named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Mind in the Making (MITM)
Research-based program promoting executive function life skills in children and adults through training modules, books, and tip sheets, based on Ellen Galinsky’s work.
National Study of Employers
Research series (2005–2016) documenting employer policies and practices related to work-life balance, used to inform organizational change and policy.
National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW)
Longitudinal study of the U.S. workforce conducted from 1992 to 2016, building on the 1977 Quality of Employment Survey, providing data on workforce trends and work-life dynamics.
Real Skills for Real Life
Initiative co-led with AASA to promote executive function and life skills in education, including summits and certified training for educators.
Thriving Workplace Index
Staff retention and organizational culture assessment tool designed to improve workplace environments and employee well-being.
Youth Voice Research Series
Science-backed research series exploring how children and youth feel about key issues in their lives, including the Youth Voice on Arts and Thriving Study.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
- Conducts research on workforce, workplace, and family dynamicsConducts rigorous research on the changing workforce, family, and community to identify emerging issues and inspire change, including long-term studies such as the National Study of the Changing Workforce (1992–2016) and the National Study of Employers (2005–2016), with ongoing data analysis and reporting.
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Conducts youth-focused research to understand adolescent experiences and perspectivesProduced the Ask the Children and Youth Voices Research series, including the Youth Voice on Arts and Thriving Study, which surveyed 1,015 youth aged 11–24 and their parents in collaboration with Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab.
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Workplace DEI Research and Training 1 activity
- Develops research-based tools and frameworks to improve workplace and organizational cultureDeveloped the Thriving Workplace Index and authored practical guides such as "Workplace Flexibility: A Guide for Employees" and "Workflex and Manufacturing Guide: More Than a Dream" to support organizational change and employee retention.
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Published Narrative Projects 1 activity
- Produces publications and educational resources on child and adolescent developmentAuthored influential books including Mind in the Making and The Breakthrough Years, developed the Seven Essential Life Skills Modules, and produced over 90 books and reports and 360 articles to promote executive function and life skills in children and youth.
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 1 activity
- Provides research-based training and capacity-building programs for professionals and educatorsOffers training and resources on executive function and child brain development for families and professionals, including co-developing a free online Keystones of Development curriculum for pediatric residents and organizing the Real Skills for Real Life Summit, with certified training courses and educator materials.
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Open Research Infrastructure & Publishing 1 activity
- Supports access to research data and scholarly use of public datasetsProvides support to researchers using the 2016 public use data from the National Study of the Changing Workforce, enabling ongoing academic analysis and publication.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$198K
Contributions & grants$179K90%
Program service revenue$18K9%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$235K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$145K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$105K
Cash$132K
Investments$0
Liabilities$12K
Net assets$101K
Liquid reserves5.4 mo
3 years on record · 2023–2025 · YoY revenue -47.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN GALINSKY | President | 40 | $49K |
board members · 7
- DEBORAH DAGIT — BOARD MEMBER
- ELLEN R MARRAM — BOARD MEMBER
- JT TED CHILDS JR — BOARD MEMBER
- JUDY WOODRUFF — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNETH J BARRETT — BOARD MEMBER
- PATRICIA H MILLER — BOARD MEMBER
- STEPHANIE B MUDICK — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- AASA Partner — Collaborated with AASA on the Real Skills for Real Life initiative, co-leading a national summit and developing training and resources.
- AASA, the School Superintendent Organization Partner — Ellen Galinsky serves as senior research advisor to AASA, the School Superintendent Organization.
- AASA, the School Superintendent Organization Partner — Ellen Galinsky serves as senior research advisor to AASA.
- Community Partner Toolkit Partner — Collaborates with community partners to build support for workplace effectiveness and flexibility.
- Family Connections Center Partner — Collaborates with the Family Connections Center to support children of incarcerated parents and prepare families for reunification.
- Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab Partner — Co-conducted the Youth Voice on Arts and Thriving Study to understand youth engagement and development.
- Mount Sinai Parenting Center Partner — Collaborated with The Families and Work Institute to develop the Keystones of Development curriculum for pediatric residents.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children Network — Ellen Galinsky served as elected President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
- WFRN Partner — Collaborated on the creation of WFRN’s Big Ideas Talks.
- Work and Family Researchers Network Network — Ellen Galinsky is President of Families and Work Institute and elected Past President of the Work and Family Researchers Network.
- Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Network — Ellen Galinsky is elected President of WFRN.
- Work and Family Researchers’ Network Network — Ipshita Pal was a 2020-2022 Early Career Fellow of the Work and Family Researchers’ Network, indicating institutional affiliation.
strategies · 5
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.
- Civic Science with Collaborative Problem-Solving 597 orgsmethodology: civic_scienceBy engaging participants as co-researchers in identifying and testing solutions, we produce more relevant and effective interventions because collaborative inquiry increases ownership, contextual accuracy, and sustainability of change.shared approach: Community-Led Systems Change →
- Research-Driven Transformation of Work-Life Integration 597 orgsmethodology: research-driven policy and practice changeBy conducting proactive, longitudinal, and context-sensitive research on workforce and family dynamics, we generate actionable insights that transform institutional practices and policies because evidence-based understanding challenges flawed assumptions and reveals effective solutions.shared approach: Community-Led Systems Change →
- Everyday Learning Integration for Skill Building 76 orgsmethodology: everyday-learning-integrationBy embedding executive function skill-building into routine family interactions, we make learning accessible and sustainable because integrating practice into daily life increases repetition, relevance, and caregiver engagement.shared approach: Family-Centered Development →
- Two-Generation Approach to Executive Function Development 76 orgsmethodology: two_generationBy building executive function skills in both children and caregivers simultaneously, we improve child development and family outcomes because skill development in one generation reinforces and amplifies growth in the other.shared approach: Family-Centered Development →
- Shared Solutions with Possibilities Mindsetmethodology: possibilities-mindsetBy using the Possibilities Mindset to engage parents and teachers in collaborative problem-solving with adolescents, we foster agency and constructive outcomes because reframing challenges as solvable together increases motivation and relational resilience.