H.S. High Agency Fund

Start something
at your school.

Start a club, run a hackathon or host a school event. TKS Academic Partnerships provides the funding.

The 5 projects with the most votes by October 31 get funded—up to $1,000 each.

For enrolled high school students aged 13+ in Canada and the US.

  • AI-generated illustration of high school students collaborating on laptops at a cafeteria hackathon.Your school’s first hackathonAn afternoon of building things with friends.
  • AI-generated illustration of high school students testing a wheeled robot at a gym competition.A robotics competitionBuild small robots. Put them to the test.
  • AI-generated illustration of high school students talking with a paramedic at a school career fair.A student-run career fairBring interesting people to your school.
  • AI-generated illustration of two high school students repairing a bicycle in a school courtyard.A lunchtime repair clubLearn to fix things together.
  • Your idea hereWhat will you bring to your school?

A few ideas for your school. Yours can be different.

For students who start things

How the High Agency Fund works

Bring an idea that gets students together, plus a simple budget. TKS reviews your project, then gives it a public page to share.

Your community picks the winners. You get to turn the plan into something real at school.

Taking the first step is high agency. Learn what that means ↗
From idea to out in the world

Start with a possibility.
Make a plan for it.

You do not need to have it all figured out. You need an idea, a reason to build it, and a plan for what the money buys.

01 / Pitch it

A clear idea.
A simple budget.

Tell us what you want to make happen for students at your school. Show what the money pays for in three to five budget lines.

A short video helps tell the story. It is recommended, not required. Apply early: the sooner your project is approved, the more time you have to collect votes.

Your project plan

What will you
make happen?

The ideaOne clear pitch
The moneyA practical budget
The next stepGet it out there
Illustration of a project plan
02 / Bring people with you

Your project.
Your community.

Once TKS approves your application, your project goes live. Share the link with classmates, teachers and the people who want to see it happen.

Tell your friends and ask them to vote. Remind them to confirm their vote by email so it counts.

Explore the projects
Get the word out

“We should
make this
happen.”

One project link. Your whole community.
Illustration of sharing an idea
03 / Make it real

Less waiting.
More doing.

If your project wins, ask your educator to reply to our email to confirm the project and help receive the funds. Then it is time to put your plan to work.

Transfer processing affects when funds arrive. Funds go to the educator or school wherever possible. See the payment timeline in the Rules.

For educators
Tools and electronic components on a workbench
Making starts with the materials.Stock photograph · Kaboompics / Pexels
A few things to know

Big ideas.
Fair questions.

The details should be clear before you begin.

Read the full rules ↗How we protect your privacy ↗
Who can apply?

Currently enrolled high school students, age 13 or older, in Canada or the United States.

What kinds of projects does this fund support?

Clubs, hackathons, school events and shared activities that bring students together. A coding idea could become a workshop or build club; an art idea could become a student exhibition. Tell us what others at school will get to join or take part in.

Can I apply on my own?

Yes. You can be the sole organizer or apply with a team. The project itself should be for your school community. This fund is not for a personal project that only you work on or use.

Do I need a finished project or a photo?

No. Apply with your idea and budget. We give your card a decorative cover, or you can upload a sketch, prototype, poster or project photo. No photo of yourself is needed.

Do I need a video?

No. A short video is recommended, but optional. You can tell your story through your pitch and description.

When does my educator get involved?

Your application includes their school email. We only contact them if your project wins, to ask for a reply confirming the project and helping the funds reach it.

How does voting work?

People can vote for as many projects as they like, once per project, after confirming their email. Verified subscribers to Developing Future-Ready Leaders have their votes count double. The full rules explain how this works.

What is shown publicly?

Your project, school and the project link you choose are public. Extra supporting links stay private for review. Applicant names, ages, grades and contact details are not published. Submitted media is reviewed before publication.

The High Agency Fund

Someone has to
get it started.

Why not you?