A Bold Idea Takes Root: Steve Orr shares his vision with John C. Whitehead to provide nonprofit development services to small youth-serving organizations at no cost. Together with Jim Duffy, they founded Youth EnterNet of America, laying the groundwork for what would become Youth INC.

First Cohort, First Celebration: Youth EnterNet of America receives tax-exempt status. Five nonprofits participate in the first cohort of fundraising training, culminating in the inaugural Celebration to Benefit New York Kids, with former First Lady Barbara Bush as the first honoree.

Building Momentum: John C. Whitehead recruits leaders including Henry Kravis and Steve Schwarzman to the National Advisory Board. Youth EnterNet launches Net Gain, a sports-access initiative serving 400+ NYC youth, and Ted Virtue joins the Board, helping the organization grow beyond a $1M annual budget.

New Name, Deeper Mission: Alex Navab becomes Board Chair and champions the Board Management & Development Program. Youth EnterNet of America is renamed Youth, Improving Non-profits for Children (Youth, I.N.C.), signaling a sharper focus on strengthening the organizations that serve young people.

Focus and Visibility: After a strategic review, Youth INC narrows its scope to New York-based nonprofits. The organization partners with Jefferies for the first Trading Day for Kids and begins ringing the NASDAQ closing bell, a tradition that continues today.

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Investing in Partners: Youth INC launches its first Fund of Funds grants, issuing $50,000 awards to the Adaptive Design Association and Creative Art Works. The organization expands its board governance work and launches Get On Board, a program that places corporate professionals on nonprofit boards.

Measuring What Matters: A new strategic plan doubles the Partner Network goal from 40 to 80 organizations. Youth INC launches its Metrics Program to help nonprofits measure and maximize their impact on youth, and rebrands its grantmaking initiative as BridgeFund.

A New Chapter: Rehana Farrell succeeds founder Steve Orr as Executive Director, beginning the work of building an independent organization. Youth INC adopts social-emotional learning as a cornerstone of its youth development framework and renames its annual honoree award in honor of the late John C. Whitehead.

Reaching New Milestones: Our Nonprofit Partner Network hits 80 nonprofits, double the 2012 baseline, collectively serving over 300,000 NYC youth annually. Youth INC surpasses $100M raised for New York City youth and begins building a marketing function to match its growing reach.

A Commitment to Equity: Youth INC's Board charges a DEIB Task Force to examine the organization's approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This work accelerates a commitment to equity that shapes programming, governance, and grantmaking in the years ahead.

Rising to the Moment: Youth INC completes a digital transformation in response to COVID-19, launching emergency Financial Analysis & Contingency Planning for more than 75 Nonprofit Partners. The organization raises over $1M for a COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, giving partners unrestricted grants to direct where the need was greatest.

Building for the Future: Youth INC launches Rise Academy for Leaders of Color, elevating emergent BIPOC leaders across the Partner Network. A second round of $1M in COVID recovery grants is funded by Jack Dorsey's #StartSmall Foundation.

A New Strategic Vision: Youth INC adopts Building Stronger Nonprofits, a five-year plan organized around Coaching, Connections, and Capital, and commits to launching an Impact Fund that provides sustained capacity-building capital to Nonprofit Partners.