Building the future of Catholic youth ministry.
One leader at a time.

ProjectYM100 is a bold, new initiative launching to address one of the most urgent challenges facing the Catholic Church today: forming, supporting, and sustaining the adults who walk with teenagers.

ProjectYM100 has one goal: to make it possible for youth ministry leaders to receive world-class, in-person formation so they can return home equipped to build ministries that actually make disciples.

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The Problem We’re Solving

Across the country, youth ministers are doing heroic work with incredibly limited support.

Most are underpaid, under-resourced, and have little to no budget for professional development or ongoing formation.

That creates a painful reality: the leaders who most need training, coaching, and community are often the least able to afford it. As a result, many youth ministers are left to figure things out alone—burning out, cycling out of ministry, or surviving week-to-week without the clarity or support they need.

If the Church wants stronger discipleship, it has to start by investing in stronger, healthier leaders.

The Vision:

Formation Built on Community

In 2026, ProjectYM is centering all of its training and formation at the ProjectYM Mission Base— a home intentionally designed as a space for youth ministry leaders to gather for deeply relational, community-based formation.

The Mission Base removes the barriers and overhead of traditional venues and allows ProjectYM to host immersive, highly personal training experiences in an environment that models what ministry should feel like.

When youth ministers arrive at the Mission Base, they experience:

RADICAL HOSPITALITY

that helps them breathe again

From the moment they arrive, every detail communicates care—meals, space, pace, and presence—so leaders feel welcomed, expected, and genuinely valued.

GENUINE COMMUNITY

with people who truly get it

They spend four days living, eating, and working alongside fellow youth ministers who understand the realities of parish ministry and don’t need explanations.

PRACTICAL
FORMATION

for real parish life

Training is grounded in what actually happens back home—no theory, no fluff—just strategies leaders can realistically implement in their own context.

PERSONALIZED STRATEGY

built for their specific ministry

Because groups are intentionally small, every participant leaves with an action plan tailored to their parish, not a generic model meant for someone else.

INTENTIONAL SPACE

to think clearly and plan wisely

Away from weekly chaos, leaders finally have margin to reflect, ask better questions, and make thoughtful decisions about the future of their ministry.

ONGOING
SUPPORT

that doesn’t end when they leave

Formation continues after the event through coaching, community, and follow-up—so what begins at the Mission Base actually takes root back home.

Small by Design

Each ProjectYM training event is a four-day immersive experience, intentionally limited to 14 participants or fewer.

This small-group approach ensures
that every youth minister is seen, known, and loved.

It also means that every leader is given individualized mentoring and coaching – because no two parishes (or leaders) are the same.

Instead of sitting in a ballroom with hundreds of people listening to generic talks, participants spend four days together in a home—sharing meals, sharing ideas, solving problems, and building relationships that continue long after they return home.
‍
They leave with clarity, confidence, and a plan they can actually implement.

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What is the formation like?

"We don't teach theology or
theory – we teach practical."

Our formation is hands-on training designed to help leaders build ministries that make disciples.

It's been tested and proven in a large variety of Catholic parishes across the country.

Each training event is:

IMMERSIVE

FOCUSED

SPECIFIC

INTENTIONALLY SMALL

PRACTICAL

"I found the training from ProjectYM to be exceptional. The hands-on approach and practical insights were exactly what I needed. I left with a clear, well-defined plan.”

JONNA OBRYAN
Louisville, KY

THE BARRIER

Cost

As powerful as this formation is,
it surfaces a critical challenge.

Most youth ministry leaders simply cannot afford experiences like this.
‍
That’s not because they don’t value formation—it’s because their parishes often can’t fund it.

And when leaders can’t access formation, everyone feels the impact: teens, families, volunteers, and the broader parish.
‍
So ProjectYM asked a simple but transformative question:
‍
What would it take to make this level of formation accessible to every youth minister—regardless of parish size, location, or budget?

THE ANSWER

ProjectYM100 is a commitment to accessibility.

The goal is simple:

100 donors committing
to give $100 per month.

That single act of generosity unlocks something extraordinary.

With the support of ProjectYM100 donors, ProjectYM can subsidize all 16+ Mission Base training events planned for 2026, reducing the cost for each participating youth minister to just $100 for the entire four-day experience.

Formation, lodging, meals, supplies, community-building, ongoing post-event support – all included!

For many youth ministers, this transforms formation from “impossible” to “finally within reach.”

THE IMPACT

Multiplication

When ProjectYM100 is fully funded, 240 leaders can attend Mission Base trainings in 2026.

240

Youth ministers who attend a Mission Base event in 2026.

x

43

The average number of teens those youth ministers serve.

=

10,320

Teens who will be impacted by ProjectYM100 in 2026.

That means ProjectYM100 will directly impact the faith lives of more than 10,000 teens—not through a single event, but through leaders who are equipped to build sustainable, disciple-making ministries in their own communities.

This is multiplication at its best.

Join the Movement

When you join ProjectYM100, you become part of something bigger than a donation – you become part of a movement that believes:

Youth ministers matter.

They are not replaceable program managers—they are disciple-makers. When we invest in their formation, health, and longevity, the impact reaches every teen they serve.

Community changes everything.

Ministry was never meant to be done alone. Real growth happens when leaders are surrounded by peers who understand their challenges and walk with them long-term.

Multiplying leaders multiplies disciples.

When one youth minister is trained and supported, dozens of teens are impacted. Investing in leaders creates exponential, long-term fruit for the Church.

Formation should be accessible.

No leader should miss out on life-giving formation because of budget constraints. ProjectYM100 removes financial barriers so every youth minister can get the support they need.

Sustainability not just survival.

Healthy ministries are built by healthy leaders. We believe in formation that helps youth ministers stay in the field longer and lead with clarity and confidence.

The future of youth ministry is worth investing in.

Raising up the next generation of Catholic youth ministry leaders requires intention, resources, and people willing to say yes to something bigger than themselves.

Commit to $100/month and help build the future of Catholic Youth Ministry.

Your gift to ProjectYM is 100% tax deductible and makes a REAL lasting difference in the lives of young people across the country.

Made by Michael Marchand
We love youth ministers.
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.