What Schultz Family Foundation does

The Schultz Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1996 by Sheri and Howard Schultz (co-founder and former CEO of Starbucks), headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It operates as a philanthropic grantmaking organization deploying an endowed capital base across a portfolio of national programs targeting economic mobility for young Americans aged 16–24, junior enlisted veterans, and youth experiencing homelessness. Core programs include the Youth Mental Health Corps (a near-peer mental health service initiative co-founded with Pinterest and deployed via AmeriCorps), the American Opportunity Index and Where You Work Matters List (independent employer rating systems developed with Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School), Cash Assistance initiatives (HPDF and DCT-P), the Veteran Transition Partnership, The Broken Marketplace research initiative, Transformative Storytelling, and Responsive Giving.

The foundation's technology assets center on proprietary labor-market data products that track career trajectories for over 12 million workers across 1,750 employers and nearly 55,000 occupations, plus a funded AI career-readiness tool (Coach AI, built with CareerVillage). Distribution is not commercial but rather partnership-driven: programs are delivered through 16+ state service commissions, AmeriCorps infrastructure, 50+ nonprofit implementation partners, and documentary-film co-productions. The foundation has no commercial pricing model; revenue is sourced from the founders' endowed capital and co-investments from peer philanthropies such as Pinterest, Ballmer Group, Pivotal Ventures, and the Starbucks Foundation.

The organization runs on a lean 1–10 person staff led by CEO and Vice Chairman Vivek Varma, with co-founders Sheri Kersch Schultz (Chair) and Howard Schultz, four managing directors, a COO/General Counsel, and program officers. Its scale signals include serving more than 1 million youth and community members annually, deploying nearly 1,000 Youth Mental Health Corps members across 440 host sites, and reaching 44,000+ young people with mental health support since 2024.

Name

Schultz Family Foundation

Legal name

Schultz Family Foundation

Website

https://schultzfamilyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Schultz Family Foundation is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation established in 1996 by Sheri and Howard Schultz that grants funds and builds programs to expand economic opportunity for young Americans through youth mental health, career navigation, employer data tools, cash assistance, and veteran transition support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation / Youth Economic Mobility Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

Keywords

• Youth economic mobility
• Philanthropic grant-making
• National service programs
• Workforce development
• Labor market research

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Giving / Grant-making: As a private foundation, the Schultz Family Foundation generates impact through grant-making to nonprofits, social enterprises, and government partnerships rather than commercial revenue. Its revenue model is based on endowed capital from co-founders Sheri and Howard Schultz, deploying funds to support youth economic mobility programs, mental health initiatives, veteran transition services, and emergency responsive giving.
2. National Service Program Funding: The foundation co-funds AmeriCorps national service programs (Youth Mental Health Corps) in partnership with Pinterest and Ballmer Group, where corps members receive stipends while providing mental health support in schools and communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Schultz Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that deploys grant capital and partners with nonprofits, governments, employers, and national service networks to create economic opportunity for young Americans. Its core offerings are grant-funded programs—not commercial products—covering youth mental health service delivery (Youth Mental Health Corps), employer ratings research (American Opportunity Index and Where You Work Matters List), cash assistance for homelessness prevention, veteran transition support, and transformative storytelling investments. Programs are delivered free of charge as public goods through multi-sector partnerships across 17+ U.S. states.

Product overview

The Schultz Family Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded in 1996 by Sheri and Howard Schultz, focused on creating greater economic opportunity accessible to all. The foundation operates a portfolio of grant-funded programs and initiatives rather than a commercial product platform. Core programs include the Youth Mental Health Corps (a near-peer mental health support model deployed across multiple states), the American Opportunity Index and Where You Work Matters List (data-driven employer rating systems), Cash Assistance initiatives for youth homelessness prevention, the Veteran Transition Partnership, Transformative Storytelling projects, and The Broken Marketplace research initiative. These programs represent grant-funded social impact initiatives supported by partnerships with employers, nonprofits, governments, and other philanthropies—not commercial software products or platforms with technical integration capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Mental Health Corps: National service initiative addressing youth mental health crisis through near-peer support, launched in partnership with Pinterest and AmeriCorps.
• American Opportunity Index
• The Broken Marketplace
• Where You Work Matters

Products and services

• Youth Mental Health Corps A national service initiative co-founded with Pinterest that trains young adults (ages 18-24) as near-peer mental health supporters in schools, community centers, and clinics. Corps members earn stipends, gain career training, and complete employer-recognized certifications in mental health navigation and peer support. Deployed across 16 states via state service commissions and AmeriCorps with 440+ host sites, serving 44,000+ young people.
• American Opportunity Index A data-driven rating system evaluating America's largest employers based on how well they create upward mobility for workers, measuring promotions, pay increases, and hiring practices. The Index analyzes real-world outcomes for 5.4 million+ employees at 395 of America's largest companies using independent labor-market data including resumes, career updates on social media, pay data, and job postings. Provided free as a public good.
• Where You Work Matters List The first-ever independent rating system evaluating 1,750 major U.S. employers on career opportunity creation based on real-world outcomes for over 12 million workers across nearly 55,000 occupations. Measures changes in pay, mobility, and retention role-by-role rather than relying on employee surveys or self-reporting. Awards include 350 Platinum-rated employers and 22 companies achieving Platinum across all three opportunity archetypes (early-career, growth, stability).
• Cash Assistance Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of Youth Mental Health Corps members employed or enrolled in higher education within 6 months of completing service
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

71 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core, supporting, state implementation and major.

• Pinterestflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Pinterest co-founded the Youth Mental Health Corps with the Schultz Family Foundation in 2024. Pinterest has invested $30 million in Impact Partners working on youth mental health programs. Pinterest CEO Bill Ready stated the company is proud to support the Youth Mental Health Corps expansion. Pinterest brings technology platform reach and additional funding to the partnership.
• AmeriCorpsflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AmeriCorps serves as the national service infrastructure for the Youth Mental Health Corps, deploying AmeriCorps members as near-peer mental health supporters in schools, clinics, and community centers across participating states.
• America's Service CommissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization representing state service commissions that implement Youth Mental Health Corps programs at the state level across 16 states.
• National Council for Mental WellbeingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health expertise and programming guidance for Youth Mental Health Corps curriculum and member training.
• Peer Health ExchangesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing peer support programming methodology and content for Youth Mental Health Corps near-peer mentor training.
• InsideTracksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education navigation partner supporting Youth Mental Health Corps member development and career pathway planning.
• National Science & Service Collaborative at ServeMinnesotasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch-to-practice partner providing evaluation and learning support for Youth Mental Health Corps implementation.
• California Volunteers Fundstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps in California, one of the original 4 launch states.
• Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovationstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState government department that launched Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps in 2025, deploying 36 Corps members across 10 host sites in its inaugural year.
• Serve Coloradostate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps with Lt. Governor and Behavioral Health Administration participation.
• ServeMinnesotastate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMinnesota state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps with near-peer counseling program for students.
• Michigan Community Service Commissionstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichigan state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps program.
• Nevada Volunteersstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNevada state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps under Governor Joe Lombardo's leadership.
• New Jersey Commission on National and Community Servicestate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Jersey state commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps for 2026-2027 expansion.
• New York State Commission for National & Community Servicestate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew York state commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerismstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOhio state commission planning Youth Mental Health Corps launch in 2027.
• OneStar Foundationstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Oregon Servesstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOregon state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Serve Virginiastate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVirginia state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Serve Washingtonstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWashington state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Serve Kentuckystate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKentucky state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps with Governor Andy Beshear's support.
• UServeUtahstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUtah state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Volunteer Iowastate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIowa state service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Volunteer Louisianastate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLouisiana planning Youth Mental Health Corps launch in 2027.
• Engage Arkansasstate implementationChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArkansas service commission implementing Youth Mental Health Corps for 2026-2027 expansion.
• Burning Glass Instituteflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner with Schultz Family Foundation and Harvard Business School to create and maintain the Where You Work Matters List, analyzing outcomes for over 12 million workers at 1,750 employers. The Burning Glass Institute is a nonprofit data laboratory developing novel datasets to construct models, metrics, and benchmarks for economic mobility.
• Harvard Business School Project on Managing the Future of Workflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research methodology and thought leadership for the American Opportunity Index and Where You Work Matters List. The partnership brings Harvard's academic credibility and research infrastructure to labor market analysis.
• American Opportunity Indexflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Opportunity Index was launched by the Schultz Family Foundation in partnership with Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School in 2022 as a tool for the public good to raise awareness about the critical role businesses play in creating economic opportunity.
• WestEdmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent research organization conducting evaluation of Youth Mental Health Corps outcomes. WestEd evaluation found reductions in behavioral referrals, improved attendance, and increase in students proactively seeking mental health support at schools with YMHC members.
• CodePathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing comprehensive, no-cost technical training and mentorship to computer science students, creating direct pathways to opportunities at leading tech companies. CodePath is reshaping tech education to cultivate the next generation of CTOs and founders.
• BravencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner empowering first-generation college students to transition from college to strong first jobs through a for-credit career accelerator course with leadership coaches and near-peer mentors.
• Project BastacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner creating bridge of opportunity between employers and first-generation college students of color, working to increase workforce diversity at all levels through mentorship, coaching, and job search support.
• Girls Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy in partnership with schools and Girls Inc. centers, focusing on development of the whole girl.
• SkillUp CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nonprofit helping workers without college degrees access career paths offering stability and growth through free career navigation tools, short-term training programs, and job matching. Leverages social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for reach.
• CareerVillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner nonprofit democratizing access to career information and guidance, particularly for underrepresented youth. Developed Coach AI career development tool with foundation support, used by career navigation organizations.
• Jobs for the FuturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner working to ensure all Americans can benefit from changing economy by connecting education and career systems.
• Boys & Girls Club of King CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle-area partner providing youth development programs and services, aligned with foundation's hometown focus on improving opportunity for Seattle youth.
• American Student AssistancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner focused on helping students access and succeed in career pathways.
• Juma VenturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth employment and financial stability programs.
• Washington STEMsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington state partner working to advance STEM education and career pathways.
• YWCA of Seattle – King County – Snohomish CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing workforce development and economic empowerment services for women and people of color in the Seattle region.
• Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle high school partner providing college preparatory education with work-study programs.
• Point Source YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Targeted Housing Assistance Program providing one-time cash payments and support services to prevent youth homelessness. Point Source Youth's program has launched across 7 cities nationally.
• Building ChangescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington state partner leading the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) initiative that achieved 93% stable housing rate and contributed to 40% reduction in youth homelessness.
• Africatown InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on youth homelessness solutions.
• USOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner beginning delivery of navigation services while military personnel are still on active duty, providing early intervention support for the junior enlisted population.
• Hire Heroes USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner providing employment-focused services to junior enlisted veterans during and after their transition from military service.
• American Corporate PartnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner providing mentorship and career development support for transitioning service members and veterans.
• Syracuse University Institute for Veterans & Military FamiliessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner providing research, program development, and thought leadership for veteran employment initiatives.
• Combined ArmssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner improving access to veteran services and employment resources.
• HesperussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner providing employment support services.
• Still Serving VeteranssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner serving transitioning veterans.
• VetJobs.comsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran Transition Partnership partner providing employment placement services.
• Breakwater StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company that co-produced 'I Got My Brother' documentary about siblings Jarrett and Baylon Harper who survived abuse in the Los Angeles foster care system. Breakwater Studios produced the SXSW-winning short film with Get Lifted Film Co. and LA Times Studios.
• L.A. Times StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia production partner co-producing 'I Got My Brother' documentary with Breakwater Studios and Get Lifted Film Co. L.A. Times Short Docs released the film on Juneteenth 2026.
• Get Lifted Film Co.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company founded by EGOT-winner John Legend, co-producing 'I Got My Brother' documentary with Breakwater Studios and L.A. Times Studios.
• Lady & Bird FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company that co-produced 'Speak.' documentary which premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2025, featuring five high schoolers competing in a major speaking competition.
• Trilogy FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company producing documentary on the untold story of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, directed by Dawn Porter, in partnership with the foundation.
• Vox Pop FilmssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production partner for storytelling initiatives.
• Joy CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for storytelling projects focused on joy and youth empowerment.
• GrownKidsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast co-hosted by former 'Teenager Therapy' creators, supported by foundation for content exploring young adulthood realities, career paths, and purpose.
• Welcome to America ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona-based refugee support organization providing warm welcomes, community, and essentials to newly-arrived refugees in Tempe, supported through the foundation's refugee response.
• Welcome Neighbor STLsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Louis-based refugee welcome organization supported through the foundation's refugee response initiatives.
• Seattle KrakenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of One Roof Stadium Partnership consortium redeveloping Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center. Seattle Kraken owner Samantha Holloway provided $5 million lead gift. Foundation partnered with ORSP to create experiential space for Seattle youth career exploration.
• CareerVillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supported development of Coach AI career development tool for underrepresented youth. Eleven partner organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, MassHire, Generation.org, Year Up, Per Scholas, and school districts are deploying Coach to thousands of learners.
• Generation.orgsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJob-training nonprofit using Coach AI tool to support program alumni across the US and internationally.
• Year UpsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJob-training nonprofit using Coach AI tool to support program alumni.
• Per ScholassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuition-free job training provider running pilot studies with Coach AI tool for current students and alumni.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay AreasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship organization using Coach AI tool to supplement youth programs in California.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MassachusettssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship organization using Coach AI tool to supplement youth programs in Massachusetts.
• MENTOR CaliforniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship organization using Coach AI tool in California programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ballmer Group: Founded by Steve and Connie Ballmer, Ballmer Group is a direct peer focused on economic mobility for children and families in the U.S., with major investments in workforce development and education — the same target outcomes as Schultz Family Foundation, and a confirmed co-investor in Youth Mental Health Corps expansion.
• Strada Education Foundation: Strada focuses on education-to-employment pathways through research, philanthropy, and philanthropic advising — directly comparable to Schultz Family Foundation's career navigation, employer quality research (American Opportunity Index), and youth economic mobility focus.
• ECMC Foundation: ECMC Foundation invests in career navigation, postsecondary education, and workforce development — closely aligned with Schultz Family Foundation's youth opportunity strategy, including first-generation college student support and career pathway research.
• Robin Hood Foundation: Robin Hood is a major poverty-fighting foundation using evidence-based grant-making, data analytics, and program evaluation to fight poverty in New York City — comparable evidence-based philanthropic model targeting economic mobility, with similar data-driven culture.
• Tipping Point Community: Bay Area-based anti-poverty foundation using venture philanthropy to scale programs in housing, education, and employment. Comparable mission scope around youth economic mobility and partnership-based delivery model.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: Major national foundation focused on child welfare, youth development, and economic mobility — directly comparable to Schultz Family Foundation's youth-focused programming, with deeper geographic reach and longer operating history.
• Joyce Foundation: Chicago-based foundation investing in workforce development, education, and economic mobility — comparable programmatic focus on connecting young people to economic opportunity through employer partnerships and policy.
• Pivotal Ventures: Founded by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal Ventures invests in workforce development, gender equity, and youth economic mobility — overlapping mission with Schultz Family Foundation, and a confirmed financial partner in Youth Mental Health Corps.
• Stand Together Foundation: Community-focused foundation fighting poverty through supporting social entrepreneurs and direct-service nonprofits — comparable grant-making approach targeting opportunity for underserved populations, and a confirmed partner in the Schultz-led refugee response fund.

Broad incumbents

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest private foundation in the U.S., with major programs in U.S. education and economic mobility — broader portfolio and vastly larger scale than Schultz Family Foundation, but overlapping target outcomes around college and career pathways for low-income young Americans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schultz-family-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/schultzfamilyfoundation
• Xx.com/schultzfamilyfd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments21 records

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Frequently asked questions about Schultz Family Foundation