National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Encyclopedia
The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (Originally National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship), also referred to as NFTE , is an international non-profit organization providing entrepreneurship education programs to young people from low-income communities.
Through entrepreneurship education NFTE helps young people from low-income communities build skills and unlock their entrepreneurial creativity. Since 1987, NFTE has reached more than 300,000 young people, and currently has programs in 21 states and 10 other countries. NFTE has more than 1,500 active teachers.
NFTE provides a highly experiential and academic program that inspires young people from low-income communities to recognize opportunity and plan for successful futures by pursuing educational opportunities and starting their own businesses.
(a former business executive and entrepreneur) while he was a public high school teacher in New York City’s South Bronx, NFTE began as a program to prevent dropouts and improve academic performance among students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. Combining his business background with his desire to teach at-risk students, Steve discovered that when low-income youth are given the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, their innate “street smarts” can easily develop into “academic smarts” and “business smarts.”
To date, NFTE has worked with more than 230,000 young people from low-income communities in programs across the U.S. and around the world.
The curriculum may be used in a semester-long or year-long entrepreneurship course, integrated into an existing course, or used for an after-school program or intensive camp. The programs are offered in a variety of settings, including public schools, after-school programs at community-based organizations, and intensive summer business camps.
In a NFTE program students learn business concepts, practice skills including negotiation and pricing, and work on completion of business plans for their own individual businesses. Many teachers and youth workers also organize field trips to a wholesale district, where the students buy goods to sell later in a “selling event” at their school or after-school program.
Business plan competitions are often held in schools by the teachers with help from NFTE. Regional competitions are organized by the NFTE offices and program partners in an area. NFTE holds a national business plan competition for NFTE students each school year. Winning students receive a trip to the annual awards dinner in New York City and a grant to apply toward their business or college expenses.
NFTE also runs two-week, intensive summer program for students ages 13–18 who are interested in entrepreneurship called BizCamps. The day camp includes field trips and guest speakers focused on providing students with a solid understanding of business. At the end of the camp, students compete for cash awards to fund their businesses.
Through entrepreneurship education NFTE helps young people from low-income communities build skills and unlock their entrepreneurial creativity. Since 1987, NFTE has reached more than 300,000 young people, and currently has programs in 21 states and 10 other countries. NFTE has more than 1,500 active teachers.
NFTE provides a highly experiential and academic program that inspires young people from low-income communities to recognize opportunity and plan for successful futures by pursuing educational opportunities and starting their own businesses.
History
Founded in 1987 by Steve MariottiSteve Mariotti
-Educator and Founder of an International Entrepreneurship Movement:-Awards and honors:*Leavey Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Field of Free Enterprise Education, 1985*Mobile Award for Top High School Economics Teacher in NY State, 1988...
(a former business executive and entrepreneur) while he was a public high school teacher in New York City’s South Bronx, NFTE began as a program to prevent dropouts and improve academic performance among students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. Combining his business background with his desire to teach at-risk students, Steve discovered that when low-income youth are given the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, their innate “street smarts” can easily develop into “academic smarts” and “business smarts.”
To date, NFTE has worked with more than 230,000 young people from low-income communities in programs across the U.S. and around the world.
Programs
NFTE’s programs teach entrepreneurship using its exciting, experiential curriculum. There are versions for middle school, high school, and young adult students, with corresponding reading levels and complexity.The curriculum may be used in a semester-long or year-long entrepreneurship course, integrated into an existing course, or used for an after-school program or intensive camp. The programs are offered in a variety of settings, including public schools, after-school programs at community-based organizations, and intensive summer business camps.
In a NFTE program students learn business concepts, practice skills including negotiation and pricing, and work on completion of business plans for their own individual businesses. Many teachers and youth workers also organize field trips to a wholesale district, where the students buy goods to sell later in a “selling event” at their school or after-school program.
Business plan competitions are often held in schools by the teachers with help from NFTE. Regional competitions are organized by the NFTE offices and program partners in an area. NFTE holds a national business plan competition for NFTE students each school year. Winning students receive a trip to the annual awards dinner in New York City and a grant to apply toward their business or college expenses.
NFTE also runs two-week, intensive summer program for students ages 13–18 who are interested in entrepreneurship called BizCamps. The day camp includes field trips and guest speakers focused on providing students with a solid understanding of business. At the end of the camp, students compete for cash awards to fund their businesses.