FAQs: The Fun (and Occasionally Sassy) Edition

First, don’t throw your phone out the window, we got you. Then, double-check the application instructions. Files need to be in the right format—PDF or JPEG, depending on the program. Most smartphones have apps to convert files, but if yours is acting like it’s still 2007, try applying from a laptop or computer.

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We’re a nonprofit, not the Genius Bar. We can’t fix all of your tech gremlins, but we can cheer you on while you wrangle them.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the program, kit size, and cost. If we’ve limited a program to one per household, we’ll tell you in the application.

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(Example: each sibling needs their own sewing kit… but one chicken coop is plenty unless you’re opening your own egg empire.)

Absolutely—unless you’ve been banned (yikes). If you’re in good standing, apply to as many programs as your youth qualifies for. Just remember: every admitted program comes with reporting requirements.

We review it for completeness, then put it through our top-secret sorting process (okay, it’s not Hogwarts, but still). We check directions, verify details, and decide based on a mix of factors: income, geography, age, and budget.

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It’s a selection process, not a “first-come-first-served” race. We make offers based on our overall budget for the program. If you get an offer, you get a chance to accept or decline. If you decline, someone from the waitlist gets happy news. We continue to make offers until all spots in the program are filled.

Celebrate! We love excited people! We are excited people! Then read the admission email carefully (and yes, mark MI-IMPACT as safe so we don’t end up in Spam jail).

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Read all emails you receive from MI-IMPACT carefully and follow the directions. Then get ready for your youth to learn something awesome.

Yes. Just reply “decline” to the admission email. Life happens, and we get that. Sometimes we are able to work with a youth experiencing a life challenge and defer their admission to a future program. These circumstances are rare and handled on a case-by-case basis to best support the youth.

Age requirements are just that, requirements. Our board selects the age demographic based on safety, ability to perform the program tasks independently, and IRS reporting requirements. We do not make any exceptions for age no matter how smart, mature or dedicated the youth is!

We are a fairly efficient bunch, and you should usually hear from us in a couple of business days. But during busy application periods, we’re knee-deep in emails and forms. It may take us some time to process said emails and applications. We appreciate your patience. We promise we’re not ignoring you while sipping Faygo by the pool… probably.

Email. Always email. Social media DMs? Nope. Voicemail? Hard pass—it fills up faster than a TikTok trend dies. Save us both time and just hit “send” on an email.

Anything official that shows your youth’s name, age, and address: community, church, or state records; extracurricular rosters; bills; insurance docs; or any third-party verification of the youth’s name, age, and address. Self-made Word docs don’t count.

Same as above. See? Easy.

Nope. We’re way too busy being awesome to scam anyone. What we are is a first-of-its- kind private foundation. MI-IMPACT is a first in the nation private foundation providing unique skill-based learning opportunities to Michigan youth. 100% legit. Please stop emailing our Director asking if she is real… it makes her sad.

If you weren’t selected, we delete your personal info and add your email to our mailing list so that you receive notice of future programs.

Nope. Midnight deadline means midnight. The link won’t work, no matter how epic your movie marathon was. But don’t worry—we run 4–5 programs a year.

Email Tiffany@mi-impact.org ASAP. If we can’t reach you, we can’t admit you.

Nope. Get Gmail. Yahoo hasn’t been cool since 1997, and our software won’t talk to it anyway. If your email bounces, we decline your application.

Generally, admission decisions will be sent one to two weeks after the deadline. We’ll email whether you’re admitted or declined—so check your Spam/Junk folders.

Michiganders with remedial tech skills are probably not a good fit. We live in the land of email and deadlines. If you can’t manage both, you will not be able to complete our program requirements, then the IRS will get mad at us, we will have to spend time writing letters instead of doing awesome programs for kids… you see… terrible chain of events.

MI-IMPACT is a private operating foundation and required by the IRS to collect reporting information from all participants who receive a grant. Reporting requirements differ for each program but generally youth must keep notes of what they are learning, take pictures/videos of their experience, and complete at least one online questionnaire that comes via email about 4-6 months into the program. We sometimes use pictures or videos for marketing purposes, but otherwise the reporting information is kept in our system just in case we get audited. Keeping the IRS happy and our nonprofit status shiny is very important to us.

Our programs are absolutely NOT first-come, first-served.  They never have been, and they never will be.  Each of our programs differs and each program has different requirements for participation.  It is not a race! It is a learning opportunity.

Budgets, requirements, geography, age, or… attitude. Generally, our applications are reviewed in a holistic manner considering household income, geographic location in Michigan and age. We can’t give feedback for every application, but rude behavior = automatic no.

Anywhere from 10 to 2,000. It’s a mystery every time we launch a new program. We expect an increase in applicants each year as we become more and more popular – like that chick from Wicked.

Zero tolerance. Be kind or be gone. On social media, we have a two-strike policy—life’s too short for internet drama. See the link for our social media policy: HERE.

No. You must meet our demographic requirements for each program.

Household income is one of the factors we consider in determining eligibility. One of MI-IMPACT’s priorities is to provide projects and programs to youth who may not otherwise have the ability to obtain said skill. We reserve the right to verify income information for all admitted youth. If you’re not comfortable providing it, don’t apply.

Absolutely. Tell us about needed accommodations when admitted. We will do everything we can to support your youth’s participation.

Hard pass. We love our participants, but rule-breakers aren’t a fit.

Yes! That’s kind of the point. We’ll teach them and provide support if something becomes challenging along the way.

Yes. Our programs are real. We are real people. The founders are real. The budget is real. The bees were real (ask the youth who picked up 10,000 bees in a box)! We understand that many people follow the mantra of “too good to be true” or “no such thing as a free lunch”. MI-IMPACT is an innovative and unique learning opportunity and a first of its kind in the United States. Admitted youth do not pay for program materials. We are “good” and “true” but not too good to be true!

No. MI-IMPACT is a private operating foundation. In non-legal terms this means a family (in MI-IMPACT’s case a couple) determined they wanted to use some of their wealth to do good for others. A private operating foundation exists under a lot of legal and IRS rules but at the end of the day we are able to give very special opportunities to youth in Michigan via grants. We do not take donations of any sort.

Please do! We like social media tags. We love to share what our youth participants are doing. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Yes! Thanks for helping us spread our mission to interested youth/families!

We understand that completing some of our programs/projects can be challenging (especially for a young person trying a new thing for the first time). We are not really focused on “success” as much as we are the “experience” and what can be gained from trying. Sometimes you learn more through failure than in success anyway. We do require that our admitted youth try their best, and we are available to support all youth if they are struggling. In the end we want to focus on learning.

Life happens. We understand. We are people too! This situation is handled on a case- by-case basis. Sometimes we can defer admission. Sometimes we can extend time for due dates. We will work with youth who end up in a tough spot and do our best to minimize stress.

You were admitted. You received your program kit. And something was missing! We will fix this situation immediately. Just email us!

Yes. Most of the time a parent, grown-up or guardian will NEED to help with a project. Adults may need to help with assembly, tools, emails or other tasks. Although we want each youth to complete their project as independently as possible, please make sure you can fully support your child prior to applying for any given program.

Yes. Our programs are only available to youth in Michigan. We love the mitten state and want all of these goods opportunities to stay right here!

Weird – we really tried to be thorough. Ok, ok, you can email us. And we will most certainly add your question to this extensive list!