For immediate release
Plan International marks five years of trust-based philanthropy with $1 million distributed to youth-led groups through its Equality Accelerator
The platform provides fast, flexible and accessible funding to youth- and girl-led organizations driving community-level change.
WASHINGTON (Dec. 2, 2025) — Plan International is marking a milestone for the Equality Accelerator, its youth-centered funding platform that provides flexible support to grassroots youth- and girl-led organizations. In its first five years, the Equality Accelerator has distributed the equivalent of more than $1 million to young leaders driving solutions in their own communities.
The Equality Accelerator was created to solve a clear challenge: traditional funding often does not reach the young people closest to the issues. The platform addresses that gap by offering fast, flexible and accessible grants that let youth-led groups design and lead change on their own terms.
“Too often, young people are expected to fix problems without having access to the resources they need,” said Shanna Marzilli, president and CEO of Plan International USA. “The Equality Accelerator flips that script. It trusts young leaders, funds their vision and proves that when they lead, communities thrive.”
The Equality Accelerator is a global community of young activists working for a better world. Through the platform, youth-led groups can access funding opportunities, connect with other changemakers and find tools for activism, advocacy and self-organization. The platform is low-data friendly, accessible in six languages and designed so youth can participate even in low-connectivity environments.
One Equality Accelerator grantee, Pratisandhi Foundation in India, used its Education Shifts Power grant to strengthen confidence and well-being among adolescents. Through interactive peer sessions and supportive classroom environments, Pratisandhi created spaces where young people could talk openly about safety, relationships and challenges they navigate in their daily lives.
“The grant process is so accessible. Other funding frameworks are complex, with several rounds of application and reporting… The Equality Accelerator application is much more straightforward and streamlined,” said Niyati, founder of Pratisandhi Foundation. “The EA gave us the credibility we needed to secure a $150,000 Ford Foundation grant.”
Across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Equality Accelerator grantees have:
- — Launched programs that respond directly to challenges identified by girls and young people
- — Strengthened community safety and inclusion through locally driven efforts
- — Built peer support networks that help adolescents problem-solve together
- — Expanded youth-led outreach through digital and in-person activities
- — Engaged community leaders to elevate youth priorities and local solutions
- — Improved their internal leadership, planning and governance systems
- — Used Equality Accelerator support to build the credibility needed to secure additional funding
Beyond program-level results, the Equality Accelerator has helped youth-led groups increase their visibility, build long-term sustainability and deepen their influence within donor and policy networks.
As the Equality Accelerator enters its next phase, Plan International is inviting partners and funders who want to move resources closer to the point of impact.
“The Equality Accelerator is a proven model,” Marzilli added. “We’ve seen the outcomes when young leaders are trusted to lead change. With greater investment, this impact can scale globally.”
Learn more or support the Equality Accelerator at
About Plan International
Plan International is an international development and humanitarian nonprofit that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of challenges children face. We are there from birth until adulthood, and we support children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity, while particularly focusing on the experiences of girls. With more than 85 years of experience, we work to transform lives in more than 80 countries. We won’t stop until we are all equal.
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Vannette Tolbert
Senior Manager, Communications
Email: vannette.tolbert@planusa.org
