Collage of diverse young people participating in various educational and social activities, including holding an American flag, sitting together smiling, wearing graduation cap, working with science equipment, having a discussion in front of a "active minds" sign, and recording a video in a studio.

State of Young People Report

This year’s State of Young People research represents a collaborative effort among leaders from over 50 Alliance Community member organizations and a nationally representative sample of 1,500 young people. By integrating the perspectives of young people, Alliance members, and field-leading experts, this research initiative seeks to illuminate key insights and foster actionable solutions that will—ultimately— help create the conditions for every young person to thrive. 

Play icon indicating media or video playback

WATCH: Learn more about our annual research from our practioners and leaders.

Annual Research

Each year, as part of our annual State of Young People research initiative, our Alliance community creates a research agenda designed to identify the gaps in our existing evidence, with a specific focus on the insights that can improve outcomes for young people across the country. This research is a powerful opportunity for our community to drive learning and action around the most important issues facing young people each year, and to bolster the work of nonprofits and institutions who serve them.


Our 2024 State of Young People research addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing young people today, including: 

  • Social Divisiveness & Healing

  • Civic Education

  • Artificial Intelligence

  • Mental Health

Top left: People protesting on a street holding signs that read "EQUALITY RIGHT?" and "ALL we need is ..." with a heart symbol. Top right: Woman wearing a "YOUTH WAVE" T-shirt outside in a park-like setting. Bottom left: Hand holding a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT app with suggestions for designing a database schema. Bottom right: Two men sitting on the grass, one with dreadlocks and the other with tattoos, comforting each other.

Rooted in Research

Since our founding nearly 30 years ago, original research has informed every aspect of our field-building work and helped to strengthen the on-the-ground efforts of hundreds of youth-supporting organizations. In collaboration with leading academic institutions, our robust research program has brought new understanding and attention to the most critical issues facing the next generation, as well as the levers most likely to improve outcomes.  

When we launched the reimagined Alliance, we doubled down on our efforts to put youth voice and perspective at the center of our approach. By centering young people in our research, we ensure our work is deeply informed by the stakeholders most proximate to the issues. Ultimately, our research seeks to explore the ways in which deeper knowledge of young people's experiences and proposed solutions to some of society's gravest challenges can better inform nonprofit and institutional practice change.  

Learn more about our history.

Three people sitting at a table in a meeting room with blinds, engaged in discussion, with notebooks, drinks, and a phone on the table.

Related Content