NATIONAL FOSTER YOUTH INSTITUTE
Revolutionizing the American Foster Care System Through Education, Action, and Lifting Up Foster Youth Voices.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Congressional Shadow Day
The Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Program is a week-long immersive training for up to 100 young people from across the nation with personal experience in the foster care system, the highlight of which is Shadow Day when participants spend one-on-one time with their Congressional representative in Washington, D.C. This program allows current foster youth or alumni of foster care and Members of Congress (MOCs) to meet and learn from one another. Foster youth gain a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative processes, and policymakers hear personal testimony and experiences of youth in the child welfare system. Before Shadow Day, all participants attend trainings to prepare for their meetings with policymakers. These trainings include, strategic sharing, leadership and professional development, government, advocacy and community organizing.
National Voices
Our National Voices program develops platforms for foster youth voices to be lifted up and heard at both the local and federal levels. National Voices develops opportunities for constituents of care to tell their stories, share their ideas, and hone their leadership skills.
Internships
NFYI’s paid internship programs ensure that foster youth voices are the foundation of our work and help prepare participants for future jobs. Only half of former foster youth are employed at the age of 24, resulting in higher rates of poverty and homelessness. By creating internships that support NFYI’s mission and help solidify professional skills, we’re developing the next generation of leaders who are better prepared for the workforce.
Where we work
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Current and former foster youth.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
NATIONAL FOSTER YOUTH INSTITUTE
Board of directorsas of 8/5/2021
Dr. Wendy Smith
USC
Term: 2021 -
Karen Bass
Congresswoman
Yolanda Parker
Senior Advisor
David Herbst
Vectis Strategies
Nii-Quartelai Quartey
AARP
Wendy Smith, Ph.D
USC
Jewels Washington
Private Chef/Author
Nanxi Liu
Enplug
Marcus Scribner
Actor/Activist
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No