24 Groups, One Goal: Middle School Innovation and the Power of Student-Led Philanthropy

Overview

Jake Franklin runs a dedicated Innovation program at Fulton Academy of Science and Technology in Roswell, Georgia, where every 7th grader spends three hours a week on design thinking and project-based learning. Project Heart became the engine for the year’s community impact theme – 24 student groups, each choosing their own nonprofit and running their own project from start to finish.

How the Curriculum Was Used

Jake adapted the Project Heart framework to his context, having students work through the first five lessons individually before pitching ideas to classmates, who voted on which projects to join. Teams formed around shared passions, not convenience. A backward-mapping exercise – visualizing the event day, then identifying every task needed to get there – kept 24 simultaneous projects moving.

What Students Did

They successfully organized a Chattahoochee River cleanup—so effective that it became an 8th-grade capstone project—while also planning and executing a $700 raffle to support local Parks. Their community engagement expanded through a bike repair program benefiting leukemia patients, as well as school-wide events, including a dunk tank fundraiser for mental health and a student-led video game tournament. Beyond fundraising, students showed deeper critical thinking by reflecting on the ethics of their work, leading to some of the most meaningful learning of the year

Why It Matters

Students raised $5,553. The Illumination Fund matched $2,910. Total donated: $8,464. More importantly, students who felt overwhelmed by global problems discovered they could meaningfully impact one, not solve it, but impact it. Jake called that distinction the most important thing they learned.