Sample Grant Application to Fund Challenge Days

History, Mission and Overview

“I’m not kidding when I say this is how we change the world.” – Oprah Winfrey, Oprah’s High School Challenge, November 5, 2006

Challenge Day was created in 1987 as a response to bullying, increasing school violence, and declining academic success. As addiction counselors for teens in Oakland, California, founders Yvonne and Rich Dutra-St. John shared a passion for helping youth but were frustrated about becoming involved only after teens were already in crisis. With a focus on root causes and prevention, they created a powerful and transformation experiential workshop for students along with teachers, parents and other adults.

Since then, Challenge Day has served more than one million youth and received numerous awards and media attention, including:

  • A two-day feature on The Oprah Winfrey Show
  • A 12-episode MTV series If You Really Knew Me
  • Peter F. Drucker Honorable Mention for Nonprofit Innovation
  • Five seasons of the Dutch television series Over De Streep(Cross the Line)
  • One season of the Dutch television series Als Je Me Echt Zou Kennen(If You Really Knew Me)
  • An Emmy Award for Teen Files: Surviving High School by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
  • A feature in the New York Times best seller, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
  • The focus of Tom Brokaw’s Bridging the Divide

Challenge Day aims to have every child in school feel safe, loved, and celebrated, and specifically to accomplish the following purposes:

(1)Improve school climate and create a united school community;

(2)Reduce emotional stress that inhibits learning and positive behaviors;

(3)Positively influence student attendance and student achievement;

(4)Strengthen inclusiveness and positive relationships across socio-economic cultures;

(5)Reduce bullying, conflict and student disciplinary actions.

"There are many programs available which tell kids how and why bullying hurts. The genius of Challenge Day is the simple way in which the activities show kids that lesson. The students see others who have experienced many of the same obstacles they have faced. They see peers who experienced even greater challenges." – Dwayne K. Newman, Superintendent, Colusa Unified School District, Colusa, California

“After the first Challenge Day we had a 50% drop in suspensions and another 50% drop the next year after the second Challenge Day, along with reduced disciplinary actions. This fall when school began, several upper class students, based on what they have learned from Challenge Day, decided to greet the freshman and welcome them to the school. It truly was the best start to any school year I have experienced ever.” – Sandra Just, Principal, Thomas Jefferson High School, Denver, Colorado

Each year Challenge Day reaches some 90,000 teens and 20,000 adults. The organization serves teenagers from every gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious background, and socioeconomic level. Challenge Day’s programs are presented in 47 states in the United States and in international communities including the The Netherlands and Canada.

Need Statement

[IF YOUR SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED A TRAGEDY, INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE OR BULLYING, OR ILLUMINATING RESULTS ON A SCHOOL SAFETY OR SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION HERE.]

[INCLUDE YOUR SCHOOL’S OR YOUR COMMUNITY’S DEMOGRAPHICS HERE: MAKEUP OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA, ECONOMIC INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY, SAFETY AND VIOLENCE STATISTICS, SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS, ETC.]

Students who experience a sense of safety and connection at school establish healthy better adult and peer relationships, feel respected, and are empowered to help create a positive school climate. A positive school environment increases academic achievement, results in healthier choices and behaviors among students, and allows them to grow into contributing adults in society. Students who experience chronic emotional stress and social alienation have impaired learning and memory and the early onset of common diseases...

Students who do not feel safe in school are at risk for learning and memory problems; are more likely to avoid school or drop out; exhibit higher anxiety and depression; or attempt suicide during childhood and later in life. Conversely, students who experience a sense of safety and connection at school are better able to establish healthy adult and peer relationships, feel

respected within the school and community, and are more likely to experience academic achievement, make healthier choices, and grow into contributing adults in society. Administrators, teachers, and staff members also benefit from positive school climates. Teachers who work in a positive school climate are more willing to implement new curricula and interventions and also report higher rates of job satisfaction. More importantly, the time devoted to behavioral and disciplinary actions decreases and learning time increases.

Challenge Day’s experiential workshop helps students overcome cultural, social, and economic differences and build a powerful, connected school community. They address prejudice, bullying, violence, harassment, isolation, and intolerance, and build emotional safety and social connections among youth.

The Program and Outcomes

Challenge Day is an intensive day-long program where 100 participating students from an intentional cross-section of the school’s demographics and cliques are brought together and where life-changing bonds are formed. After participating in Challenge Day, the attitude of the student body and the school environment are transformed, reducing emotional stress, increasing positive student relationships, and powerfully transforming the well-being of students. It’s common for some students to describe Challenge Day as the best day of their lives.

These results are reflected on Challenge Day’s pre and post surveys to participating students:

  • 93% of students would recommend the Challenge Day program to friends or family
  • 90% of students feel the skills taught will be helpful to them in their personal life
  • 88% of students report being more …
  • aware of the effects of bullying
  • accepting and supporting of other students
  • understanding of other people's experiences
  • aware that their actions affect others
  • likely to help others
  • 80% of students report being more …
  • connected to other students and adults
  • likely to speak up when seeing someone bullied
  • accepting of themselves
  • hopeful about their future
  • likely to work to improve relationships
  • 81% of students made a commitment for change

Challenge Day develops leadership and social and emotional skills in students.[1] Validated outcomes include these vital educational and life effectiveness skills:

Intellectual Flexibility – youth that demonstrate this attribute are open to new ideas, are adaptable and flexible in their thinking, and can change opinions easily if there is a better idea or way of doing activities and projects. They can also see and understand perspectives different than their own.[2]

Task Leadership – youth that demonstrate this attribute can successfully enroll people to participate in tasks, activities, and projects. Youth with this attribute believe that they can productively lead others in a positive and effective manner.

Emotional Control – youth that demonstrate this attribute believe that they can stay calm in stressful situations and overcome anxiety quickly when things do go wrong and recover and resolve the problem efficiently.

Self Confidence – youth that demonstrate this attribute believe that they have the ability to do anything they put their mind to and they are confident they will succeed.

Social Competence – youth that demonstrate this attribute have a high degree of self-perceived ability in social interactions. They have a high degree of confidence in their ability to positively relate with others.

Challenge Day provides growth in other areas as well. After a program, youth participants:

  • Increase their skills in noticing oppression and isolation.
  • Practice safe and effective intervention tools in the midst of conflict.
  • Perform acts of change in their schools and communities.[3]

[INSERT ADDITIONAL OUTCOMES/STATS HERE IF YOU HAVE THEM FROM YOUR PREVIOUS CHALLENGE DAY EXPERIENCE]

Examples of Challenge Days can be seen here:

Challenge Day Program Costs

Challenge Day’s curriculum is provided to schools through trained Challenge Day Leaders. The fee per Challenge Day is $3,375 plus travel expenses if applicable. Covered in this cost are:

Full school day program for 100 youth and 25 adult participants;

  • Pre-training program for adult leaders;
  • Two trained Challenge Day Leaders to facilitate the Challenge Day;
  • Phone consultation to deal with issues specific to the school and plan effectively for the Challenge Day (e.g., sensitivity around issues such as substance abuse, gangs or any other issues that needs pre-programming); and
  • Year-round curriculum for student Be the Change leadership clubs and classes that help the Challenge Day experience endure.

Estimates of additional costs for schools or organizations that require air travel or overnight car travel include:

  • Air Travel: Two round-trip airline tickets from Oakland or San Francisco, CA.
  • Estimate based on US domestic flights. International flights will incur higher travel costs.
  • $600-$1800
  • Baggage Fees: Leaders travel with music and sound program gear. $200-$400
  • Airport Shuttle and Parking: $35 per day
  • Lodging: Two hotel rooms per night prior to your program. Rooms must be equal to or above the quality of a Holiday Inn. We encourage you to ask hotels to donate rooms. $300 per day
  • Transportation: Car rental beginning the day prior to the workshop and for the duration of the workshop. SUV or Van is required to accommodate equipment. $150 per day
  • Supplies: $100 – $150

Total costs for overnight car or air travel. (Estimate for 3 days): $2,205 – 3,805

Research and Evidence:

2520 Stanwell Drive, Suite 160, Concord, CA 94520 • 925.957.0234 • challengeday.org

[1]Nail, Terry: Evaluation of Life Effectiveness and Leadership Development in a Challenge Day Program for High School Students, Library of Congress, 2007.

[2]Neill, James et al., Life Effectiveness Questionnaire, 2003.

[3]Nail, Terry, 2007.