New Voters Launches Merger with ActivateGenZ
Expanding the student-led civic ecosystem through digital-first leadership and a shared mission
One Network, One Mission
We’re thrilled to announce that ActivateGenZ, a digital civic platform founded in 2023 by University of Alabama student Sam Underhill, is officially merging into New Voters! Through this merger, ActivateGenZ’s infrastructure and content will live on through the New Voters Student Network, our upcoming digital hub for opportunities, resources, and youth-centered thought leadership.
This marks our second successful merger this year, following the integration of 18by Vote into New Voters, and reflects our long-term vision: building sustainable civic infrastructure to power the next generation of American voters. With each unification, we’ve strengthened not just our internal capacity but the reach and clarity of the broader youth civic space.
ActivateGenZ’s Impact
ActivateGenZ launched with an ambitious mission to inform, connect, and activate Gen Z through curated digital civic tools. Their platform provided students nationwide with free access to scholarships, internships, and volunteer opportunities.
Since launching, ActivateGenZ has:
Connected 10,000+ students to civic opportunities
Partnered with 40+ organizations across 20+ states
Onboarded 40 community organizers to engage with and find opportunities in their communities
Created a digital civic directory with customizable filters by state, opportunity type, and eligibility
ActivateGenZ’s success was rooted in accessibility, digital-first design, and a deep belief in the power of youth leadership. Their legacy now continues, strengthened by the infrastructure, national network, and organizing experience of New Voters
18by Vote, ActivateGenZ, and New Voters
In February 2025, 18by Vote, a fellow youth-led high school voting organization, merged into New Voters and supported the continued success of the New Voters Research Network to expand our educational programming. That coalition laid the foundation for scaling our digital impact while remaining student-run and mission-aligned.
Now, with ActivateGenZ also merging into New Voters, the New Voters Student Network becomes a unified home for:
Educational tools from 18by Vote
Civic opportunity directories and digital engagement from ActivateGenZ
Fellowship-driven organizing and national outreach from New Voters
These mergers support a shared commitment to reducing fragmentation in the youth civic space and creating a greater Gen Z-led ecosystem for work and organization.
Building the New Voters Student Network
The New Voters Student Network will serve as our central platform for:
Aggregating civic tools and educational resources
Curating scholarship, internship, and volunteer listings
Connecting students to our broader organizing ecosystem and partner organizations
We’re proud to build a network that drives in-person civic action, research, and policy engagement, and curated digital tools all under one nonprofit umbrella.
What’s Next
Over the coming months, we’ll be onboarding ActivateGenZ’s content and features into our digital platforms while preparing for a full launch of the New Voters Student Network. Students, educators, and partner organizations will have access to new content streams, curated opportunity boards, and research-backed civic materials.
As we move forward, this merger represents a refinement of what it means to be civically engaged in 2025 and beyond. We’re excited to welcome the ActivateGenZ community into ours, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next!
In community,
Jessika, Ava, The ActivateGenZ Team, and The New Voters Team