Our Approach

Change for Kids’ priority is to engage children in underserved communities early in their educational careers so that they can stay on track academically, focusing specifically on reading proficiency and social-emotional learning.

Children who enter 4th grade without reading proficiency or the necessary life skills are more likely to dropout of high school. This risk is greatest for students from low-income communities.

By bringing together a strong community of New Yorkers working to bring critical resources to NYC public elementary schools in underserved communities, the thousands of students we serve develop the social-emotional and academic skills they need to be prepared for success in middle school and beyond.

Currently, we serve over 4,700 students at 12 partner schools in all five NYC boroughs with the goal of expanding to 30 partner schools by 2021.

Our Model

Change for Kids harnesses the power of the NYC community to close the opportunity gap for our students.

Partner Schools

Have a collaborative school culture with a commitment to success

Program Partners

Focus on developing reading proficiency and social-emotional skills

School Managers

Manage a mix of support, programs and volunteers for maximum impact

Donors

Give the gift of learning to our students by helping us deliver programming with real impact

Volunteers

Inspire, coach and mentor our students through a variety of volunteer opportunities

Press

101 Charities to Donate to This Season
New York Magazine
December 2, 2015
Charities Turn to Web to Get Cash
Crain's New York Business
October 20, 2014
MRY Redesigns Change for Kids Website
Digital Journal
June 2014
The Art of Adding Value: Variety New York’s High Touch, High Impact Philanthropic Model
Executive Director, Colin Smith participates in panel discussion marking the release of the white paper
February 2013
A Change Agent for the City's Public Schools
Crain's New York Business
December 2012
The Giving Well: Change for Kids
Modern Ink
December 2011
Change for Kids: Interview with Colin Smith
The Journal of Cultural Conversation
April 2010

The Team

Meet the people whose passion, creativity and commitment make a difference for our partner schools.