NEW YORK, July 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over the past 10 years, Youth INC has issued over $3M in BridgeFund cash grants to 34 of our nonprofit partners.  Unlike most foundations, Youth INC’s cash grants are directed  exclusively  to building organizational capacity.  “Youth INC’s Board is comprised of business leaders who know that the best organizations invest in developing a strong foundation.  So we take a unique approach by not funding programs, but rather the infrastructure needed to succeed and scale,” said Evan Wildstein, Partner, Kohlberg & Co, and Youth INC Board Vice President.

2018 marks Youth INC’s 10 th  year of funding vital positions and infrastructure needs for its network of 80 youth-centered nonprofit partners.  Of the 44 grant requests totaling $1.6MM this year,  6 Youth INC partner nonprofits were awarded a grant of $50,000 each: 

  • Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP)
  • Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
  • Minds Matter NYC
  • Opening Act
  • PowerPlay NYC
  • viBe Theater Experience

 “The Youth INC BridgeFund grant allows us to hire our first administrative assistant, which frees up critical leadership time and thereby enables us to expand our arts programs for the most vulnerable young people in NYC, with a growth rate of 333% over the next two years,” exclaimed Suzy Meyers Jackson, Executive Director of Opening Act. 

CVC Capital Partners, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, invested in Youth INC this year citing the creative and practical ways that Youth INC supports its nonprofit partners. “Youth INC’s BridgeFund grant program enables our company to invest in the community, and allows our employees to participate in monitoring the grants as we help the nonprofit with their progress toward sustainable growth,” said James Christopoulos, Managing Director of CVC and Youth INC Board member.  

Van Cleef & Arpels, the High Jewelry Maison founded in Paris, also joined Youth INC’s circle of supporters this year with a BridgeFund investment for Youth INC’s partner Artists Striving to End Poverty.  “Van Cleef & Arpels shares its mission of supporting education, arts and culture with so many of Youth INC’s partners.  We are thrilled to join with Youth INC to support their BridgeFund grant program while engaging our own employees in the work year-round,” said Alain Bernard, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels Americas.

“We are extremely grateful for the visionary support of Van Cleef & Arpels and CVC Capital Partners, two leading companies who are making a difference in the lives of youth in NYC, while providing their employees with outreach opportunities in the process,” said Lauren Elicks McCort, Director of Programs at Youth INC.”

About Youth INC Youth INC’s mission is to transform the lives of NYC youth by empowering the organizations that serve them.  Youth INC’s network of 80 grassroots nonprofits collectively champion the lives of more than 220,000 young people across New York City.  Youth INC provides our nonprofit partners with the coaching, capital and connections to achieve sustainable growth and maximize their impact.  Our fundraising, governance and impact evaluation programs yield incredible results.  Over the course of a partnership with Youth INC, our partners experience average growth in revenue of 173%, in board size of 33%, and in youth served of 157%.  Our nonprofit partners using our pioneering Metrics Platform demonstrate 80% growth in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) that scholars agree is the most predictive indicator of success in school, career and life.  Since inception, our venture philanthropy model has raised over $85M and empowered over 170 nonprofits, impacting the lives of 1,000,000 NYC youth.

www.youthinc-usa.org   

- For Inquiries contact Ariel Ingber  aingber@youthinc-usa.org  -