The Call For Kindness (C4K) provides winners with a year-long Leadership Development Fellowship. The three pillars of the Fellowship focus on professional development, connection-making and project support.

Professional Development: Participants gain skills to build their efficacy as leaders through workshops and professional development opportunities. Past workshops include strategic planning; budgeting and fundraising; building a strong volunteer base; diversity, equity and inclusion; and marketing and media outreach. Professional development has included participation in panels at national conferences, speaking at Riley’s Way events, designing and delivering topic-based workshops, and mentoring incoming Fellows.

Fellows come together in monthly virtual networking and skill-building sessions and one in-person Leadership Retreat.

Inclusive Community: Participants learn how to articulate their stories, strengthen their networking skills, and gain lifelong friendships. Fellows also become part of a national network of like minded youth, adults and experts, who provide support and guidance as they move forward in their careers.

Project Support: Riley’s Way provides winners with up to $5,000 in financial support, 1:1 project support, coaching, and problem-solving. Staff members are available for bi-weekly conversations, along with our network of issue-based experts and previous Fellows. This year, Riley’s Way will pair each project with a mentor, who is a leader in the nonprofit industry, Riley’s Way staff, board member or past Fellow.

Applications for the 2025 Call For Kindness are now closed. Check back on May 6, 2025 to see the 2025 cohort!

In addition to the General Category (28 awards), 10 awards will be given in the 2025 Special Category: LGBTQIA+ Community Award. Awards will be given in the following 2025 Sponsored Categories: A Kinder World for Animals Award (3 projects), the Equity in Law Award (up to 2 projects), the Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award (1 project) and the Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award (1 project).

Read below for descriptions of the Special and Sponsored Categories.

2025 Special Category

LGBTQIA+ Community Award

10 projects awarded

The LGBTQIA+ Community Award will support ten youth-led projects advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and/or creating affirming spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals can feel safe, valued, and empowered.

At Riley’s Way, we believe that inclusive communities built on kindness and empathy are not just important – they are necessary. The LGBTQIA+ community faces significant challenges, including a lack of support, understanding, and safe spaces where they can express their identities freely. By choosing this to be our 2025 Special Category, Riley’s Way youth leaders recognize the need to invest in youth-led projects that support LGBTQIA+ communities at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack.

This category seeks initiatives that foster acceptance, promote access to essential services, and advocate for systemic change to contribute to a future where all LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive with confidence, pride, and a sense of belonging. Previous Call For Kindness projects focused on this topic include: Rainbow Voices (2024), Campaign 4 Gender Inclusivity (2024), Togetherness + Really Awesome Non-Normative Support (2022).

Our youth leaders choose a different Special Category each year. Previous special categories addressed topics such as Education Equity, Environmental Justice, Food Insecurity, and Mental Health.

2025 Sponsored Categories

Call For Kindness sponsored categories are mission-aligned and represent Riley’s Way values of Kindness, Empathy, Community, and Youth Leadership.

A Kinder World for Animals Award

3 projects awarded

The A Kinder World for Animals Award supports three projects that embody Riley’s Way’s values while addressing (1) the well-being of the animals that share human homes, communities and/or the planet; or (2) the role and importance that animals play in human lives and well-being. Eligible projects may focus on companion animals, domestic farm animals, captive or free-roaming wildlife, and/or support for pet owners in crisis.

This category is sponsored by A Kinder World Foundation.

Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award

1 project awarded

The Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award will support a project dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, and respectful engagement across differing viewpoints and ideologies. This category promotes common civility, which is essential for deep conversations and meaningful connections. The projects may range from nationwide initiatives empowering youth to lead thoughtful discussions on contentious topics to local workshops that teach effective communication and conflict resolution skills within diverse communities. Examples of model projects and organizations include Dialogue Vanderbilt, the Trust Collaboratory, and Repair The World.

Guided by Riley’s Way values of empathy, active listening, and shared understanding, activities promoting civil discourse help build bridges across divides, nurture critical thought, and create spaces where individuals feel heard and respected, regardless of opinion. These projects offer their participants a place to connect, strengthen their empathetic muscles, and grow within conversation. Above all else, these efforts seek to get at a more prominent, yet often overlooked aspect of discourse; our shared humanity.

The Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award is in honor of Julian Sandler, the late grandfather of Riley Hannah Sandler. This award is very much in the spirit of Julian’s life and work as a bridge builder and connector. “My dad was a connector who, like Riley, loved to bring people together from different backgrounds,” explained Ian. “He was an amazing human being and taught us to be philanthropic from an early age. Believing in learning from everyone, he was a true friend, always there in times of need.” Julian Sandler was active in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and came to this country to get a Ph.D. in nuclear physics with little in his pocket. He built a remarkable life in the United States during his short 64 years and was a true kind leader.

Equity in Law Award

Up to 2 projects awarded

The Equity in Law Award supports two projects that address either systemic barriers, promote legal education, advocate for marginalized communities, or create resources to ensure that all individuals—regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or background—can navigate and benefit from the law equitably.

This award seeks bold and creative approaches that foster equitable access to justice, amplify youth voices, and build a more inclusive legal profession. Eligible projects may seek to dismantle structural inequities, empower communities through an increased understanding of legal rights, responsibilities, and systems, or foster opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and gender-nonconforming youth, to thrive in legal professions.

This category is sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. The firm has been awarded “Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity” by Seramount’s Hall of Fame.

Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award

1 project awarded

The Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award (“Arigato” means “thank you” in Japanese), supports one project annually in dance and the performing arts in honor of Yuriko, the pioneering dancer, choreographer, and keeper of Martha Graham’s flame. The project must be youth-led and inspired by kindness, drive change in your community, build connections, and be centered around dance or the performing arts.

Born in San Jose, California in 1920, Yuriko lived through a world war, two pandemics, and worked her way up from a seamstress to become one of Martha Graham’s most renowned dancers and choreographers. She remained with the Graham Company for more than 50 years and founded a student company, the Martha Graham Ensemble, in 1983. A trailblazer and multitasker, Yuriko accomplished countless feats, including being honored by the Martha Hill Dance Fund with a Lifetime Achievement Award, choreographing and designing costumes for numerous routines, and both performing in and directing The King and I in London, Japan, and on Broadway in New York City. Yuriko passed away in March of 2022 at the age of 102. This award honors Yuriko Kikuchi’s legacy, love, and passion for dancing. Yuriko was the grandmother of Riley’s Way’s Director of Operations, Laura (Kikuchi) Dunn.

Thank you for your interest in Riley’s Way Call For Kindness (C4K)! We can’t wait to learn more about you and your project.

The Call For Kindness fellowship is a dynamic Leadership Development program that will help you grow as a kind leader and build your leadership skills, social impact project, professional network, and peer community. Riley’s Way will award up to 45 youth-led projects in 2025. Up to two fellows can apply per project. All projects will be eligible for a grant of up to $5,000. The grant will be disbursed in two portions: half at the beginning of the Fellowship in May 2025 and the second half in December 2025, which is contingent upon the expectations outlined in the application.

The C4K Fellowship features our Kind Leadership Curriculum which is designed to meet the needs of each fellowship cohort and includes sessions on networking, storytelling, building partnerships, and using social media to promote your project. Fellows are required to attend monthly virtual sessions and are invited to join Riley’s Way for an in-person Leadership Summit.

Riley’s Way welcomes up to two Fellows (both between the ages of 13-23) to apply per project. If selected, these individuals will participate as Fellows and project leaders throughout the year. All active group members within the age range are welcome to attend the monthly virtual sessions. Additionally, up to two other team members may be eligible to attend the Leadership Summit, based on prior participation and capacity.

We are accepting applications from US citizens and DACA recipients between the ages of 13-23.

Applications for the 2025 Call For Kindness are now closed. Check back on May 6, 2025 to see the 2025 cohort!

Email callforkindness@rileysandler.org if you have any questions!

Learn more about our Kindness Fellows from previous years and their projects using the links below. Be sure to check out their pages for ongoing updates.

Previous Years Fellows

2022 Call For Kindness Fellows

2021 Call For Kindness Fellows

2020 Call For Kindness Fellows

2019 Call For Kindness Fellows

2024 Call For Kindness Continuation Recipients

Shrusti Amula (she/her) and Vayun Amnula (he/him), Can We Do Something About Food Waste?, Maryland (2023 Fellows)

Khloe Thompson (she/her), PeachTree Pad, California (2021 Fellow)

Leydi Borges (she/her) and Alex Interian (he/him), Sci+Pi4All, Florida (2023 Fellows)

Jessie Baxter (she/her) and Holly Milsom (she/her), Ta-Ta For Now, Florida (2023 Fellows)

Laasya Acharya (she/her), The Ceres Organization, Ohio (2023 Fellow)

Neal Chopra (he/him) & team, Codology, California (2023 Fellow)

Arabella Tan (she/her) & team, WikiVision, Hawaii (2023 Fellows)

Chase Hartman (he/him) and Zach Hartman (he/him), Eco Brothers, Inc., Florida (2023 Fellows)

Gaayathri Binoj (she/her), Queens On The Board, Missouri (2023 Fellow)

Benjamin Barkoff (he/him) & team, Whiskey Bravo, New York (2023 Fellow)

Agha Haider (he/him), The Education Collaborative, California (2020 Fellow)

Aarya Dhru (she/her) and Veda Swaminathan (she/her), Imagine, Innovate, Inspire (I3) Competition, Connecticut (2022 Fellows)

Jaidon Horton (he/him) & team, CryOut Curbs Cravings, Mississippi (2021 Fellow)

Austin Picinich (he/him), Save Our Salmon “SOS” Through Art, Washington (2023 Fellow)

Christopher Fuentes (he/him) and Jazlyn Fuentes, Feel Our Meals, New York (2023 Fellows)

Mark Leschinsky (he/him), Student World Impact Film Festival, New Jersey (2023 Fellow)

Kate-Yeonjae Jeong (she/her) and Matthew Jeong (he/him), Light Up Network, Texas (2023 Fellow)

Jerry Chen (he/him), Legal Studies Institute, New York (2023 Fellow)

Esha Venkat (she/her) and Shreyaa Venkat (she/her), NEST4US, Virginia (2021 Fellows)

Banks Vadeboncoeur (she/her), The Young Writers Workshop, Florida (2022 Fellow)

Isabella Hanson (she/her), I Matter, Pennsylvania (2021 Fellow)

Jonathan Tamen (he/him), Helping Hands, Florida (2020 Fellow)

Sunya Afrasiabi (she/her), #MyStory Program, New York (2022 Fellow)

Avery Kelley (she/her), Love Carries On, Georgia (2022 Fellow)

Join the Riley’s Way Foundation’s annual Call For Kindness challenge!

Are you part of an organization or company that cares about young leaders? Add your voice to the growing number of organizations championing kindness as an essential leadership quality by supporting our Call For Kindness. Join us as we connect youth changemakers across the country who are working to make our world a better place.

The Call For Kindness, now in its sixth year, offers young leaders the chance to participate in a dynamic Leadership Development Fellowship and win up to $5,000 in funding for a project that strengthens their local, national, or global communities.

Thank you for adding  your organization to the pledge below and helping spread the word about the #CallForKindness within your community and beyond!

When you pledge to be a Partner, we ask that you:

– Commit to at least one social media post, tagging us at Riley’s Way (IG: @rileyswayfoundation; FB: @RileysWayFoundation; Twitter: @RileysWayFdn), and use the #CallForKindness hashtag. We will provide sample posts! Here are a few examples of posts that will help the cause:

We’re proud to support the next generation of kind leaders through the #CallForKindness. Will you help us spread the word?

Do you know a teen who wants to change the world? Tell them to submit their project idea to the #CallForKindness for the chance to win $5,000!

– Include a brief description of the Call for Kindness (suggested language included upon sign-up) and a mention of the Call for Kindness hashtag #CallForKindness in your next newsletter and/or upcoming communications.

– Send us your logo and a quote about how your community is making a difference through acts of kindness and empathy. We would love to spotlight you throughout our campaign.

In addition, we are honored to list you as a partner on our website, in our press release, and in communications to members of our community.  Thank you for joining us in the next generation of changemakers leading with kindness, empathy, and inclusivity!

If you have any questions or want to learn more about partnering with Riley’s Way, please get in touch with Lauren Shenkman, Director of Partnerships & Programs.

A Kinder World Foundation

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

The Sandler Family