Families4Families Exceptional Changemaker Award

Families4Families, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will grant a $2,500 Exceptional Changemaker Award to the student who onboards the most new Families4Families clubs between October 9, 2026, and March 1, 2027. A $1,000 Exceptional Changemaker Award will be granted to the student who onboards the second-most new Families4Families clubs during the same period.

How it works

• Identify someone who would be interested in starting a Families4Families club. Connect them with the F4F team or have them complete our Start a Club Form. Make sure they list your name as their referral! For tips and guidance on finding potential leaders and reaching out to them, check out our Outreach Guide.‍ ‍

• To count as an onboarded club, the referred individual must meet with the F4F team and plan a collection.

• After we have met with the student and their club and they have started planning their first collection, they will be marked as an onboarded club, and you will receive a point.

• The student with the most onboarded clubs wins and will be awarded a $2,500 college scholarship. The student with the second most onboarded clubs will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. You must refer a minimum of three clubs to be eligible.

• The winner will be announced in March.

Eligibility

• This scholarship is open to all high school and college students in the United States who are a member, volunteer, or leader of an F4F club.

• If you are not an active club member, leader, or volunteer but would like to be considered for this scholarship, you may gain eligibility by joining or starting an F4F club. Please reach out to the F4F Team (admin@families4familiesdmv.org) for more information on this!

• Participation in this program is voluntary and does not create an employment, contractor, or agency relationship with Families4Families.

Award Payment

• 529 plan: If the recipient has an existing 529 college savings plan, Families4Families may contribute the award through the plan's applicable gift contribution process..

• No 529 plan: If the recipient does not have a 529 plan, Families4Families will work with the recipient and their family to determine an appropriate payment method consistent with program requirements.

• The award cannot be transferred, exchanged for cash, or substituted.

Taxes

Families4Families intends to treat this educational award as a taxable award or prize and will comply with applicable federal and state tax reporting requirements. Recipients may be responsible for applicable federal, state, and local taxes and should consult their own tax advisor regarding their individual circumstances.

• • Before payment, the winner (or a parent or guardian) must provide a completed IRS Form W-9, including the student's Social Security number.

  • Families4Families will provide any tax reporting forms required under applicable law for the year in which the award is paid.

  • The winner is responsible for complying with all applicable tax reporting obligations.

Winner Selection and Announcement

• • Families4Families will verify all onboarded clubs. Its decisions on club credit and eligibility are final.

  • The winner will be notified by email by Mid-March. If the winner does not respond within 14 days, an alternate winner may be selected.

Conduct and safety

• Students must represent Families4Families honestly. Fake, duplicate, or misrepresented clubs, or pressuring people to sign up, will result in disqualification.

  • We encourage parents and guardians to be involved in their student's outreach, especially when meeting with new groups. Families4Families is not responsible for students' outreach activities.

Privacy

• Personal information, including Social Security numbers, will be used only for administering this award and required tax reporting, and will be stored securely and not shared with third parties except as required by law.