THE PROPOSALS
CHARLESTON, SC
NEXTGEN GRADUATES EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES
When the world's greatest leaders reflect on the pivotal influences in their lives, they often mention mentors, training, and those who believed and invested in them. The same is true for leaders in Young Life. The NextGen Leaders program represents Young Life's commitment to reflecting our communities by investing in diverse, high-potential young adults who will benefit from training and opportunities they might not otherwise have.
Since becoming a national initiative in 2022, the two-year NextGen program has trained and developed 373 part-time staff. Many of these graduates are recognized for their courage, competence, and effectiveness in reaching kids. They are qualified and ready to come on full-time staff. The personal
fundraising required of all staff is often challenging and can hinder the advancement of NextGen graduates due to inexperience, and limited personal networks and resources in their communities.
This proposal aims to support NextGen graduates during their initial years on staff, giving them a strategic on-ramp that provides the time needed to build relationship networks and fundraising capabilities. This investment will enable Young Life to better reflect our communities and will significantly enhance the number of NextGen graduates who join full-time staff, while setting them on a sustainable path and increasing their influence in the lives of young people for many years to come.
AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES ENTRUST TO RELIABLE PEOPLE WHO WILL ALSO BE QUALIFIED TO TEACH OTHERS.
2 TIMOTHY 2:2 (NIV)
PROPOSAL
Establish a new NextGen Leader companion program to help highly qualified NextGen graduates come on fulltime staff in healthy, culturally diverse areas in the U.S.
1. Establish how NextGen graduate funding is allocated nationally
2. Help eight NextGen graduates from the 2023 and 2024 graduating classes join full-time staff by providing four-year tapered funding of $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000 in years three and four to qualified graduates
3. Help seven 2025 NextGen graduates join full-time staff by providing the same four-year tapered funding
BUDGET
2024-2028
Eight staff in 2024
Seven staff in 2025
Program Total
$ 280,000
$ 245,000
$ 525,000*
*Expected attrition rates would allow a $500,000 gift to fully fund 15 staff
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2024-2028
The 15 new staff will:
• Recruit 90 new leaders
• Know 4,300 new students
• Bring: – 645 kids to club
– 300 kids to Campaigners – 385 kids to camp
SOUTH SUDAN
TRANSFORMING A GENERATION
Established in 2011, just 13 years ago, South Sudan is the youngest country in the world. The journey to democratic independence was fraught with over a half century of conflict, beginning in the 1950s. The struggle originated from the resistance of the predominantly Christian south to the mandated imposition of Muslim culture and the Arabic language. The ensuing war resulted in over two million deaths and displaced approximately five million people.
Despite achieving independence, South Sudan faces extreme challenges. Half of the population is illiterate, and education remains largely inaccessible. Additionally, 85% of the people live in poverty. Of the 11.2 million residents, three million are adolescents and young adults, with a median age of 18.
These young people are the first generation of South Sudanese citizens. Unlike their parents, who lived under cultural and religious oppression in Sudan, today's youth have the opportunity to forge a new cultural identity for their nation. They can shape a post-war identity that embraces the freedom to live for Christ and share their faith in ways their parents could not.
Young Life can be part of nurturing this generation, one whose love for the justice and mercy of God will shape the nation. The Lord is calling us to make disciples in South Sudan for such a time as this.
BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING; NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH, DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? I WILL MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT
ISAIAH 43:19 (ESV)
PROPOSAL
Deepen roots and significantly expand volunteer ministry in South Sudan by commissioning, equipping, and helping fund a strong, well-trained staff leadership team.
1. Hire 10 existing volunteer team leaders as area directors
2. Train and equip new staff to lead and to train new volunteers
3. Host six day-camps across South Sudan in 2025 and 2026
BUDGET
2025-2027
Three-year salary for 10 staff
$ 360,000 Training $ 87,840 Camping $ 52,160 Program Total $ 500,000
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2025-2027
• Start 48 new ministries (32 to 80)
• Recruit 512 new volunteer leaders (128 to 640)
• Increase KKBN per leader from 7 to 15
• Know 8,036 more kids (KKBN 1,564 to 9,600)
U.S. VOLUNTEERS IGNITING
A MOVEMENT
It all began in 1944 when Founder Jim Rayburn realized that adolescents thrive when supported by caring adults who engage with them in their own environments. Rather than simply inviting young people to events, Young Life volunteers make a concerted effort to meet kids where they are, to show them they are seen and loved.
For over 80 years, volunteers have been the lifeblood of the mission, introducing millions of kids to Christ. According to a 2017 Barna study, 2.4 million Americans say Young Life was a key influence in beginning their faith in Christ.
In the 2019-2020 school year, Young Life had almost 24,000 volunteers working with students in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, significant numbers of volunteers were lost during the pandemic. Although slowly recovering, the number of volunteer leaders is still down 19%.
While several factors, such as the overall decline of volunteerism, have contributed to the drop-off, there is also a rise in the search for meaning and purpose … two things Young Life has in abundance. Capturing hearts and engaging new leaders will require rethinking some of our key volunteer recruitment strategies.
Last year many Young Life ministries tried new recruiting approaches with success. This proposal will multiply, test, and measure the effectiveness of these approaches. These changes will set Young Life up to reach its mission critical goal of doubling the number of volunteers in the U.S. by 2030 so that thousands, if not millions, more young people in the years to come can hear about the amazing life and love of Jesus.
THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. SO PRAY TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST.
MATTHEW 9:37-39 (AMP)
PROPOSAL
Implement updated strategies to identify, recruit, and onboard volunteer leaders, catalyzing efforts to double the number of volunteer leaders in the U.S. by 2030.
1. Create a campaign to help staff reimagine a broader base of potential volunteers
2. Incentivize new and larger volunteer recruiting events
3. Emphasize and help fund "caught not taught" opportunities by showcasing leader weekends and camps to prospective leaders
4. Help new leaders jump in with kids by providing gift cards to offset the expenses of contact work
BUDGET
2025
Reimagine a Leader Campaign
Regional Recruiting Events (75 x $1,500)
Caught Not Taught Scholarships (1,500 x $200)
Encourage New Leaders
Gift Cards (1,000 x $50)
Digital Engagement Campaign
Program Total
$ 20,000
$ 112,500
$ 300,000
$ $ 50,000 17,500
$ 500,000
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2025
• Add 2,000 new U.S. volunteer leaders – 10% growth
• Increase KKBN by 60,000 – 30 kids per leader
• Take 6,000 more kids to camp – three kids per leader
SUMMER INTERN EXPERIENCE
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
Kids growing up in low-income neighborhoods face significant challenges in breaking the cycle of poverty. They are more likely to experience lower academic achievement, and they have higher high school dropout rates and fewer opportunities to pursue post-secondary education. Often, these youth need to work to supplement their family's income, limiting their access to internships, vocational training, mentoring, and network-building opportunities which research shows are needed to interrupt intergenerational poverty and make possible a different life.
Young Life exists in over 320 neighborhoods, towns, and cities affected by extensive poverty and recognizes it has the potential to help change the trajectory of young lives. The Summer Intern Experience was founded in Metro San Diego in 2022. This paid summer
internship averages 10 weeks and includes spiritual and vocational mentorship and guidance, leadership training, coaching, and hands-on work experience. The internships have been transformational in students' lives, expanding horizons and helping them experience what it means to live for Christ. The program is now ready to develop in more places.
This proposal will develop a nationwide program reaching hundreds of high school-age students in the next two years. The spiritual and life-development outcomes will be tracked to demonstrate the program's effectiveness. This initiative reflects Young Life's commitment to see all kids as Jesus sees them and to help them see themselves in this way, too. The Summer Intern Experience will be a trajectorychanging life experience for many young students.
LIFE WILL BE BRIGHTER THAN NOONDAY, AND DARKNESS WILL BECOME LIKE MORNING. YOU WILL BE SECURE, BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE.
JOB 11:17-18 (NIV)
PROPOSAL
Establish the Summer Intern Experience as a national initiative and enroll 600 high school-age students over the next two years, allowing them to grow personally and deepen their faith, and at the same time, increase Young Life’s leadership pipeline.
1. Define implementation requirements for national expansion
2. Establish an application and selection process for students, mentors, and ministries
3. Develop a multi-year outcome tracking program
BUDGET
2025-2026
Intern Stipends (Half of $1,200/intern)
Training Materials (Development and Ongoing Costs)
Outcomes Tracking
Program Development and Oversight
Program Total
$60,000 $300,000 $360,000
$27,000 $9,000 $36,000
$15,000 $15,000 $30,000
$37,000 $37,000 $74,000
$139,000 $361,000 $500,000
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2025-2026
• Cycle Breaking: Deeper faith and better preparation for a life of following Christ
• Trajectory Shifting: Enhanced life skills and accomplishments, e.g., graduation rates, education, employment
• Young Life Mission Enhancing:
– Over 195,000 hours invested as work crew, camp leaders, and local leaders
– 10% join NextGen and 40% stay on as volunteer leaders
– 6,000 new students are known by name (10 students per intern)
GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS
EQUIPPING FOR EXCELLENCE
Young Life is experiencing exponential growth. Young people in 111 countries are now hearing about a God who sees and loves them. Four out of five kids known by Young Life leaders are outside the United States. Global volunteer numbers have more than doubled in three years, reaching 41,000. Africa alone has seen volunteer numbers surge from 14,000 to 33,000 in just 18 months, with continued growth expected. Volunteers are assuming leadership roles, with some countries operating entirely with volunteer leadership. The goal is to have 100,000 international volunteers by 2030. It is crucial that these volunteers are well equipped to live out the mission's beliefs and values.
There are untold complexities to carrying out Young Life’s mission across the world. Only 15 of the 111 countries speak English as the primary language and it is the secondary language in 33. Each nation's historical context influences its approach to relational ministry and the gospel, and
church persecution in 26 countries hampers gospelsharing efforts.
Language barriers can hinder volunteer growth, and training and equipping with excellence, especially in places where volunteers are serving as country directors, area directors, and team leaders. Imagine taking a 15-hour bus ride to share Young Life and train volunteers, only to face communication hurdles that create the risk of losing important nuances and cultural connections in translation.
To sustain this growth and maintain the essence of Young Life, it's essential to provide training to all volunteers in languages they understand. Young Life can leverage technological advancements to make this happen. Tools like WhatsApp and AI offer the potential for flexible, accessible, multilingual training, ensuring volunteers worldwide can share the gospel with excellence and faithfulness to the mission.
... SO THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
2 TIMOTHY 3:17 (NIV)
PROPOSAL
Develop an interactive, highly portable, video-based training program focused on Young Life basics and spiritual foundations in at least 25 languages by 2026.
1. Develop training content for six courses — welcome to Young Life, contact work, club, Campaigners, camp, and Map/Tree/List
2. Develop a process that harnesses the power of AI to create and translate content
3. Ensure understanding and application of training assignments
4. Create implementation and tracking systems for use on WhatsApp
BUDGET
2025
Develop Videos for Six Courses
Develop 12 Avatars
Deliver 12 Basics of Theology Lessons – BibleProject
Translate into 25 Languages
WhatsApp Delivery, Tracking, and Follow-up Mechanisms
Program Total
$ 300,000
$ 24,000
$ 30,000
$ 50,000
$ 96,000
$ 500,000
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2025-2026
It is impossible to measure the impact of training on kids known by name. However, it is essential to train our leaders well. To do this, Young Life will:
• Implement YL Basics and spiritual training in 10 languages by December 2025
• Implement YL Basics and spiritual training in 15 additional languages in 2026
Learn More
NEXTGEN GRADUATES
Sam Coleman
sam@nextgen.younglife.org
SOUTH SUDAN
Chad Edwards
cedwards@sc.younglife.org
U.S. VOLUNTEERS
Josh Griffin
jgriffin@sc.younglife.org
SUMMER INTERN EXPERIENCE
Christian “Bo” Gross christiangrossyl@gmail.com
GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS
Emilie Schreiber eschreiber@younglife.org
Jamie Lisea womenwholoveyl@gmail.com