Nearly 14% of the U.S. population lives in poverty, defined as making an annual income of less than $24,600 for a family of four. The effects are long-lasting: individuals living in poverty are more likely to experience violence, be in foster care, drop out of high school, be unemployed, develop type 2 diabetes, and rely on social services. Youth are the most vulnerable; one out of every five kids under the age of 18 in the U.S. lives in such scarcity. Poverty can have shape the paths of young adults' lives, and by extension, their children's. Intervention at this stage presents an exceptional opportunity to shift life trajectories and potentially break the cycle of impoverishment. In supporting the work of the organizations working in this area, donors can help young people at critical stages of their lives reach their untapped potential.

In our 2018 High Impact Giving Guide, we profile five high impact nonprofits that are working to redefine the life trajectories of America’s impoverished young adults.

Learn more about these opportunities for youth on our website.