OUR ORGANIZATION
In 1997, Young Storytellers began as a volunteer-run project in one classroom at Playa del Rey Elementary School as a way to fill arts education programming gaps in public schools. This idea created by three film students grew steadily over the years, into a formally recognized 501c3 nonprofit in 2003, to a robust organization with elementary, middle, and high school programs in 60 schools throughout the nation, with the majority of our direct service programming taking place on Tongva and Chumash land, which is now called Los Angeles. We bolstered our curriculum with educational expertise over the years, and our programs became less about the mechanics of writing, and now focus on helping our students feel heard, more self-confident, and more empathetic through the art of sharing stories.
As our knowledge in education and the communities we serve has developed, so have our objectives. When we first began our work, we went into neighborhoods that were not our own, and we did not do the work to understand them first. Though we had good intentions and a desire to fill a need, and had very real and positive impact, we also inadvertently continued systemic and racial harm, rather than giving communities the autonomy to express themselves in their own ways.
We now concentrate our work in areas that have been chronically underfunded and systemically marginalized. We are focused on how we can best equip young people to be the driving force in their own stories. We strive for a world where all people are treated with respect, dignity, and equity, and are committed to using what power we have as a nonprofit organization to embody our mission and values.
We are certain that these steps will honor our history of success and create a legacy of significance.
We remain dedicated as ever to raising voices, one story at a time.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2025
SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE
For 25 years, we have empowered young people to use the art of storytelling to explore their identities, impact the people around them, and create a more just and equitable world. All this work has been done with the help of thousands of volunteers; however, we’ve gone from a volunteer community of thousands to hundreds, a decrease that reverberates throughout the nonprofit sector.
As we look to the next 25 years of impact beyond our local community of Los Angeles, we’ve identified three strategic directions centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism:
1
Focus the number of direct service programs we provide each school year to ensure high-quality programming and rebuild a robust volunteer community.
2
Establish comprehensive school selection criteria to drive maximum impact in historically marginalized and under-resourced communities.
3
Create storytelling toolkits and resources to be used by communities nationwide.
Narrative by Year
YEAR ONE
Research and creation of tools
The first year will lay the foundation to scale our impact: researching, creating programmatic tools, establishing organizational systems to accommodate changes, and communicating our plans with our community.
YEAR TWO
Pilot and initial feedback
In year two, we will test the tools we’ve created in year one with a select group of partners, gather their initial feedback, and integrate any relevant changes as necessary. We’ll also begin preparing our well-resourced schools to transition from providing direct service to a supportive toolkit model.
YEAR THREE
Implementation and rollout
In the third year, we’ll launch our toolkits and resources
on a broader scale with a broader group of partners, gathering data and feedback along the way. Our learnings from this year will inform our next strategic plan.
FINANCIALS
For Fiscal Year 2022
Revenue
Individual Contributions (1) — $392,777
Corporate Grants (2) — $656,304
Foundation Grants (3) — $335,624
Special Events (4) — $184,964
Government Grants (5) — $33,098
Total — $1,602,767
Expenses
Program (1) — $1,354,517
Management (2) — $171,257
Fundraising (3) — $71,448
Total — $1,597,222
Download the Young Storytellers 2023 Impact Report
Download the Young Storytellers Strategic Plan: 2022-25
Download the Young Storytellers 2022 Audited Financial Statements
Download the Young Storytellers 2022 990 Form
View our Charity Navigator Profile
View our Guidestar Gold Seal Profile
OUR SUPPORTERS
We’re so grateful for all the people, organizations, foundations, and companies that are generous with their time and money! The names on this page represent both volunteers and donors.
91 people have been volunteering for 5-9 years
8 people have been volunteering for 10+ years
56 people are both donors and volunteers
184 people have been donating for 5-9 years
39 people have been donating for 10+ years
47 people donate on a monthly basis
2023 VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS
Aaron Lipsett
Aaron Testa
Abby Ex
Abigail Ex
Adam Aresty
Adam Craig
Adam Davis
Adam Mazer
Adrian McNair
Adriana Ridings
Aida Arreguin
Aimee Rivera
Aj Nseir
Alanna Fox
Alec Colantonio-Ray
Alesia Etinoff
Alex Slater
Alexander Johnston
Alexander Panagos
Alexandra Cardona
Alexandra Powell
Alexandra Reed
Alexandra Sanchez
Alexandra Yuman
Alexandrina Andre
Alison Haskovec
Allard Cantor
Allie Moreno
Allie Stearns
Almitra Corey
Alon Aranya
Amanda Evans
Amanda Idoko
Amanda Lloyd
Amanda Maddox
Amazon.com Services LLC
AmazonSmile Foundation
Amber Gainey Meade
Amber Lageman
Amber Stewart
Amy Butcher
Amy Hurwitz
Anastasia Nguyen
Andrea Barreto
Andrea Esparza
Andrea Ohlsen-Esparza
Andrea Sainz De Vicuna
Andrea Vicunia
Andrew Colville
Andrew Goldmeier
Andrew Levine
Andrew Marlowe
Andrew Rothman
Andy Coleman
Angela Bao
Angela Cohan
Ani Cooney
Ani Shehigian
Anja Racic
Anna Kim
Anna Lee Lawson
Anna Varnon-Grier
Anne Boland
Anne Marie Iniguez
Anne O'Connell
Annie To
Annie Wood
Anthony Frederick
Ariana Garcia
Aris Mendoza
Arisa Olazabal
Arlene Cottrell
Asher Titan
Ashley Cates
Aslin Paxtor
Audrey Prins
Aury Wallington
Austin Diamond
Ava Aguado
Ava S.
Avery Doan
Avni Shah
Ayla Barreau
Ayla Cuddihy
Barbara (Bobbi) Whitney
Barton Lewis
Ben Ellmann
Ben McFaddenson
Benj Thall
Benjamin Blake
Benjamin Gottlieb
Benjamin Miller
Benjamin Morgan
Bennett Anderson
Benny Sanchez
Bess Wohl
Beth Koepp
Bethany Hall
Beverly Hills Rotary Community Foundation
Bill and Cora Lynn Wilson
Bill Thompson
Bill Westfield
Billy Armstrong
Bobby Hoppey
Brad Saunders
Brandon Moningka
Brandon Park-Lee
Brandon Rachal
Brandy Muniz
Bre Mueck
Brennan Murray
Brennan Pincer-Flynn
Brett Swanson
Brian Gattas
Brian Hoffman
Brian Lynch
Brian Wohl
Brianna Brostoff
Brielle Cruz-Vega
Brittannie Bohman
Brooke Trantor
Bryan Johnson
C Martin
Caitlin Zambito
Cali Watson
California Community Foundation
Callie Zelniker
Cameron Bender
Carlo Fiorio
Carly Farah
Carmen Corea
Carmen Okada
Carolina Montenegro
Carolina Nucamendi
Caroline Harvey
Caroline Huey
Carolyn Gan
Carrie Nichols
Catharine Hsia
Cece Rogina
Chad Lipscomb
Chantel Adedeji
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Chaun Lewis
Chiazam Agu
Chloe Sonnenfeld
Chris Fountain
Chris Hazzard
Chris Kimball
Chris Mack
Chris Trummel
Chrissie Fit
Christina Collins
Christina Li
Christine Barger
Christine Galligani
Christine Steele
Christopher Chambers
Christopher Chou
Christopher Pinho
Christopher Shafer
Cisco Reyes
Claire Chapelli
Clare Reeth
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Clayton Froning
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Daniel Kunka
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Daniel Sheerin
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Daniela Rubalcava
Danielle Maddox
Danielle Pinnt
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א. מוסט ניהול -
Government Sponsors
Commissioned by Palatine Capital Partners through the LA County Department of Arts and Culture Public Art in Private Development program
Foundation Supporters
Corporate Sponsors
