Three Decades Supporting Youth in and Aging Out of Foster Care
For three decades, New Yorkers For Children has stood alongside young people with lived experience in foster care, supporting youth transitioning from foster care to college, careers, and independent adulthood in New York City.
Founded in 1996 as the nonprofit partner to New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services, NYFC fills critical gaps in the child welfare system, bringing private resources, innovation, and community support where public systems alone cannot reach.
At the center of this work is a simple belief: young people with foster care experience deserve not only support, but the opportunity to lead, shape, and influence the systems that serve them.
Over the past thirty years, NYFC and its community of supporters have invested deeply in that vision, supporting young people as they pursue higher education, overcome unexpected crises, and build the foundation for long-term economic stability and wellbeing.
For thirty years, this work has been made possible by a community of supporters who believe that young people with foster care experience deserve opportunity, stability, and the chance to thrive. As we look toward the next decade, we invite you to be part of what comes next.
Thirty Years Expanding Opportunity
More than $1.27 million distributed through Emergency Grants, providing rapid financial assistance that has prevented eviction, covered medical costs, paid for groceries, and helped young people remain in school or the workforce. In a recent survey, 67% of recipients reported that their grant fully resolved their crisis, while 61% reported greater financial stability afterward.
More than $80 million invested to support youth in and aging out of foster care across New York City.
More than 15,000 laptops distributed and over $4.7 million invested through the Back to School Program, ensuring that young people entering college have the technology and financial resources needed to succeed.
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Mar 5, 2026
1996
NYFC is founded by Nicholas Scoppetta as the nonprofit partner to NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services.
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Mar 5, 2026
1999
The Back to School Program launches, providing laptops and financial support to young people in foster care entering college.
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Mar 5, 2026
2006
NYFC launches its scholarship program, Guardian Scholars, later renamed Nick’s Scholars in honor of founder Nicholas Scoppetta.
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Mar 5, 2026
2010
The first cohort of Guardian Scholars graduates from college.
The support, mentorships, and resources provided have not only helped me grow academically but also personally and professionally. The program fosters a genuine sense of community, where every scholar is empowered to dream big and given the tools to make those dreams a reality. I’ve gained confidence, clarity in my goals, and lifelong friendships. It’s more than just a scholarship – it’s a family, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of it. Alyh H.
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Mar 12, 2026
2012
The Emergency Grants Program launches to ensure that young people are not forced to leave school or employment due to short-term financial crises.
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Mar 12, 2026
2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYFC distributes more than $700,000 in emergency assistance to nearly 900 young people.
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Mar 12, 2026
2021
The Post Permanency Support Program launches to provide families with services following adoption or kinship guardianship.
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Mar 12, 2026
2022
The Community Catalyst Fund (formerly known as the Small Grants Program) launches to support grassroots organizations advancing innovative approaches in child welfare.
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Mar 24, 2026
2025
ACS and New Yorkers For Children announce the launch of Career Choice, which supports youth in foster care to thrive in vocational education and secure a living-wage job.
Nick’s Scholars is like home. Tonia R.
I was trying to stretch what I had to buy food for my kids. NYFC’s help came through right when we needed it.
— Tanganika M,
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Mar 12, 2026
2023
NYFC participates in a first-of-its-kind Direct Cash Transfer pilot, providing $1,000 monthly payments for 12 months to young people who have aged out of foster care.
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Mar 12, 2026
2023
Cohort Connection launches, scaling our proven strategies to support New York City youth who have aged out of foster care to persist and thrive in higher education.
College Success for NYFC Scholars
When I was transitioning out of foster care, I was also learning how to live on my own for the first time while trying to stay focused on school. For many young people aging out of care, that period can feel overwhelming. You are suddenly responsible for everything while still trying to continue your education and build a future.
Being part of New Yorkers for Children’s Nick’s Scholars Program made a meaningful difference during that time. The support helped relieve some of the pressure of living independently and allowed me to stay focused on my education. Just as important, it reminded me that there were people who believed in my potential and wanted to invest in my success.
Since then, I have tried to pay that support forward through my work. I have been involved in youth advocacy efforts focused on improving housing and opportunities for young people aging out of foster care, including organizing youth-led policy conversations and conducting research on where foster youth are placed in supportive housing across New York City. Today, I am pursuing a master’s degree at NYU in public policy and continuing to advocate for systems that give young people from care the stability and opportunity they deserve.
Programs like Nick’s Scholars show what is possible when young people are given the support to focus on their education and their future. Cheyanne D
Innovative Support
Community Calayst Fund
Through the Community Catalyst Fund, NYFC has strengthened New York City’s child welfare ecosystem by investing in 16 grassroots organizations, helping them expand programs, build organizational capacity, and scale promising solutions for youth and families.
Direct Cash Transfer Pilot
NYFC participated in a groundbreaking Direct Cash Transfer pilot for youth aging out of foster care, which demonstrated measurable improvements in financial stability, wellbeing, and employment participation. Findings from this work helped inform a $1.5 million City-backed guaranteed income initiative supporting young New Yorkers transitioning to independent adulthood.
As NYFC enters its fourth decade, we remain committed to ensuring that young people with foster care experience have the resources, community, and opportunities needed to thrive. Guided by youth voice and grounded in evidence, NYFC will continue advancing innovative programs that support education, economic mobility, and long-term wellbeing.
Together with our partners and supporters, we are building the next generation of opportunity.