We Believe Every Child
Deserves To Dream Big.
With warm, supporting mentors from:
When We Grow Up 501(c)(3) is a nonprofit that introduces underprivileged kids to futures they’ve never been shown. We partner with underfunded schools across the country and send professionals from high-powered career fields — like medicine, law, tech, and finance — directly into at-risk classrooms to speak with students.
The most impactful talks are turned into short, engaging cartoons that families and schools around the world can watch again and again. Many speakers stay involved as informal mentors, helping kids navigate futures they were never told existed.
As seen in the news
Our Process
Partner with Schools in Need
We collaborate with public schools that serve low-income communities, ensuring students gain access to meaningful opportunities and resources.
Host Live Career Talks
Our hand-picked speakers from elite fields deliver short, engaging talks filled with real-world examples, humor, and interactive Q&A sessions.
Turn Talks Into Animated Cartoons
We transform the best talks into fun, 90-second animated explainers that kids can enjoy, learn from, and rewatch anytime.
The Quiet Crisis We Solve
Kids From Disadvantaged Backgrounds Are Locked Out of High-Paying Future
Careers; Before They Ever Learn the Chance Exists
For higher-income children, the future is easy to see
They grow up surrounded by people who work in high-paying fields like medicine, engineering, law, and finance — and the path to get there is laid out early.
For kids from lower income backgrounds the future is invisible
Most grow up without ever meeting a doctor, engineer, or investor. These careers aren’t just out of reach — they’re off the radar. For many, life after high school feels like a dark cloud: unsupported, unclear, and uncertain.
The Consequences Are Severe
Without a clear vision of what’s possible, there’s little motivation to aim higher.
- Sharply lower academic performance
- Higher dropout & suspension rates
- Higher Absenteeism
Why This Matters
Early Exposure Drives Long-Term Outcomes
92%
75%
of mentored youth
are more likely to hold
leadership roles
90% +
55%
Help a Child Dream Bigger Than Their Circumstances
Every donation brings career mentors from top companies directly into underserved classrooms, showing kids pathways they’ve never seen before.
“Every child is one caring adult away from being a success story.”
Who We Help
• Students from low-income backgrounds who would otherwise lack the network to be exposed to these career paths
• Early Adolescence (Elementary) Through High School – a crucial time for intervention when inspiration and exposure can shape future success.
Real Impact. Real Opportunity.
