Areas of Interest

Photography by Clark Jones

Areas of Interest

New York Life Foundation: Nurturing the Children
In 1998, the New York Life Foundation decided to devote the majority of its resources to helping organizations and programs aimed at improving the lives of young people. The Foundation launched an initiative called Nurturing the Children. This initiative continues today and focuses on:

Educational Enhancement
We fund programs that enhance and augment classroom instruction during the critical out-of-school (after-school and summer) hours. We support programs that help prepare young people for higher education and the workplace and equip them to be responsible citizens.

Mentoring Children
Far too many youngsters do not have adult mentors to help them shape their aspirations, lead them toward future careers or simply lend a friendly ear. We provide grants to organizations that provide children with opportunities to develop one-on-one relationships with caring adults who can serve as positive role models.

Safe Places to Learn and Grow
We support programs that provide safe, nurturing environments for learning and advancement for disadvantaged children and youth, including those who are in foster care or “aging out” of foster care, homeless, or are neither in-school nor working.

Childhood Bereavement
The New York Life Foundation has long been focused on serving children in need. In 2008, the Foundation expanded that focus to include an initiative to help children deal with the loss of a parent, caregiver or sibling and to help parents and other caring adults help children deal with the emotional turmoil that results from the death of a close family member. Click here for more information and resources on Childhood Bereavement.

*Nurturing the Children does not encompass projects that are primarily sports-, health-, or arts-related, or those requesting support exclusively for personnel or capital expenses.