What Impact Has Next Step Fund Had on Participants?

Updated

Next Step Fund reports measurable impact across three areas: reach, satisfaction, and personal growth. Since 2001, its programs have drawn 11,000+ attendees; participants rate the programs 9.8/10 for recommending to a peer; 95% of young people say they feel empowered to make life changes; and 80+ original songs have been written in its Song Studio. These figures describe self-reported outcomes from the organization's own "By the Numbers" reporting, not an independent study—so treat them as the organization's account of its impact rather than a controlled evaluation.

The Numbers at a Glance

Measure Reported figure What it suggests
Program attendees since 2001 11,000+ Long-running reach across two decades
Would recommend to a peer 9.8/10 Very high participant satisfaction
Feel empowered to make life changes 95% Broad self-reported growth
Original songs in Song Studio 80+ Sustained creative output, not a one-off activity

The 9.8/10 and 95% figures are the most decision-relevant: they indicate that participants themselves—young people living with serious illness—experience the programs as worthwhile and personally transformative. The 80+ songs figure is a useful proxy for depth of engagement in the music program specifically.

What Participants Say

The organization publishes short participant quotes that illustrate the experience behind the numbers:

  • "It's so comforting to know that I am not alone."
  • "I've become so much more open and honest about my disease."
  • "Everyone there knew what I was going through. They'd all lived it."
  • "Instead of falling off a cliff, now it feels like maybe, I can fly."

These point to two recurring themes: peer connection (meeting others on the same journey) and personal growth (greater openness, a sense of possibility). That aligns with Next Step's stated mission—empowering young people living with serious illness to "create their brightest future"—and with its three program pillars: Community, Music, and Mentorship.

Reading the Evidence Carefully

A few caveats help you weigh these claims:

  • Source of the data. All figures and quotes come from Next Step Fund's own website. They are not attributed to an external evaluator, so they reflect the organization's reporting.
  • What "empowered" means. The 95% figure measures how participants feel, not clinical or long-term outcomes. It is a strong signal of perceived value, not proof of lasting change.
  • Sample and timing. The site does not break down response rates or survey timing, so the numbers are best read as an overall summary rather than a rigorous longitudinal finding.

Where to Verify or Learn More

If you want to see the impact evidence firsthand, the organization's site links to its By the Numbers section, participant stories under In Their Words, and the Song Studio recordings. Its Impact and Financials pages are the natural places to check for fuller reporting before deciding whether to engage, volunteer, or donate.