named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
College QUEST
Program that supports students in their college search through a social-emotional lens, helping them align personal values and purpose with higher education choices.
QUESTion Academy
Teacher training and professional development program including 4 days of initial training, 3 follow-up PD days, and ongoing coaching to support effective facilitation of the QUESTion Class.
QUESTion Ambassadors Program
Youth leadership program that trains students to lead peer discussions, mentor younger students, and promote the QUESTion Project in their schools and communities.
QUESTion Class
Semester- or year-long credit-bearing course for grades 8–12 that guides students through five thematic pillars—Choice, Purpose, Fearlessness, Interconnectedness, and A Bigger Picture—to explore identity, agency, and purpose.
QUESTion Day
School-wide event combining assemblies, performances, and discussions centered on students' big life questions to strengthen community.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Structured Critical Thinking Curriculum 2 activities
- Deliver semester-long QUESTion Class curriculum in high schoolsOffers a semester-long, credit-bearing course for high school students focused on exploring life's essential questions to support identity development, agency, and purpose. The curriculum includes approximately 80 lessons with lesson plans, multimedia resources, and student handouts, delivered as a daily class in public high schools.
- Develop and refine QUESTion Project curriculum with stakeholder inputDeveloped the QUESTion Class curriculum with contributions from high school and university students, teacher facilitators, and project stakeholders, defining core pillars and improving lesson plans during the development phase to ensure pedagogical effectiveness and relevance.
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
- Administer student development assessments using Self-Evaluation Matrixes (SAMs)Uses Self-Evaluation Matrixes (SAMs) at the beginning and end of the QUESTion Class to measure student growth across five core pillars and a sixth metric of self-knowledge, providing data on developmental impact such as a reported 95% positive Empowerment Shift among participants.
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Student-Led Identity and Enrichment Programming 1 activity
- Host school-wide QUESTion Day events and public engagement activitiesOrganizes school-wide events called QUESTion Day that include assemblies, discussions, and displays of 1,000 to 5,000 student-generated questions posted in public areas for up to one week. These events engage students and faculty in structured programming around existential and personal questions.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Provide teacher training and professional developmentOffers comprehensive capacity-building for educators through the QUESTion Academy, including 4 days of initial training, 3 professional development days, ongoing coaching, and training on how to deliver the evidence-based QUESTion Class curriculum effectively in schools.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Run student leadership and ambassador programOperates the QUESTion Ambassadors Program, a youth leadership initiative that trains students to co-facilitate the QUESTion Class, mentor peers, lead community labs, organize QUESTion Day events, produce podcasts, and publish blogs on platforms like the Huffington Post.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$728K
Contributions & grants$446K61%
Program service revenue$246K34%
Investment income$36K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$477K
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$295K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.16M
Cash$1.05M
Investments$43K
Liabilities$5K
Net assets$1.16M
Liquid reserves27.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +66.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCESCA RUSCIANI | CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIR | 40 | $90K |
board members · 6
- ALEXANDER UZOBUIFE — DIRECTOR
- EVAN SHEINBERG — DIRECTOR
- GERARD SENEHI — FOUNDER PRESIDENT & CHAIR
- JOEL JEWITT — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN LEVER — DIRECTOR
- RADHA RUPARELL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Alliance Charter Network Partner — Partner school network in Los Angeles where the QUESTion Project has been implemented across multiple schools, including Alliance Marine – Innovation & Technology High School.
- Alliance Marine – Innovation & Technology Charter School Partner — Introduced the QUESTion Class to support student development and has observed impact on students' sense of purpose.
- Argosy Foundation Funder — Displayed as a generous partner, indicating financial support.
- Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics Partner — Implements the QUESTion Class in its curriculum, with principal, teachers, and counselors endorsing and supporting the program.
- Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics Partner — Students from this public high school participated in a semester-long QUESTion Class and shared their experiences in a podcast series.
- Bronx High School for Law and Community Service Partner — Hosts QUESTion class programming through teacher facilitation and curriculum implementation.
- Bronx High School for Law and Community Service Partner — Hosts the QUESTion Class and integrates it into school programming, with school leadership and teachers actively involved.
- Bronx High School for Law and Community Service Partner — Principal Barakat from this school participated in a panel at SXSW EDU 2025 discussing the QUESTion Project.
- Department of Youth and Community Development Government — Recognized as a partner through logo display, indicating a funding or programmatic relationship.
- Dr. Deepak Chopra Partner — Collaborated with OPEN FUTURE INSTITUTE on a conversation about the future of education.
- EKTA Foundation Funder — Displayed as a generous partner, indicating financial support.
- Fetzer Institute Funder — Displayed as a generous partner, indicating financial support.
- Florida State University Partner — Hosted student contributors for the QUESTion class curriculum development.
- Hassenfeld Foundation Funder — Displayed as a generous partner, indicating financial support.
- Hechinger Report Partner — Featured in The Hechinger Report’s “Science of Learning” column, highlighting the QUESTion Project’s role in supporting student purpose.
- Huffington Post Partner — Collaborates to publish student blogs from the QUESTion Ambassador Program.
- Huffington Post Partner — Student ambassadors write blogs for the Huffington Post as part of their leadership development.
- NYC DCA Government — Recognized as a partner through logo display, indicating a funding or programmatic relationship with New York City government.
- Open Future Institute Netherlands Network — First international chapter of the Open Future Institute, operating in the Netherlands with workshops in Amsterdam.
- PACE University Partner — Hosted student contributors for the QUESTion class curriculum development.
- Pace University Partner — Higher education partner where the QUESTion Project’s 5-pillar approach has been integrated into undergraduate courses since 2014.
- Pace University Partner — University faculty have integrated components of the QUESTion Project into multiple environmental studies courses.
- QUESTion Ambassador Program Partner — Student ambassadors lead performances and help host The QUESTion Day at their schools.
- QUESTion Project Partner — Youth Advisory Council members support and help shape the QUESTion Project as youth partners.
- Schuylerville Preparatory High School Partner — Has implemented the QUESTion Project and reports on its value and impact within the school community.
- Stanford Institute for Adolescence Partner — Collaborates with senior researcher Heather Malin on research and program development related to adolescent purpose.
- TAPCO Partner — Partner school in the South Bronx, NYC, where the QUESTion Project has been implemented.
- Theatre Arts Production Company (TAPCO) Partner — Offers the QUESTion Class to students, with school leadership and faculty reporting increased student engagement and personal growth.
- Youth INC Partner — Listed as a proud partner, indicating a collaborative or funding relationship.
- high schools Partner — Implements The QUESTion Class within high school settings as part of its programming for students.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Co-Creative, Youth-Led Program Developmentmethodology: co-creative_curriculumBy involving students, teachers, and alumni as co-creators in curriculum and implementation, we increase relevance and impact because lived experience and participatory design lead to more authentic and sustainable engagement.
- Cultural Transformation via Evolutionary Frameworkmethodology: cultural_transformationBy using evolution as a framework for cultural and educational change, we enable transformative shifts in worldview because understanding change as an adaptive, emergent process empowers stakeholders to co-create future possibilities.
- Existential Inquiry for Purpose and Agencymethodology: existential_engagementBy engaging youth in guided exploration of life's biggest questions, we foster personal agency, meaning, and purpose because reflective self-discovery leads to deeper identity formation and motivation to act as change-makers.
- Interconnectedness and Empathy Through Shared Human Experiencemethodology: interconnectedness_based_empathyBy facilitating dialogue around universal human themes and anonymous reflection, we build empathy and school community because recognizing shared vulnerability and interconnectedness reduces social barriers and fosters care for the common good.