Founded in 1921, the Heckscher Foundation for Children is a nonprofit organization that supports underserved youth in the New York Metro area. It funds programs and initiatives that focus on education, workforce development, and job readiness.

Examples of work:

• CUNY Emergency & Retention Support
  • Help CUNY students address short-term financial barriers (e.g., housing, food, transportation) that can derail degree completion.
• Heckscher Scholars at CUNY
  • Support advising, mentoring, and transition services that help first-generation and low-income students persist and succeed at four-year institutions.
• Workforce Partnerships with Nonprofits
  • Grants to workforce intermediaries and youth-serving organizations that provide career exploration, paid internships, job placement, and wraparound supports for young adults.
• Sector-Based Job Training Programs
  • Support for training initiatives aligned with local labor market needs (e.g., healthcare, technology, business services), often paired with employer engagement.
• Youth Employment & Paid Work Experiences
  • Programs that create paid, full-time or part-time employment opportunities for young people, emphasizing early career exposure and skill development.
• College and Career Readiness Programs
  • Academic enrichment, advising, and counseling programs that prepare middle and high school students for postsecondary education and career pathways.
• Capacity-Building Grants for Youth Organizations
  • Support for nonprofit partners to strengthen program delivery, evaluation, and sustainability in education and workforce initiatives.

Resources

Heckscher Foundation for Children. (2025). The Heckscher Foundation for Children - Education Charities in NYC. Heckscher Foundation for Children. Retrieved November 10, 2025 from https://heckscherfoundation.org/.