WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION

Amplifying the world’s most influential, creative young people who are positively affecting our planet

aka WAFF   |   New York, NY   |  http://wearefamilyfoundation.org

Mission

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a non-profit organization that's dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that promote cultural diversity while nurturing the vision, talents and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world.

Ruling year info

2003

Co-Founder & President

Ms. Nancy Hunt

Co-Founder & Chairman

Nile Rodgers

Main address

163 Amsterdam Avenue #1417

New York, NY 10023 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

27-0010229

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

Leadership Development (W70)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We believe in global youth and their power, vision and drive to create a more just, tolerant and peaceful world.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Three Dot Dash

Three Dot Dash is designed to recognize and support the efforts of teen leaders around the world who are actively working on projects that promote a more peaceful society by addressing issues related to basic human needs: food, water, health, shelter, safety, education and the environment.

Inspired by the late 13-year-old poet, Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Three Dot Dash is an innovative year-round leadership and mentoring program that teaches teen leaders how to ?tell their stories? effectively using various forms of media, current technology and distribution methods to accelerate their leadership, advance their projects, mobilize peers to action and amplify their work around the world.

Three Dot Dash creates a worldwide network of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to further the efforts of young leaders by harnessing the power of media, mentoring and social networking to foster public participation around the globe.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Young adults

TEDxTeen is one of the most prestigious TEDx events and global online communities. Between the flagship NYC conference and the London conference at the world renowned o2 Arena, TEDxTeen Talks have been viewed more than 30+ Million times.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self- organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Young adults

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is committed to fighting systemic racism, inequality, and injustice. WAFF created the Youth To The Front Fund to support and fund under 30-year-old youth activists, youth-led organizations, projects, innovations and creative solutions that are at the forefront of fighting systemic racism, inequality, inequity and injustice in the United States and around the world. We call them "Frontliners".

The Frontliners are fighting racial and systemic injustice by addressing gaps in: immigration laws and policy advocacy; storytelling through digital media content and production; de-biasing technology; campaigning for gender equity, and building indigenous language, culture and education awareness. Using their creativity, brilliance and infusing arts and social justice into their overall project design and implementation, the Frontliners are collectively reimagining new possibilities and finding solutions that positively impact and shape future generations.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Young adults

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our mission is to ampify the world's most influential, creative young people who are positively affecting our planet to power their work and ideas forward.

We Are Family Foundation drives positive change through:

1. Global Community: Outstanding youth become part of a uniquely inspirational, bonded and powerful global network known as "We Are Family"

2. Leadership & Opportunity: Our global Family nurtures youth as they grow their personal and professional leadership abilities, including their ability to demonstrate leadership abilities, including their ability to demonstrate impact.

3. Impact: Youth create greater social value throughout their lives, resulting in a more peaceful, tolerant and stable world.

We Are Family Foundation's programs that aim to accomplish our mission are:

1. Three Dot Dash: WAFF created Three Dot Dash as a social innovation incubator/accelerator and mentorship matching program for youth aged 13-19 from around the world. Our Global Teen Leaders (GTLs) are founders of their own project or organization, and are addressing a basic human need(s) with a unique solution.

2. Youth To The Front Fund: WAFF created the Youth To The Front Fund to support and fund under 30-year-old BIPOC and BIPOC allies, youth activists, youth-led organizations, projects, innovations and creative solutions that are at the forefront of fighting systemic racism, inequality, inequity and injustice in the United States and around the world.

3. TEDxTeen: TEDxTeen Is one of the most prestigious TEDx events and global online communities and an amplifying platform to engage youth around the world in thought-provoking and inspiring conversation.

3. Youth To The Table: As a leader in the youth space, WAFF created Youth To The Table to give this generation a seat at C-Suite level decision making tables around the world.

Our unique capability is defined as "special sauce", by our third party impact measurement experts.

This consists of:
— The WAFF Team
— Excellent curation of mentors, GTLs, Frontliners, content and partners
— Influential brand partnerships
— Nie Rodgers and his network

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) has 10+ years of anedoctal evidence and testimonials that the impact we aim to achieve is happening. Both the Three Dot Dash and TEDxTeen programming have yielded positive results with regards to curating impactful, innovative and inspiring youth in safe environments and amplifying platforms to share with millions of people worldwide. Our global family/network is strong and will continue to grow through our programs and other special events.

WAFF commissioned a third party impact measurement study from November 2016 to July 2017, which was the first that WAFF has done in its evolving history. This crucial step has provided some more detailed and formal metrics to supplement the anecdotal testimonials WAFF has been informally collecting over the years.

A recommendation was also made for WAFF to move forward with an impact management and mapping protocol/process, as well as for the youth it serves — a recommendation that WAFF will be implementing on an ongoing basis, with expert consultancy from third party impact measurement experts.

WAFF will also be using formal evaluations regarding its impact to continue to diversify its funding sources, as well as enhance and further integrate its existing funding sources — individual donors and corporate sponsors/partners.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION

Board of directors
as of 03/01/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers Productions

Term: 2002 -

Michael Levine

Nickelodeon

Daniel Crown

Red Crown Productions

Caryl Stern

Walton Family Foundation

Mark Barondess

Miller Barondess, LLP

Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers Productions

Nancy Hunt

We Are Family Foundation

Steve Musumeci

Soleus Capital Management

Kim Brizzolara

Farah Pandith

Micheal Ostin

Jed Selkowitz

AmeriCares

Susan Rockefeller

Julie Garcia

The Garcia Family Spotlight Foundation

Sheel Tyle

Amplo

Riddhima Yadav

Goldman Sachs

Milton Spied

The Impact

Rob Light

CAA

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/1/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American/African
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/19/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.