Frequently Asked Questions

The Benjamin Project is a hands-on service learning and financial literacy initiative by Global Doing Good. We entrust middle school students with $100 in seed capital to identify a community need, manage a budget, and create real-world impact through a project that is 100% student-led.

The program is designed for middle school students (grades 6–8). Any school administrator, principal, counselor, teacher, coach, or club leader can bring The Benjamin Project to their school and select participating students.

Educators can nominate up to 10 students per semester. This cap ensures dedicated support for each student initiative while maintaining minimal administrative lift for educators.

The project is structured for minimal teacher overhead. Educators serve as supportive facilitators, while students lead their own projects across a flexible 90-day program timeline.

No. The Benjamin Project is fully funded by Global Doing Good. There are no fees or financial commitments required from schools, teachers, or participating families.

Students have full creative freedom to address any community need, provided the project is 100% student-led. The $100 serves as seed capital for students to identify a problem, manage a budget, and execute their own idea from start to finish—all focused on positive civic action and community benefit.

At the end of their project, students submit an online Experience Form detailing their community impact, personal reflections, and photos of their work in action. Global Doing Good reviews each submission to evaluate overall program outcomes and—with student and family permission—shares these inspiring stories across our weekly roundups and impact reports to show the real-world power of $100 seed capital.

We encourage you to think outside the box! Here are a few ways to start brainstorming:

• Find your passion: What community needs inspire you? What do you care about most?
• Build a team: Who can you collaborate with (friends, organizations, local businesses)?
• Maximize impact: Are there creative ways to stretch or grow your $100 seed money?
• Document your journey: Remember to capture photos so you can share them in your final reflection!

Welcome to the Benjamin Project! To load your $100:

• Register Your Card: Scan the QR code on your card sleeve to open the Student Registration form. Complete it alongside a parent or guardian.
• Verification: Our team reviews your registration to activate your card (usually within 1 business day).
• Launch!: We’ll send a confirmation email to your guardian and your teacher as soon as your card is active and ready to use.

Plan on 1 to 2 business days.

Our team verifies registrations Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Once verified, funds are loaded onto your card so you can get started right away. Submissions sent after hours or over the weekend are processed the next business day.

If prompted for a PIN, use the last 4 digits of the Lot Number (located in smaller print on the back of the card, just below the main card number).

Tip: You can sometimes bypass the PIN entirely by selecting the "Credit" option at checkout.

Don't worry, we can help! Email our team at thebenjaminproject@globaldoinggood.org and we'll get it sorted out for you as quickly as possible.

There’s a QR code on the back of the card — scan it to view your balance.

It's time to celebrate your impact! Head to our website and fill out the Experience Form. You'll be able to share your story, upload photos, and reflect on what you learned during the process.

Educators may nominate up to 10 students per semester.

Program setup is minimal and designed to fit seamlessly into your existing work with students:

• Nominate Students: Select up to 10 participating students and hand out their project cards.
• Guide & Support: Kick off with a brief launch meeting and offer light, periodic check-ins as students take the lead.
• Stay Updated: Monitor student progress effortlessly with regular status updates sent directly from our team.

Our recommended program timeline is 90 days from card distribution to final impact reporting.

Students will visit our website to submit the Student Registration form (which includes guardian approval).

Once we verify the registration, our team will email both you and the guardian to confirm the card is activated so the student can get started.

Students have creative freedom to address any community need, including initiatives that benefit their school. The key requirement is that the project is 100% student-led. The $100 serves as a hands-on financial literacy and service-learning tool where students identify the need, design the project, manage the budget, and execute the plan, rather than functioning as an administrative grant or club donation.

Here are a few easy prompts to guide the conversation and keep students on track:

• What progress have you made since we last met?
• What challenges have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?
• What have you learned so far?
• Do you need to make any adjustments to finish the project?
• Is there any additional support you need?
• What could you do to continue your project’s impact beyond its completion?

Teachers are encouraged to act as consultants rather than project managers. Stepping back lets students navigate logistical hurdles independently, strengthening critical thinking and genuine civic agency.

To officially wrap up, students will submit the Experience Form on our website to share their final reflections, photos, and the impact they made in their community!