Mentor Stipend:
$200 (included in grant total)

Innovation Grant

$5,000

Best for: More complex research or creative work requiring substantial resources

Typical Projects:

  • Original research studies with data collection

  • Community-based participatory research

  • Documentary films or multimedia projects

  • Technology development or app creation

  • Multi-phase creative works

  • Regional or multi-site projects

Project Duration:
6-12 months

Rigor Level:
Substantial—research design, IRB approval (if needed), systematic data collection, analysis plan

Mentor Commitment:
15-25 hours total guidance

Mentor Stipend:
$500 (included in grant total)

Impact Grant

$10,000

Best for: Ambitious, rigorous projects with significant scholarly or community impact

Typical Projects:

  • Large-scale research studies

  • Multi-method or longitudinal research

  • Significant technological innovation

  • Major creative works (feature films, books, performances)

  • Comprehensive community interventions

  • Projects with publication or presentation potential

Project Duration:
12-8 months

Rigor Level:
High—scholarly rigor, comprehensive methodology, significant innovation, measurable impact

Mentor Commitment:
30-50 hours total guidance

Mentor Stipend:
$1,000 (included in grant total)

. . .

What We Fund

Eligible Expenses:

  • Research materials and supplies

  • Technology, software, and equipment

  • Data collection costs (surveys, incentives, transcription)

  • Travel for research or fieldwork

  • Professional services (editing, design, analysis)

  • Community engagement costs

  • Publication or dissemination fees

  • Mentor stipend (built into grant amount)

We Do Not Fund:

  • Tuition or course fees

  • Personal living expenses

  • Routine school supplies

  • Projects already completed

  • Purely commercial ventures

. . .

Mentor Requirements

You Must Identify Your Own Mentor

ARCHIE Lab does not provide mentor matching services. Finding and securing a mentor demonstrates your initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your project.

Who Qualifies as a Mentor:

  • University professors or instructors

  • High school teachers with relevant expertise

  • Researchers or professionals in your field

  • Community organization leaders with project expertise

  • Industry experts or practitioners

  • Graduate students (for Capstone grants only)

Mentors Cannot Be:

  • Your family members

  • Someone with no relevant expertise in your project area

  • Someone unable to commit the required time

What Mentors Must Do:

  • Have expertise in the project's field or methodology

  • Commit to providing regular guidance and oversight

  • Verify project progress and accountability

  • Help ensure ethical research practices

  • Review work and provide feedback

  • Co-sign the application and grant agreement

Mentor Compensation:

Mentors receive a stipend as part of the grant award. The stipend amount is included in the total grant funding and recognizes the mentor's time and expertise.

. . .

How to Find a Mentor

Start with Your Network:

  • Teachers or professors you've worked with

  • School counselors or advisors

  • Professionals you've met through internships or volunteering

  • Community organization leaders

  • Nexellence Institute instructors (if you've taken courses)

Expand Your Search:

  • Research faculty at local universities in your field

  • Professional organizations related to your topic

  • LinkedIn connections

  • Community experts or practitioners

  • Alumni from your school working in relevant fields

Tips for Approaching Potential Mentors:

  1. Do your research — know their background and expertise
  2. Send a professional email introducing yourself and your project
  3. Explain specifically why you're reaching out to them
  4. Be clear about the time commitment (5-50 hours depending on grant tier)
  5. Mention the mentor stipend
  6. Offer to meet briefly to discuss the project
  7. Be prepared for some people to say no — keep trying!
. . .

Application Process

  • Identify a meaningful question or problem
  • Define clear goals and deliverables
  • Research background and context
  • Determine what resources you'll need
  • Identify potential mentors with relevant expertise
  • Reach out and discuss your project
  • Confirm their commitment to supervise
  • Obtain their agreement to co-apply with you

⚠️ You cannot proceed without a committed mentor.

  • Work with your mentor to refine your project design
  • Create a realistic timeline and budget
  • Ensure methodology is sound
  • Prepare required application materials

Both you and your mentor must complete the application together.

Required Materials:

  • Joint project proposal (youth-mentor collaboration)
  • Budget breakdown
  • Timeline with milestones
  • Mentor letter of commitment (from your mentor)
  • Mentor CV or resume
  • Youth academic transcript or resume
  • Two short essays (youth-authored):
  • Your background and what makes you passionate about this project
  • How you identified and secured your mentor

Applications accepted quarterly with the following deadlines:

  • Q1 Cycle: Applications due January 15, decisions by March 1
  • Q2 Cycle: Applications due April 15, decisions by June 1
  • Q3 Cycle: Applications due July 15, decisions by September 1
  • Q4 Cycle: Applications due October 15, decisions by December 1
. . .

Project Proposal Guidelines

Length
  • Capstone: 2-3 pages
  • Innovation: 4-5 pages
  • Impact: 6-8 pages
Required Sections
  1. Introduction & Background - What question or problem are you addressing? Why does it matter?
  2. Project Goals & Objectives - What specifically will you accomplish? What are your deliverables?
  3. Methodology or Approach - How will you conduct your project? What methods, tools, or techniques will you use?
  4. Timeline - What are your major milestones? How will you complete the project?
  5. Budget Justification - What will you spend the money on? How does each expense support your project?
  6. Impact & Significance - Who will benefit from your work? What change or contribution will it make?
  7. Your Qualifications - Why are you well-positioned to do this project? What skills or experiences prepare you?
  8. Mentor Partnership - How did you identify and secure your mentor? How will they support your project? What expertise do they bring?
. . .

Evaluation Criteria

Application Evaluation Breakdown
Project Quality 35% Youth-Mentor Partnership 25% Applicant Readiness 20% Impact & Significance 20%
Project Quality 35%

  • Clear, important question or problem

  • Sound methodology or approach

  • Feasibility and realistic timeline

  • Alignment with grant tier

Youth-Mentor Partnership 25%

  • Quality of mentor qualifications

  • Clear plan for mentorship and supervision

  • Evidence of genuine collaboration

  • Appropriate level of mentor involvement

Applicant Readiness 20%

  • Relevant skills and experiences

  • Demonstrated commitment and passion

  • Ability to complete project

  • Initiative in securing mentor

Impact & Significance 20%

  • Potential contribution to field or community

  • Meaningful outcomes

  • Dissemination plan

. . .
. . .

After You Apply

Review Process:

  • Initial screening for eligibility and completeness (including mentor requirement)

  • Full board review of qualified applications

  • Some applicant teams may be invited for interview

  • Decisions communicated within 6 weeks of deadline

. . .

Current Funding Priorities

We Welcome Applications That:

  • Address important social, scientific, or creative questions

  • Demonstrate innovation and fresh thinking

  • Engage with community needs or challenges

  • Bridge multiple disciplines or perspectives

  • Show potential for meaningful impact

  • Reflect the applicant’s genuine passion and commitment

Connection to Nexellence:

Our founder also created Nexellence Institute, which offers courses designed with universal design principles — built for diverse learners including those who are twice-exceptional or gifted. If you've found that traditional educational settings don't always work for your learning style, you may find Nexellence courses helpful in developing research skills (though they are not required for ARCHIE Lab grants).

. . .

Ready to Start?

Apply Now