National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (ChalleNGe) provides a 17-month education, employment-readiness and youth development program to youth, ages 16-18, who have dropped out of school and are unemployed. Founded by the National Guard to strengthen the communities in which its service members live and work, ChalleNGe is a voluntary intervention program that currently serves over 8,400 youth annually in 33 sites across 28 states.

ChalleNGe is operated in conjunction by the National Guard Bureau, National Guard Youth Foundation and local operating sites.

Evaluation Status: Proven Effective

A randomized controlled trial conducted by MDRC found that over a year after graduating from the program, participants were significantly more likely to have attained a GED/HS diploma, attend college, and be employed. Additional information on these findings is available in MRDC's report: Staying on Course: Three-Year Results of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Evaluation.

EMCF Investment

In 2011, EMCF made a 3-year, $4 million investment in the National Guard Youth Foundation, which acts as a fiscal agent for the ChalleNGe program. By the end of EMCF's investment, ChalleNGe seeks to serve an additional 3,000 youth annually (a 30 percent increase in capacity); pilot recruitment and retention initiatives, including post-program services, that will increase the effectiveness of the program; and strengthen its ability to engage new public and private funders.

For more information about the ChalleNGe program, visit its website at www.ngycp.org.

Print|
Email

In the Spotlight

Nine Organizations Selected to Receive Social Innovation Fund Awards

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is investing up to $42 million over three years in nine organizations whose evidence-based programs promise to transform the life trajectories of thousands of low-income youth. In support of these grantees, the Foundation is establishing the True North Fund to leverage public money from the SIF and private money from the EMCF and institutional and individual philanthropic partners to effectively capitalize and expand programs that can serve more vulnerable young people.

A Families-First Approach to Foster Care

(Youth Villages) The New York Times, February 21, 2011

Nonprofit Pairs Up Nurses With Struggling First-Time Moms

(Nurse-Family Partnership) Huffington Post, March 14, 2011

Enlisting Professionals as Part-time Educators

(Citizen Schools) NBC Nightly News, October 15, 2010

Watch Video