What Is Next Step Fund, Inc. and Who Does It Help?

Updated

Next Step Fund, Inc. is a nonprofit whose mission is to empower young people living with serious illness to create their brightest future. It serves youth facing serious illness and offers its programs for free, bringing them together through community, music, and mentorship. Since 2001, more than 11,000 people have attended its programs.

Who Next Step Serves

The organization's stated focus is young people living with serious illness. Its programs are built around peer connection: participants meet others on the same journey, and the site quotes one participant saying, "Everyone there knew what I was going through. They'd all lived it."

The reported outcomes reflect that peer-centered approach:

Measure Reported figure
Program attendees since 2001 11,000+
Would recommend programs to a peer 9.8/10
Young people who feel empowered to make life changes 95%
Original songs written in Next Step's Song Studio 80+

The Three Core Programs

Community

A space to meet peers facing similar health experiences, with friendship and support as the goal. The site frames it simply: "You're not alone."

Music

Music as medicine, led by a music therapist. Participants can write, perform, record, or listen to original songs in the Song Studio.

Mentorship

Personalized goal-setting for school, work, and beyond, with a plan built around each participant's success.

The "Campference" Format

Next Step describes a Campference as summer camp mashed up with a conference — "all the fun and the knowledge minus the boring stuff." It appears to be a recurring event format that combines recreation with learning; the site references a Fall Campference in 2023 among its stories.

Participant-Created Resources

Two resources are made by participants themselves:

  • Comic books. When Lightning Strikes is a comic book series created by youth living with sickle cell disease, for youth living with sickle cell disease.
  • Original music. Songs from the Song Studio are available to listen to, alongside participant stories and a recording studio page.

How to Get Involved

  • Join a program. The site invites young people to join upcoming programs for free.
  • Donate or partner. There are pages for individual donations, corporate partners, and fundraising.
  • Volunteer. A Team Next Step volunteer page is listed.
  • Stay informed. The Press Room, Financials, and Board & Staff pages cover organizational details.

For eligibility specifics or to sign up, the program pages and contact form on nextstepnet.org are the direct route; the site does not publish detailed enrollment criteria in the sections reviewed here.