CommonAct is a tech-driven nonprofit empowering young innovators to create solutions for the world’s most pressing social challenges. We are organizing the CommonAct Hackathon, a weekend event where high school and college students collaborate to develop technology-based solutions for issues like education access, inequality, and community development. Participants will receive mentorship, access to resources, and opportunities to turn their ideas into real-world projects that drive social impact. We are fiscally sponsored by Hack Club, which enables us to run this event and provide ongoing support for young innovators and their projects.

Project Goals & How We’ll Achieve Them:

The main goals are to:

• Empower young innovators to create tech solutions that address social challenges.

• Build a network of socially conscious students working towards meaningful change.

• Offer mentorship and resources that help participants turn their ideas into action.

To achieve these goals, we'll organize a weekend-long hackathon where participants form teams, choose a social challenge, and develop a tech-based solution. We’ll provide workshops, mentorship, and all necessary tools to guide them through the development process. At the end, teams will present their projects, with the best ideas receiving continued support and recognition.

How the Funding Will Be Used:

The funds will be used for:

• Event logistics (online tools, materials).

• Prizes and continued mentorship for winning teams.

• Food, refreshments, and resources for participants during the event.

• Covering the costs of technology needed (software, hardware).

Team & Track Record:

I’m the solo founder of CommonAct, a student-led organization that empowers young people to create tech-driven solutions for social good. While this is our first major event, the team includes experienced mentors and volunteers from tech and social sectors. I’ve also led smaller student initiatives focused on tech education and innovation, which have successfully engaged youth in problem-solving projects.

Potential Challenges and Outcomes:

If this project doesn’t meet its funding goals or attract enough participants, the most likely challenges would be scaling down the event or offering fewer resources, which could limit the impact. However, the worst outcome would be that fewer innovative projects emerge from the hackathon. Even in failure, though, we would gain valuable experience and insights for organizing future events, allowing us to improve.

Other Funding:

Currently, CommonAct does not have additional funding secured, but we are exploring sponsorship opportunities with tech companies and nonprofits that align with our mission.