Kid Change-maker: I Raised over $2 Million before my 14th birthday | Jack Berne | TEDxYouth@Sydney

Summary

At age 10, Jack Berne launched a fundraising campaign after seeing news about drought-stricken Australian farmers. He invited people to dress as farmers and contribute $5. A message he sent using his mother’s contact details led to rapid media attention: within 18 hours, he was appearing on national television.

The campaign grew quickly. Berne says it raised $20,000 in its first 14 hours and $1 million within five weeks. He later reported raising $2.2 million. The effort became the registered Jack’s Mates Foundation, which supports Australians affected by natural disasters.

Business and organizational lessons

• Start with a clear, easy-to-join action: The campaign paired a simple theme—dress like a farmer—with a suggested donation of $5.
• Use a compelling founder story: Berne says his age helped attract attention and support, much like a lemonade stand that people are inclined to support.
• Use publicity to accelerate reach: Initial outreach led to national television exposure within 18 hours, helping spread the idea beyond his immediate community.
• Build a support team: His mother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and others helped with websites, emails, transport, and logistics.
• Treat setbacks as part of learning: Berne missed or stumbled during some speeches but kept going. He recalls his principal reframing “FAIL” as “first attempt in learning.”
• Persist and keep communicating: Berne recommends pursuing ideas you believe in, speaking up, and continuing even when early attempts are imperfect.
• Turn a campaign into an organization: The fundraising initiative later became a registered charity with a broader mission of helping people affected by natural disasters.

Metrics and examples

• $20,000 raised in the first 14 hours.
• $1 million raised within five weeks.
• $2.2 million raised in total by the time of the talk.
• The subtitles report 1,200 schools, 800 kindergartens, and 500 workplaces registering; the school figure is unclear in the transcript.
• At a rugby event, Berne raised money with buckets and met John Singleton, who first donated $50 and later offered $50,000.

Presenter/source: Jack Berne, TEDxYouth@Sydney.