Why Act like a Middle Schooler?

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear “middle schooler”?

Be honest—was it awkward? Chaotic? Eye-roll emoji?

At TomTod, we’re flipping that script.

Middle schoolers are some of the most creative, curious, empathetic, determined, authentic, and brave people you’ll meet.

And they’re not just the future—they’re changing the world right now.

Frankly, we think the rest of us could learn a thing or two from them.

So this September, we’re inviting you to Act Like a Middle Schooler.

Your community will thank you for it.
And honestly? You’ll probably have more fun, too.

How It Works

Our goal: 500 donors who believe in the power of middle schoolers.

This fall, TomTod turns 13 — just like a middle schooler! To celebrate, we’re asking recruiters to invite friends, family, and neighbors to give $13 donations (or more!). It’s a perfect way to honor this milestone and make a big impact together.

Here’s the exciting part:
For every 100 donors who join in, we unlock Challenge Grant dollars that multiply the impact of your gift - up to $10,000! Plus, thanks to generous sponsors, $4,500 will be matched dollar-for-dollar—making your donation go even further. UPDATE! With the generous support of Coffee & Code, we're adding an additional $2,000 matching dollars to help support our momentum over the weekend!

What that means:
Your donation not only supports middle schoolers today, but also helps TomTod keep growing and creating programs that empower curious, creative, and courageous young people.

And don’t miss our Rally Event!
We’ll come together at a fun, inspiring celebration to honor all the donors and recruiters who made this campaign possible. Expect community stories, surprises, and a whole lot of middle school energy — because when middle schoolers lead, amazing things happen!

Join us. Act Like a Middle Schooler. Help us reach 500 donors — and watch how a small gift creates big change.

Challenge Grants

For every 100 donors who join in, we unlock Challenge Grant dollars that multiply the impact of your gift, up to $7,000!

100 donors will unlock a $1,000 grant from Darcy Friel | Howard Hannah.
200 donors will unlock a $1,000 grant from Schauer Group.
300 donors will unlock a $1,000 grant from Rock Island Growth Specialists.
400 donors will unlock a $1,500 grant from CSE Federal Credit Union.
500 donors will unlock a $2,500 grant from SoL Harris/Day Architecture.

Matching Sponsors

In addition to the Challenge Grant Sponsors, a number of other generous sponsors have provided matching dollars to up the ante!

Every donation is matched up to $4,500 thanks to the sponsors below. UPDATE! With the generous support of Coffee & Code, we're

adding an additional $2,000 matching dollars to help support our momentum over the weekend!

Act Like a Middle Schooler

Team Members