The Reciprocity Foundation

The Reciprocity Foundation is an award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created in 2005 to help homeless and foster care youth to break the cycle of poverty by starting a meaningful career, entering a college program, finding independent housing and healing from abuse/trauma.

We offer a unique combination of holistic and career-and educational advancement programs to facilitate “inner” and “outer” transformation in the lives of homeless youth. We are the only agency providing this unique set of services in the five boroughs of New York City and receive countless referrals from youth shelters, drop in centers, legal clinics, foster care agencies and health clinics.

We serve youth ranging in age from 15-25 years. Over 80% of youth we serve identify as both youth of color (primarily of African American or Hispanic descent) and as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. Roughly 15% of youth in our programs are HIV+ and 10% were formerly incarcerated. We work with foster care agencies, supportive housing developments and shelters for homeless youth to provide seamless, long term programming and support.

We have received countless awards for our work, including an Echoing Green Fellowship and an award from New York Life for excellence in programming. We have appeared on countless television, newspaper and online citations for our innnovative work in this sector.