Bringing the Noise

The site was launched in 2001 as a program of Save the Children, an international children’s relief organization, as a kids-for-kids effort that focused on how young people in the United States could get involved in Save the Children’s humanitarian-aid efforts around the globe, says Ginger Thomson, who began her relationship with YouthNoise as a member of its advisory board and is now CEO. In 2004, YouthNoise became independent of Save the Children. The Web site, with content generated by and for young people, has registered more than 113,000 youths from the United States and more than 170 other countries and sees an average of 500,000 visitors every month. Here, Thomson talks about the funding sources for YouthNoise, the work it does and the fundraising challenges when dealing with a youthful constituency.