When Ripa Ajmera wanted to start an entrepreneurship club at the Stern School of Business two years ago, she didn't meet much support from the school's club officers.
"Investment banking is sexy, but social entrepreneurship is not," they told her.
So a disappointed Ajmera, now a Stern senior studying marketing, decided to turn to Youth Venture, a nationwide organization that gives grants to young people looking to start social entrepreneurship groups.
Now NYU's social entrepreneurship club is finally starting at NYU, thanks to Youth Venture.
While NYU provides funding through student government, the All-Square Student Budget Allocation Committee and the Office of Community Service, some students are still looking outside of Washington Square for funding.
According to the Office of Student Activities, there are currently 24 community service clubs, but only four are funded by one of the 14 schools at NYU.
Bob Butler, executive director of the Office of Student Activities, described the different funding methods as "apples and oranges." He said the funds are suited for clubs at NYU rather than academic programs, such as the many social entrepreneurship clubs that go through Youth Venture.
But some students say that NYU grants are hard to come by and have strings attached once received.
Funding from the Office of Community Service cannot be used for certain things, such as purchasing equipment, making this funding difficult to use, Ajmera said.
But the application for the service grants offered by NYU reads that the funds are "not intended to limit your requests but to guide them."
"There is a high demand for funding in all community service arenas," said Lisa Kail, director of the Office of Community Service. "Each semester between 15 and 30 students apply; on average 75 to 80 percent are approved."
Youth Venture rarely turns applicants away, according to Liz McAdams, the director of online applications at Youth Venture. Almost every application is funded; McAdams said there have been no rejections in the last seven months. Applicants can receive up to $1,000 in two installments, with a grand prize of $10,000.
Junior Joe Taranta, winner of the $10,000 Youth Venture grand prize in 2007, said students who become Youth Venturers usually start nonprofit organizations, which differs from student clubs at NYU in terms of goals, budget, leadership structure and vision for the future.
"Youth Venture groups focus on creating an innovative solution for a problem, which may imply a lot more action," he said.
After winning the 2007 Be a Changemaker Challenge through Youth Venture, Taranta and two fellow NYU students started an organization called Promoting Immigrant Voices in Education, which works to get immigrant parents more involved in their children's schools.
"The idea of social entrepreneurship in general has become a much more significant presence on the NYU campus," Taranta said. "Social entrepreneurship will continue to grow in interest for students at NYU as many of us search for ways to create social change in our city and our world."
The number of Youth Venture-sponsored clubs is currently reaching a new high with over 30 applicants at NYU receiving grants. Successful groups include Baby's First Home and Action Courage.
Daniella Carelli is a contributing writer. E-mail her at university@nyunews.com.
