Foster Pride

What Foster Pride does

Foster Pride is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 by Lynn Schnurnberger to empower youth in foster care and from underserved communities through long-term mentoring relationships and arts-based programming. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single product: after-school art classes (I Made It Myself), supervised-visit art programming (Art is Messy | Life is Messy), the HandMade social-enterprise crochet line, paid internships ($20/hr) at partner organizations, financial literacy and career-readiness workshops, the Blavatnik Family Education Fund scholarship program, cultural enrichment experiences, and the Second Story clothing-distribution program. Programs are delivered in person at partner foster care agency sites across New York City and Los Angeles, serving approximately 400 youth annually and 15,000+ cumulatively since founding.

The underlying technology footprint is minimal: there is no proprietary software platform, and operations rely on in-person program delivery plus a basic Squarespace-hosted e-commerce storefront (fosterpride.org/shop) for HandMade merchandise sales. Distribution is hybrid — programs are delivered directly through foster care agency partners, while HandMade crocheted goods reach mainstream consumers through retail partners Nordstrom and American Eagle and the organization's own online shop.

Foster Pride's business model is a nonprofit hybrid of contributed revenue and earned social-enterprise income. The majority of funding flows through donations processed by fiscal sponsor Good Shepherd Services at zero fee (ensuring 100% pass-through to Foster Pride), supplemented by foundation grants (Blavatnik Family Education Fund, Reisenbach Philanthropies, Heckscher Foundation, Adams Foundation), corporate partner support (American Eagle, Nordstrom, NYU Stern, Turner Construction), and government funding (NYC Department of Youth and Community Development). HandMade merchandise sales are a secondary earned-revenue stream in which 100% of proceeds go directly to youth participants rather than the organization. The three-person leadership team (Founder/ED, Program Director, Development Director) and an active network of 30+ corporate, nonprofit, museum, and government partners form the operating backbone.

Name

Foster Pride

Legal name

Foster Pride

Website

https://fosterpride.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foster Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that empowers youth in foster care and underserved communities through arts education, paid internships, financial literacy, college scholarships, and long-term mentoring in New York City and Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Youth mentorship services
• Foster care support
• Arts education programs
• Youth nonprofit programs
• College scholarship programs

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, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Foster Pride receives donations through its fiscal sponsor Good Shepherd Services, which processes all donations at no fee, ensuring 100% of donations reach the organization.
2. Merchandise Sales (HandMade Program): Youth in the HandMade program create and market their own line of crocheted goods sold in Nordstrom, American Eagle, and online. 100% of proceeds from sales go directly to the youth participants, providing income while teaching entrepreneurial skills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Foster Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers youth in foster care and underserved communities through arts education, paid internships, financial literacy, college scholarships, and a social-enterprise crochet program (HandMade) whose products are sold at Nordstrom and American Eagle. Programs are delivered at partner foster care agencies in NYC and Los Angeles; donations are processed through fiscal sponsor Good Shepherd Services.

Product overview

Foster Pride is a non-profit organization that operates as a platform of interconnected youth empowerment programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include HandMade (a social enterprise crochet program), Blavatnik Family Education Fund (scholarships), I Made It Myself (after school art classes), the Internships Program, Art is Messy | Life is Messy (family bonding through art), Career Week, Financial Literacy Workshop, Scholarships, Cultural Experiences, and Second Story (clothing distribution). These programs work together to provide youth in foster care and underserved communities with comprehensive support from childhood through young adulthood, combining arts education, financial literacy, career preparation, and cultural enrichment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knit Stars: Foster Pride Knit Stars program where talented youth in the HandMade program are honored as Knit Stars. London Kaye was recognized as a Knit Stars honoree for their 10th Anniversary.

Products and services

• HandMade A crochet and fiber-arts program where youth create and market their own line of crocheted goods, sold at Nordstrom and American Eagle. 100% of sale proceeds go to the youth participants, providing income and entrepreneurial experience.
• Blavatnik Family Education Fund Scholarship awards given to Foster Pride students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate college programs, covering tuition, textbooks, and living expenses, accompanied by ongoing mentorship from Foster Pride staff.
• I Made It Myself After-school art classes held at foster care and partner agencies for elementary and middle school youth, developing analytic and creative skills that transfer to classroom performance.
• Internships Program Paid internship placement program that matches Foster Pride youth with host organizations such as the NYC Law Department, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, and AMC-TV. Interns earn $20/hour.
• Art is Messy | Life is Messy Art classes held during supervised visits between children ages 3-14 in foster care and their birth parents, teaching collaboration and supporting language and verbal development.
• Career Week Career exploration program exposing youth to different industries through visits to fashion companies, construction sites, restaurants, and other businesses, with interview preparation and communication coaching.
• Financial Literacy Workshop Money management workshops teaching goal planning, budgeting, and avoiding credit card debt, with participating students receiving monthly stipends.
• Scholarships College scholarship programs supporting Foster Pride youth through undergraduate and graduate completion, including the Susan Fillin-Yeh Scholarship and the Blavatnik Family Education Fund.
• Cultural Experiences Curated trips to Broadway shows, NYC Ballet Gala, art exhibitions, and cultural events providing youth with access to cultural institutions.
• Second Story A dignified shopping experience providing quality clothing to members of the South Bronx community facing economic challenges, hosted at the Bronx H.Y.P.E. community center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of College Scholars graduate from 4-year and graduate school programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Good Shepherd ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood Shepherd Services serves as Foster Pride's fiscal sponsor, processing all donations at no fee so that 100% of donations reach the organization. They also offer internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth through their Executive Office.
• American Eagle OutfittersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner for the HandMade program, selling crocheted goods created by Foster Pride youth in their stores and online.
• NordstrommajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium retail partner selling HandMade crocheted goods created by Foster Pride youth participants.
• NYC Department of LawmajorOthersProvides internship placements for Foster Pride youth, offering administrative experience and exposure to legal careers.
• Guggenheim MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Guggenheim Teen program with Foster Pride, providing museum access and career exploration for program participants.
• Whitney Museum of American ArtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing internship opportunities and high school program placements for Foster Pride youth.
• AMC-TVminorOthersProvides internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth in the media and entertainment industry.
• NYU Stern School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Foster Pride programs and initiatives.
• Turner ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing support for Foster Pride programs.
• Phillips Auction HouseminorOthersProvided internship opportunity for Foster Pride participant Andrea A. Reséndiz Gómez in their education department.
• Stoop StoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary storytelling organization providing production and social media internships for Foster Pride youth.
• The Bowery GroupminorOthersRestaurant group (Cookshop, Rosie's, Shuka, Shukette, Vic's) providing general internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth.
• Vanguard Wine BarminorOthersWine bar providing general internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth.
• M.PatmosminorOthersFashion brand providing administrative internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth.
• Worth & WorthminorOthersMillinery shop in Soho providing apprenticeship opportunities for Foster Pride youth interested in fashion and small business operations.
• Theatre Beyond BroadwayminorOthersTheater company providing administrative assistant internship opportunities for Foster Pride youth.
• KickNKnowledgeminorOthersDigital design education platform providing teacher assistant internships for Foster Pride youth.
• Bronx H.Y.P.E.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center partner hosting the Second Story clothing distribution program for South Bronx community members facing economic challenges.
• NACTOminorOthersNational Association of City Transportation Officials provided internship for Foster Pride student Sarah Malik.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Casey Family Programs: National operating foundation focused on reducing foster care need and improving outcomes for children and families; broader scope but shared mission around foster youth outcomes.
• Covenant House: Large national nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking, including those aging out of foster care; overlaps with Foster Pride's aging-out youth segment and education/employment focus.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization focused on policies affecting children in poverty and foster care; comparable beneficiary population but with an advocacy-led rather than direct-service model.

Direct peers

• The Door: NYC nonprofit providing comprehensive youth services including arts, education, career training, and health to underserved youth ages 12-21; directly comparable target population and program mix.
• Graham Windham: NYC's oldest foster care agency providing direct services, mentoring, and college support to children in foster care; directly comparable in mission and beneficiary population to Foster Pride.
• Children's Aid Society: NYC-based nonprofit serving children and families in poverty, including foster care youth, with comprehensive education, mentoring, and college-access programs that closely overlap with Foster Pride's offerings.
• Children's Village: NYC-based organization serving foster children and at-risk youth with residential, educational, and community-based programs; shares Foster Pride's foster-care focus and youth development approach.
• iFoster: National nonprofit providing resources, programs, and support to foster youth and caregivers; similar mission with broader geographic reach and a stronger technology-enabled delivery model.
• Together We Rise: National nonprofit focused on foster youth with programs in education, college access, and direct support; comparable mission and beneficiary base though with a more national footprint.

Regional players

• Treehouse: Seattle-based nonprofit serving foster youth with education, arts, and college-readiness programs; highly comparable programmatic model but operates primarily in the Pacific Northwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DD7uwzlSBHo
• Facebookfacebook.com/FosterPride
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foster-pride

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Foster Pride