The challenge: A young organization with big ambitions
At 16, Jahnavi Rao felt a frustration shared by many young people: decisions shaping her future were being made without her generation in the room. What began as a simple effort to register eligible students at her high school soon evolved into New Voters, a nonprofit grounded in the belief that young people deserve a real voice in democracy.
By 2020, New Voters remained a student-led organization with an ambitious goal: to register every eligible high school student in America to vote. Led by teenagers and young adults ages 14 to 20, the team brought energy and urgency, but limited experience navigating the operational demands of a growing nonprofit.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schools nationwide, questions around structure, governance, fundraising, and impact measurement became unavoidable. Like many grassroots organizations, New Voters had the vision, but needed the right support to build the infrastructure to scale.
The solution: Connecting with Catchafire’s nonprofit support program and pro bono consultants
New Voters’ journey with Catchafire began serendipitously. A team member’s mother, who worked at a corporate partner of Catchafire’s, recommended the platform as a resource for nonprofits in need of support. The team applied and was quickly matched with Catchafire’s network of skilled pro bono professionals.
Through Catchafire’s network of skilled pro bono professionals, New Voters began working with experts across marketing, organizational development, finance, and board strategy. These engagements helped the team close critical knowledge gaps and put systems in place that would allow their model to scale beyond a single state.
Rather than providing one-off advice, the work focused on building repeatable structures. That foundation made it possible for New Voters to replicate its approach across dozens of states while remaining student-led.
“Catchafire was like having a team of mentors on speed dial. Whenever we faced a challenge or had a question, there was someone ready to help us figure it out.”
— Jahnavi Rao, President & Founder
The impact: Scaling a youth-led movement
Since partnering with Catchafire, New Voters has completed 42 highly strategic projects and calls, saving the organization an estimated $169,890 in professional services. These projects have been instrumental in transforming New Voters from a small club into a national movement.
With guidance from pro bono experts, New Voters clarified its brand and storytelling, developed a cohesive marketing strategy, and established a board structure to support long-term growth. These behind-the-scenes investments enabled the organization to focus on what mattered most: registering young voters and helping students see themselves as participants in democracy.
To date…
- 1,000+ registration drives in over 500 high schools
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Growth from one Pennsylvania chapter to registration drives in 43 states
“Catchafire gave us the tools and confidence to think bigger. We went from being a group of students with a dream to a national organization making a real impact.”
— Jahnavi Rao, President & Founder
Looking ahead: A future of empowered youth
As New Voters looks toward the future, the organization remains focused on its original mission: achieving 100% voter registration in high schools nationwide and preparing young people to use their voices. With the country approaching its 250th anniversary, New Voters sees this moment as an opportunity for the next generation to help shape the future of American democracy.
In response, the organization is launching the New Voters 250 Fellowship, supporting high school leaders to run voter registration drives, lead community impact projects, and convene in Washington, D.C. ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The initiative reflects a core belief that while many young people feel disillusioned, they are eager for meaningful ways to engage and lead.
This partnership exemplifies the power of capacity building resources like Catchafire to help nonprofits overcome challenges, scale their impact, and create meaningful change. With strong infrastructure in place and a growing pipeline of student leaders, New Voters’ journey is far from over and its momentum continues to build.
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$169,890 in value |
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Did you know that more than 8 million new high school students will be eligible to vote in 2026?
