What I Learned From Building a Youth Think Tank From Scratch

Dear readers,

It’s been quite a while since we last spoke; apologies for the absence! My time away from the blog has been quite energizing as I’ve experienced much more of what I write about: policy. 

I’ve spent the majority of the past year building a non-profit, non-partisan youth think tank from the ground up called PIVOT (Policy Insights and Voices of Tomorrow). In just a few months since our incorporation, we’ve accrued 150 members from 15 countries, hosted an online summit drawing in 250+ applicants from 28 countries, gained 40k+ reads of our op-eds and policy briefs, won $7,500 from the Bill of Rights Institute National Civics Contest, and created a $1000 pitch competition where our first prize winners were from Gaza. I have partnered with amazing people and groups that I never thought I would be able to, including Pulitzer Prize Winners, major organizations like Allsides Media, and other great civic innovators.

As I enter my senior year, I aim to share insights on building youth-led NGOs, as there is a significant need for more of them, along with the necessary infrastructure to support them. For around 5 months before I met my cofounder, PIVOT was stuck in the mud, going nowhere. Anyways, here are some of my thoughts:

• Ask for help early. Reach out to major orgs before you’ve even done anything, send emails to as many founders as possible, and get your pitch locked down. Most organizations are more than willing to help grow a new idea that has potential. Much of PIVOT’s growth can be attributed to its partnerships in early development that earned some high schoolers credibility in the field. I went headfirst into the project with absolutely zero connections and came out of it with dozens.

• Don’t be discouraged by other, bigger organizations that dominate your niche. PIVOT is not the first youth policy think tank, nor is it the biggest, but it is a competitor. If you’re familiar with the youth policy environment, you may know of the Perrin Institution, YIP, Civic Unplugged; these are all great organizations that were already established way before PIVOT stepped in. But the thing is, although I can only speak on behalf of PIVOT, I’d like to believe that these orgs, along with PIVOT, are all hoping to empower youth voices in policy, not monopolize the arena. Understand how your organization operates differently, and expand on that premise. PIVOT is international, unlike all the other orgs, making it prime for expansion.

• Use LinkedIn as much as possible; there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other high schoolers who are full of potential, experience, and connections that are more than willing to jump on board as a cofounder or board member.

• Your project is not just for college, even if you want it to be that way. Don’t jump ship just because you got into an Ivy League or T20. Expand it with those connections you’ll have. So many of these youth-led NPOs (not naming names) hit the fan because of selfish founders who don’t care about the people their organization actually helps. Organizations like YIP and New Voters make a significant impact because their founders are dedicated to creating the change they wish to see.

• Lastly, listen to the haters and adapt. People are going to clown you for actually building something because that’s just what they do. But in particular cases, listen to what they’re saying, and I mean genuinely listen. If your model is failing and people are telling you that, bring them on your team to fix it. An attack on your org is not an attack on you; just be better.

To all my fellow young founders, keep working on your projects; if it helps even just one person, it's all worth it. 

Best,

Arthur Hu