Debate Is For Everyone
NextGen Debate is a nonprofit on a mission to make competitive debate free, accessible, and modern for every student in America; regardless of zip code, income, or experience.Â
Debate Shouldn't Be a Privilege
Competitive debate has long been one of the most powerful educational tools available. It’s proven to improve academic performance, critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement. But access has never been more equal.Â
National debate programs charge schools and students significant fees. Resources are fragmented across small regional communities with inconsistent rules and formats. Rural schools rarely have the infrastructure to start programs at all. And the digital tools available to the debate community have barely evolved in decades. We estimate less than 2% of public schools offer debate opportunities.Â
We built NextGen Debate to change that.Â
Our Approach
NGD membership is free for every student, coach, and volunteer. Always has been. Always will be. We remove the financial barrier so the only thing standing between a student and debate is their willingness to show up.Â
NGD is the first platform built specifically for the debate community; combining education, competition, community, and rewards in one place. Modern tools for a modern generation of debaters.
We started in one region. We now serve three. Our goal is to reach every debate community in America and beyond.Â
Our Values
Accessibility
Debate belongs to every student. We design every program, tool, and resource with inclusion at the center.Â
Excellence
Free doesn’t mean less. We hold ourselves to the highest standard in curriculum quality, tournament production, and community integrity.Â
Community
Debate us better together. We build infrastructure that connects students, coaches, and leagues who would otherwise operate in isolation.Â
Innovation
The debate world is overdue for a modern overhaul. We embrace technology, new formats, and creative thinking to keep debate relevant for today’s students.Â
NextGen Debate Initiatives
Camp
In 2022 NextGen Debate hosted its first camp retreat in the mountains of Crestline CA. This event was five days long, included meals, lodging, lots of camp activities and of course, debate! This camping experience would normally cost debaters upwards of $900 but thanks to local scholarships provided to us by the Anderson Grant foundation we were able to lower the overall cost down to $600. Eight low income debaters applied and received this experience completely free. A total value of $13,500.Â
Brain Nutrition
Debate events typically last over 6 hours and require participants to break and eat some food. Due to the large financial disparity of students in our program many are not able to bring meals or purchase food available to them at our events. Beginning in 2022 participants and volunteers receive free meals at our events so those essential nutrients get to the brain and no one is left unable to eat during these longer events. A total value of $9,000 has been allocated for this project.Â
Participation
As of 2023, we have reached 14 different schools in the Coachella Valley. Six of these schools use our curriculum to form a debate class for their students as an elective. We host a total of eight tournaments and one workshop annually for both our middle and high school leagues.Â
Support Us
Our program runs off volunteers and we could use all the help we can get. We need volunteers to judge, teach, help setup/take down events, run the snack bar, create videos, manage social media, and so much more!
If you have a special talent that can improve NextGen Debate please let us know! Start by registering yourself as a volunteer or reach out to us directly.Â
 Additionally, we need financial support to purchase awards, food, debate supplies, and support our powerful online features. Your financial donations are tax deductible and we accept all forms of payment. Click below to donate online.
Contact Us
Drop a message below or reach out to us directly at hello@nextgendebate.org. You can also call or text us at (760) 544-2191.Â