Helping Children through

the Three Es

Investments made in YouthBridge are used to fund three initiatives, which we call the three "Es" of YouthBridge: Education, Enterprise investments and Endowment building. Each is designed to create financial sustainability in the agencies that serve children and youth.

Education

In partnership with Washington University’s Skandalaris Center, YouthBridge created the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (YouthBridge SEIC) and the YouthBridge Workshops. The competition, the largest of its kind in the United States, and the YouthBridge Workshops are free and open to all. Agencies of any size, both new and established, will benefit from the opportunity to learn best business practices, develop an entrepreneurial business model and network with community leaders and peers. Since its inception, the YouthBridge SEIC has awarded more than $130,000 annually to the prizewinners.  Agencies do not have to enter the competition to attend any or all of the workshops. For workshop topics, a schedule of events and how to participate, visit www.sces.wustl.edu/SEIC.

An important part of the YouthBridge SEIC curriculum is the need for agencies to develop a social enterprise. In most cases, such initiatives require investment capital. YouthBridge, along with other philanthropic investors, venture funds and mentors such endeavors. Read how St. Louis ArtWorks, a YouthBridge SEIC prizewinner, developed an innovative social enterprise called the Boomerang Press with venture funding and mentoring from YouthBridge at www.stlartworks.org.

YouthBridge believes all charities should build an endowment to provide a perpetual income stream to support operations, provide for emergencies and expand the mission.  Few agencies have the expertise or discretionary funds to invest in the long-term planned-giving effort. When children’s agencies meet the YouthBridge criteria, we provide the consulting expertise, legal guidance and financial services necessary to build and manage an endowment program. At the Good Shepherd School for Children, www.goodss.org, our endowment building partnership is creating capital and sustainability for children with special needs.