Advocates for Children

What Advocates for Children does

Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal and advocacy organization founded in 1971 and headquartered at 151 West 30th Street, 5th Floor in Manhattan. AFC's mission is to ensure a high-quality education for New York City students who face barriers to academic success, with a primary focus on students from low-income backgrounds. The organization operates with a 50+ member staff of attorneys, advocates, and education specialists.

AFC delivers a unified portfolio of free services organized around three pillars: (1) Direct Support & Training, anchored by the Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline, free legal representation, and know-your-rights trainings offered in 10+ languages; (2) Policy Advocacy, including policy reports, City and State testimony, and coalition coordination; and (3) Impact Litigation, including class actions and amicus briefs. The work is delivered through eight named programs/projects (Project Thrive, School Justice Project, Immigrant Students' Rights Project, Parent Center, Robin Hood Project, Early Childhood Education Project, Postsecondary Readiness Project, and Project LIT) and four coalitions (ARISE, Coalition for Equitable Education Funding, Coalition for Multiple Pathways to a Diploma, and The Transition Alliance).

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: AFC does not charge families for any services. Funding comes from foundation grants (Altman Foundation, Robin Hood, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and others), government contracts (NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NY State Office of Court Administration, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration, IOLA Fund), individual donations, and a Leadership Circle of major donors making three-year pledges. The Pro Bono Partners Program with 20+ law firms extends legal capacity. AFC reports serving 6,000+ families per year with direct services, 10,000+ individuals via trainings/webinars annually, securing adoption of 20+ policy initiatives per year, and protecting the right to learn for all 1.1 million NYC public school students through litigation outcomes. Leadership includes Executive Director Maria Odom, COO Melkis Alvarez-Baez, and Deputy Director Matthew Lenaghan.

Name

Advocates for Children

Legal name

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.

Website

https://advocatesforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Advocates for Children of New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal and advocacy organization, founded in 1971, that provides free direct services, know-your-rights training, policy advocacy, and impact litigation to protect education rights for New York City students from low-income backgrounds, including students with disabilities, immigrants, and foster or homeless youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Rights Advocacy / Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Education rights advocacy
• Legal aid services
• Special education advocacy
• Educational policy reform
• Pro bono legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: AFC receives generous support from foundations including Altman Foundation, The Lily Auchincloss Foundation, The Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, Robin Hood, and many others listed on their supporters page.
2. Government Funding: Government agencies provide funding including IOLA Fund of the State of New York, New York City Department of Youth & Community Development, New York State Office of Court Administration, United States Department of Education, and United States Rehabilitation Services Administration.
3. Individual Donations: 87 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to helping children. The organization accepts one-time donations, recurring gifts, planned gifts, tribute gifts, and stock transfers.
4. Leadership Circle Major Gifts: AFC's Leadership Circle is a community of major donors who make significant three-year pledges providing critical long-term funding. Four levels of participation with event invitations and public recognition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFC is a nonprofit legal and advocacy organization providing free direct services to NYC families whose children face barriers to education. Core services include the Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline (phone intake and triage), free one-on-one guidance and legal representation in school-related matters, free know-your-rights trainings and workshops for parents and professionals, and policy advocacy plus impact litigation aimed at systemic education reform. All services are delivered at no cost to qualifying families and focus on students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, immigrant and English Language Learner students, students in temporary housing or foster care, and court-involved youth.

Product overview

Advocates for Children of New York is a nonprofit legal and advocacy organization offering a unified portfolio of free services focused on protecting education rights for NYC students. The core service model combines direct client support through the Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline and free legal representation, with know-your-rights trainings and workshops, and systemic impact litigation. These are supported by specialized projects including Project Thrive for disability advocacy, the Parent Center for community education, the Early Childhood Education Project, Postsecondary Readiness Project for older students, Immigrant Students' Rights Project, and School Justice Project for disciplinary matters. The organization also coordinates coalitions including ARISE and leads policy advocacy efforts. All services are free to qualifying families and focus on students from low-income backgrounds facing barriers to education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Thrive: Free legal representation and in-depth case advocacy for low-income families needing support obtaining appropriate school services for preschool and school-aged children with disabilities.
• School Justice Project
• Immigrant Students' Rights Project
• Parent Center
• Robin Hood Project
• Early Childhood Education Project
• Postsecondary Readiness Project
• Project LIT

Products and services

• Jill Chaifetz Education Helpline Free phone helpline providing education specialists who assess problems and provide assistance ranging from self-help information to case representation, available Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm at (866) 427-6033. The helpline is the primary entry point for NYC families seeking help with education rights issues.
• Know-Your-Rights Trainings & Workshops Hundreds of free trainings, webinars, and workshops conducted year-round for NYC parents, students, and professionals on topics including special education, discipline, immigrant rights, enrollment, and transportation. Reaches more than 10,000 people annually in English and Spanish.
• Impact Litigation Legal action including class actions, lawsuits on behalf of individuals, and amicus briefs to ensure access to quality education for NYC students and compel systemic education reform. AFC's impact litigation has reached all 1.1 million students in NYC public schools.
• Policy Advocacy Systemic policy reform efforts based on on-the-ground experience helping families, including issuing policy reports, meeting with elected leaders, testifying at public hearings, and advocating for changes to education policies at City and State levels. AFC secured adoption of more than 20 policy initiatives last year.
• Guides, Tip Sheets & Educational Resources Free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and resources available in multiple languages to help families navigate the NYC public school system, covering topics such as enrollment, special education, transportation, and more.
• Project Thrive Free legal representation and in-depth case advocacy for low-income families needing support obtaining appropriate school services for preschool and school-aged children with disabilities.
• AFC Parent Center Free NYC educational rights workshops, community education events in English or Spanish, and know-your-rights resources supported by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, helping families navigate the school system.
• Early Childhood Education Project Individual case assistance, community education, and policy advocacy to improve access and equity in early childhood education, focusing on children with developmental delays, immigrant families, and children in temporary housing.
• Postsecondary Readiness Project Support for older students in high school and beyond, including help finding educational programs, securing placements and services, and planning for college, jobs, and independent living.
• Immigrant Students' Rights Project Direct assistance to immigrant families navigating NYC public schools, including special education representation, ELL program enrollment, and help for older immigrant youth finding appropriate schools.
• School Justice Project Direct services for families of students facing court involvement, school discipline, or behavioral or mental health challenges, including advocacy for necessary support services.
• Project LIT Literacy initiative focused on improving reading instruction and providing targeted interventions for students struggling to become proficient readers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps 6,000+ families per year with one-on-one guidance, in-depth assistance, or legal representation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Robin HoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Since 2004, AFC has partnered with Robin Hood to provide legal advocacy and in-depth case assistance to at-risk families on education-related matters. The Robin Hood Project provides legal advocacy and in-depth case assistance to at-risk families, with staff conducting trainings and workshops to build capacity of partner agencies.
• Ali Forney CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization partner providing services to runaway and homeless youth; part of Robin Hood Project network.
• Safe horizonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing domestic violence services; part of Robin Hood-funded network working with AFC on education-related matters for affected families.
• Sanctuary for FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing services to survivors of domestic violence; part of Robin Hood network addressing family education needs.
• SCO Family of ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization partner serving children and families; part of Robin Hood Project network.
• Avenues for JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency working with court-involved youth; part of Robin Hood network addressing education access.
• Goddard Riverside Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization; part of Robin Hood-funded network supporting education advocacy.
• Arnold & PorterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm in AFC's Pro Bono Partners Program, providing dedicated partner and coordinator, taking on additional cases in education law.
• Greenberg Traurig, LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm in AFC's Pro Bono Partners Program; provides dedicated partner and coordinator; takes on additional pro bono education cases.
• O'Melveny & Myers LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm in AFC's Pro Bono Partners Program; develops expertise and expands pro bono capacity for education law cases.
• Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm providing pro bono legal representation for families seeking educational support through AFC referrals.
• Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm partner developing expertise in education law while providing additional pro bono case capacity.
• Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship firm in Pro Bono Partners Program providing dedicated partner, coordinator, and additional cases.
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner providing legal representation for education cases referred by AFC.
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner providing legal representation for families in education cases.
• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner in AFC's network providing education law representation.
• Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner providing legal services for education cases through AFC referral network.
• Proskauer Rose LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner providing legal representation for education matters.
• Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro bono partner providing legal services for education cases.
• ARISE CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by AFC in 2008, a diverse group of parents, educators, and advocates working together to improve education of students with disabilities in NYC public schools.
• Coalition for Equitable Education FundingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC co-coordinates this coalition working to achieve equitable education funding.
• Coalition for Multiple Pathways to a DiplomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC coordinates this coalition addressing graduation pathways for students.
• The Transition AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC coordinates this alliance focused on transition services for students with disabilities.
• SinergiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in New York Region 1 Parent Training and Information Center Collaborative, coordinating parent centers for NYC and Long Island.
• IncludeNYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Parent Training and Information Center Collaborative serving children with disabilities.
• Long Island Advocacy CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Regional Parent Training and Information Center Collaborative.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Justice Center: NYC-based legal services and advocacy organization serving marginalized populations through direct representation and policy advocacy. Comparable in funding model (grants, government contracts, donations) and service delivery approach.
• Legal Aid Society: NYC-based legal services organization providing free civil and criminal representation to low-income New Yorkers, including significant education and special education advocacy work. Directly comparable to AFC in geography, mission, and pro bono-driven model.
• New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): NYC-based nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers, with programs serving immigrant families, students with disabilities, and education-related matters. Closely comparable in model, geography, and target populations to AFC.
• Public Counsel: Largest pro bono law firm in the United States, providing free legal services to under-resourced communities including significant education and children's rights work. Comparable in pro bono partnership-driven model and broad civil legal services scope.
• Disability Rights Advocates: Disability-focused legal advocacy nonprofit pursuing impact litigation and policy reform for people with disabilities, including significant education-related work. Directly comparable in special education legal advocacy and class action litigation approach.
• Center for Law and Education: National nonprofit focused specifically on education equity through legal advocacy, policy reform, and training for advocates serving low-income students and students with disabilities. Closely comparable in education-rights-specific legal advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Defense Fund: National nonprofit advocating for children's rights, including education access, with both direct programs and large-scale policy advocacy. Comparable mission but national scope and broader child welfare focus beyond education.

Emerging players

• National Center for Youth Law: California-based nonprofit using impact litigation and policy advocacy to improve outcomes for children, particularly in education, immigration, and foster care. Directly comparable in legal advocacy + policy model, though geographically focused on California.

Regional players

• Education Law Center: New Jersey and Pennsylvania-based legal advocacy organization dedicated to improving education for low-income students and students with disabilities through representation and policy work. Highly comparable in education-rights model but geographically separate from AFC's NYC focus.
• Children's Law Center: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing legal services and advocacy for children in education, foster care, and juvenile justice matters. Highly comparable in integrated direct-service-plus-advocacy model serving vulnerable children.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/afcnyc
• Xx.com/afcnewyork
• Facebookfacebook.com/advocatesforchildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advocates-for-children-of-new-york

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advocates for Children