The OpenStreetMap US team is beyond excited to welcome YouthMappers to the portfolio of OSM US Charter Projects, formalizing a partnership that builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between our two organizations. While YouthMappers remains an independent initiative, this project honors many years of working side by side to support students, educators, and young leaders using OpenStreetMap to address real-world challenges. This partnership will create new opportunities for shared fundraising, coordinated collaborations, and long-term sustainability, enabling both organizations to seek out opportunities together and expand the reach and impact of open mapping worldwide. At its core, this collaboration continues a shared commitment to empowering young people everywhere to “define their world by mapping it.”
YouthMappers is a global network of student-led university chapters dedicated to filling gaps in open geospatial data. The students and educators behind each chapter address environmental, economic, social, and humanitarian challenges in their region, relying heavily on projects like OpenStreetMap. As a Charter Project, YouthMappers can remain focused on their mission, while OSM US provides a legal home: offering administrative support, financial oversight, and a flexible governance model.
Programs like YouthMappers introduce new generations of contributors, researchers, and users to OpenStreetMap and to the capacity of open geographic data. Each chapter promotes resilience, community engagement, and digital democracy by empowering students to map what matters most to them. For many years, YouthMappers students have been a vital cohort of the OSM US community from attending annual conferences, tackling mapping projects in the states, and sharing their knowledge in groups like TeachOSM and the Pedestrian Working Group.
YouthMappers at State of the Map US 2023 in Richmond, Virginia.
This year, YouthMappers celebrated their 10-year anniversary, marking a major milestone for the network that has grown to include more than 400 chapters in 80+ countries. As YouthMappers looks ahead to its next decade, this partnership with OSM US represents a key moment to strengthen the network’s foundation and support its continued growth and expansion. Despite losing foundational support following the dissolution of USAID earlier this year, YouthMappers’ dedication to their mission and global community of mappers has not faltered. As a Charter Project, YouthMappers will be able to rely on OSM US’s status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit when fundraising and managing the logistical intricacies of their organization. This framework will bring additional collaboration opportunities for students and those seeking to support the network’s activities.
Support YouthMappers
As YouthMappers enters its next decade, there are several meaningful ways to support the network through OpenStreetMap US. Donations can be directed toward specific priorities or applied where the need is greatest, including:
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The YouthMappers Validation Hub, hosted at The George Washington University, which ensures high-quality OpenStreetMap contributions and provides advanced technical training for students from chapters around the world
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Supporting Regional Ambassadors, who help coordinate chapters, build local capacity, and strengthen regional networks
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Student travel to conferences, including State of the Map US 2026, ensuring students can share their work, build professional connections, and participate fully in the OSM community
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Areas of greatest need, allowing YouthMappers to respond flexibly to emerging opportunities and challenges
Additionally, you can see what chapters are up to on their social media channels, or even apply to start your own chapter!
OMS US is grateful for the opportunity to support YouthMappers as they continue their important work. Any project in the OpenStreetMap ecosystem is invited to apply to become a Charter Project; applications are always open and reviewed on a rolling basis. Visit the Community & Charter Projects page to learn more.
