Mikva develops the next generation of civic leaders, civil servants, and community organizers by empowering young people to drive real change in their lives. Its flagship program, Action Civics, is integrated into the curriculum of middle and high schools across the city. Classes select, research, and analyze a community issue, develop strategies, and take concrete steps to affect policy. Mikva trains teachers in the curriculum and hosts citywide “challenges” where students showcase their ideas before community judges. After school, Elections in Action gives 30 students a way directly to impact local public policy and elections – even before they are eligible to vote. A second leadership program brings together youth from across the city to work collaboratively with DCPS leaders, bringing youth-driven school policy recommendations to the table. Young people care deeply about our world: they should have the tools to change it.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 2

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide

Age Groups Served: Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24)

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Students

Schools They Work In: Anacostia High School; Ballou High School; Benjamin Banneker High School; Brightwood Education Campus; Capital City PCS High School; Cardozo High School; Cesar Chavez PCS High School – Capitol Hill; Columbia Heights Education Campus; Dunbar High School; Eastern High School; The Edmund Burke School; E.L. Haynes PCS High School; Friendship PCS Collegiate Academy; Friendship PCS Tech Prep; Friendship PCS Chamberlain; Friendship PCS Woodbridge IB; H.D. Woodson High School; Hart Middle School; Jefferson Middle School; Johnson Middle School; Kramer Middle School; Luke C. Moore High School; MacFarland Middle School; McKinley Tech High School; Phelps ACE High School; Ron Brown College Preparatory High School; Roosevelt High School; School Without Walls; SEED Public Charter High School; Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School; Washington Global Public Charter School; West Education Campus

Awards & Recognition

Chosen Public Service Client for AD2DC, a young professional community of the American Advertising Federation.

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for Mikva Challenge DC is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

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