Talk:National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship

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The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE; formerly the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by conservative foundations that encourages public schools to teach children about the virtues of capitalism. According to its website, NFTE's mission "is to provide programs that inspire young people from low-income communities to stay in school, to recognize business opportunities, and to plan for successful futures."[1]

NFTE offers classroom programs and curriculum materials "that teach math and literacy skills in the context of building a business plan."[2] It also runs the "Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge," which is an annual elevator pitch competition and trade show that offers small scholarships and cash prizes to students.[3] CEO Amy Rosen has written that NFTE programs have reached 500,000 students.[4]

NFTE creates and sells textbooks on entrepreneurship to schools that have chapter titles such as "The Production/Distribution Chain", "Protecting Your Intellectual Property", "Small Business and Government" and "Taxation for the Entrepreneur."[5]

NFTE lists its financial supports on its website, which includes corporations such as E-Trade and Citibank.[6] Corporate partners have their logos and participation recognized in some of NFTE's printed curriculum materials, such as a financial literacy program produced in "partnership with Bank of America."[7]

Koch Wiki

Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360.

The NFTE received received at least $363,000 in funding from organizations with links to the Koch brothers between 1998 and 2012. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship was given $85,000 from the Charles G. Koch Foundation between 1998 and 2000, and $100,000 from the David H. Koch Foundation. Both are Koch Family Foundations. From 2010-2012, the Koch-linked organization DonorsTrust reported giving $178,000 to the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

In 1992, Charles Koch received the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.[8]


Funding

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NFTE is not required to disclose its donors. However, some funders can be identified through their own tax filings.

The NFTE is funded by conservative foundations including the:

Donors of $500,000+:[9]

Officers

National Executive Committee

Board of Directors

Strategic Planning Committee

Related SourceWatch

  • Lyn Soudien was Director of Business Development for The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Contact details

NFTE
120 Wall Street, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 1-212-232-3333, or 1-800-FOR-NFTE
Web: http://www.nfte.com/

References

  1. Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Mission, organizational website, accessed June 5, 2014.
  2. Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Our Programs, organizational website, accessed June 5, 2014.
  3. Cheryl Jackson, "Student's high-top sneaker business wins NFTE Chicago award," Chicago Tribune/Blue Sky Innovation, May 21, 2014. Accessed June 5, 2014.
  4. Amy Rosen, "Recognizing Opportunity is the First Step to an Entrepreneurial Mindset," Entrepreneur, May 29, 2014. Accessed June 5, 2014.
  5. NFTE Store, [1], accessed June 26, 2014
  6. Supporters, [2], accessed June 25, 2014.
  7. Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, "Your Financial Future," accessed June 5, 2014.
  8. About Charles G. Koch, [3], Charles Koch Foundation website, accessed June 26, 2014
  9. Supporters, [4], accessed June 26, 2014