About NFTE
The NFTE 2011 Dare to Dream Gala is SOLD OUT.
Learn More About NFTE:
What is NFTE?
Over its 25 years of existence, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship has grown from a drop-out prevention program in one New York City high school into a comprehensive global youth engagement program with entrepreneurship education at the center. NFTE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide programs that inspire young people from low-income communities to stay in school, to recognize business opportunities and to plan for successful futures. Our vision is that all young people can find their path to success. Our goal is that all of our NFTE students will graduate high school and will have developed behaviors and skills required to be college- and career-ready.
Today, NFTE is widely viewed as a global leader in youth entrepreneurship, with programs in 21 states and 10 foreign countries. Since 1987, NFTE has served nearly 350,000 young people worldwide and since launching in Washington, DC in 1994, has reached 22,700 young people locally.
NFTE DC Region's target audience is young people ages 11-18 from low-income schools in our market area of the National Capital Region, encompassing Washington, DC, Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, MD, and parts of Northern Virginia. We consider a school to have low-income status when at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Why Youth Entrepreneurship?
NFTE is real world, relevant, and engaging. By connecting academics to real life through entrepreneurship education, NFTE helps young people see the relevance of school and motivates them to make a critical decision: to graduate.
We believe and have shown that with a full 80 hours, a great curriculum, a trained public school teacher and strong classroom support services, we can engage students, teach them critical math and literacy skills and put them on the path to graduation - a prerequisite for success in today's world.
"The president should also vow to bring the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, or NFTE, to every low-income neighborhood in America." — Thomas Friedman, New York Times
What is the Impact?
Research has shown powerful connections between NFTE's program and increased school engagement among hard-to-reach youth, as well as increased interest in attending college.
- In a study carried out by Harvard Graduate School of Education, we found that nationally NFTE students' interest in attending college increased 32% while the comparison group's interest decreased 17%.
- Internal evaluation of NFTE DC Region students during the 2009-2010 school year found the following outcomes:
- 89% felt that the NFTE program had “a great deal of positive influence” or “a good influence” on their life.
- 93% started working towards a business plan, 81% completed such a plan, 62% presented the plan in class, and 41% started a business.
- Students' entrepreneurial knowledge increased by 10% after completing the program.
- More NFTE DC students (33%) increased their aspirations to pursue college and higher degrees, compared to students who decreased them (24%) following the NFTE program.
- 97% said they would recommend the program to others.
- 47% found the NFTE program to be as important as other classes to their overall education and an additional 36% found the NFTE program more important.
- Qualitative Research on NFTE DC Region by Dr. Susan Harmeling, PHD of Howard University, shows that NFTE programs are part of a young persons transformation process that brings youth access and a fundamental "re-storying" of their life vision.
NFTE DC Region Website
NFTE Website
For more information, please contact:
Kate Palmer Kate.Palmer@nfte.com or Julie Kantor Julie.Kantor@nfte.com or 202-467-6383
