Opportunity, Philosophy and Approach

We are a powerful community of influencers, experts, promising nonprofits and over 250,000 young people committed to making our city’s next generation our city’s best generation.

OPPORTUNITY

New York is a city of endless opportunity, but not all our youth have the resources they need to meet their potential. Without help, many of the city’s children will be left without the support they need to get them through high school and into a supportive work environment. 

New York City is full of people who want to make the greatest city on earth even greater, by providing support for those who need it most and stepping up to solve problems. There are more than 1,500 youth-serving nonprofit organizations in New York City, all trying to make this city a better place. 

However, with all these different organizations and limited resources, it can be difficult to ensure philanthropic dollars are well spent. This is where Youth INC’s Venture Philanthropy approach makes all the difference.

philosophy

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We are a network and community of youth-centered nonprofits.

November 2020

We believe improving the lives of NYC youth requires a collective movement. Knowledge sharing and peer exchange are critical to building a community of learning organizations sustainable enough to tackle the well-being and long-term success of NYC’s young people.

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We strengthen organizations that help young people succeed.

Feb 2021

Organizations – and individuals - need stamina, agility, and adaptability to flourish. Youth INC partners with youth-development nonprofit organizations to enhance organizational advancement so that those nonprofits can root down in their communities and out into the city to build thriving future generations.

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We follow our ethos of Listen, Learn, and Evolve.
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May 2020

We intentionally design our work by listening to the needs of our partners, taking positive risks and learning by doing, and evolving our programs and approach as that learning takes shape. We believe in shared goal-setting with our partners that blends industry best practices and bespoke goals that reflect their unique needs.

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We partner with small to mid-size youth-development
nonprofits.

May 2020

We believe in targeting support to small and mid-size organizations because these groups have proven a demonstrated need for their work, but now need the support and partnership to grow. With limited resources for middle-market groups, we are a key resource for capacity-building support.
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We work intentionally with nonprofit executive leadership.

May 2020

We work with nonprofit executive leadership.  We work with executive directors, board, and senior staff – because they are the culture-shapers and keepers. Strong management practices mean agile organizations.
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We are a bridge between the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

December 2020

We believe that by harnessing business practice, strategy, and the unrestricted resources corporate partners have to bear, our nonprofit partners can build their skills and abilities to manage the constant transition and turbulence that goes hand-in-hand with organizational growth and development.

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We practice venture philanthropy model.

December 2020

Our venture philanthropy model marries a deep commitment to impact complex social issues with the spirit of investment, resulting in high engagement, long-term relationships with our nonprofit partners, along with a focus on metrics and data-driven decision-making.

OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH

Youth INC takes a uniquely holistic approach to address the various needs of nonprofits, from improving fundraising practices and building boards to funding critical infrastructure. By applying the best practices from the corporate, academic, and nonprofit sectors, we empower our Nonprofit Partners with the tools to achieve sustainable growth.

COVID-19 Response Fund

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Youth INC has distributed more than $1 million to our nonprofit partners to help cover critical expenses. We’re also providing real-time access to information, resources, and pro-bono resources to shepherd our nonprofit partners through this uncertain landscape.
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Fund Development

We engage our partners in immersive learning experiences and strategic methods for effective fundraising, including components of successful fund development, philosophy and approach, and supporting our partners to develop intentional content and amplify their stories.
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Agile Strategy Planning Lab

An intensive 10-week process designed to address some of the most common problems of a traditional strategic planning process. The Lab consists of small, cohort-based learning and action, allowing for a balance of invaluable co-learning and individualized attention.
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Impact
Evaluation

This two-year program helps organizations quantify program measures and qualify their impact using a Social Emotional Learning evaluation tool. Partners measure a core set of SEL outcomes and build continuous enhancements into their program design, gradually improving outcomes for the young people served.

Governance
& Leadership

We work with our partners to build the leadership capacity of their board and develop accountability structures, shared leadership models, and a culture of belonging. We also help our partners create a plan that addresses leadership practices, governance strategies, and succession planning.
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Creating
Connections

We cultivate our networks to create pro-bono partnerships between corporate and nonprofit, leveraging business best practices and enhancing financial, strategic, and organizational growth. We facilitate matchmaking between corporate partner professionals and nonprofit partner boards and heighten peer exchange.

Capital
Raising

Since 2008, Youth INC has made almost $4.5M in grants to our Nonprofit Partners. Through our grant-making process, we provide capital investments for infrastructure needs, furthering growth and development. We also make capital introductions to individuals and corporate partners  interested in providing deeper engagement and support.
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Mission & VisionIn the NewsBoard of DirectorsResources for Nonprofits
CareersFinancialsPrivacy StatementTerms of Use