Survey Highlights Real Gains for Youth Through NPFY’s Signature Program, Level Up
Phoenix, AZ November 5, 2025
At New Pathways for Youth, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to break through adversity and create a life filled with purpose, stability, and connection. For more than 35 years, we’ve walked alongside youth in Phoenix who face poverty, violence, and systemic barriers—offering a powerful combination of transformative mentorship and evidence-based personal development programming.
And today, the results are clear: your support is helping youth rewrite their stories.
Each year, NPFY partners with LeCroy & Milligan Associates, an independent research and evaluation firm specializing in social impact measurement. This partnership ensures that our programs are continuously assessed by objective, third-party experts. Through surveys, interviews, and longitudinal data analysis, LeCroy & Milligan helps us measure what matters most: how mentorship and holistic support lead to real, measurable transformation.
2025 Youth Outcomes: The Data Behind the Transformation
Our 2025 Youth Impact Survey, conducted by LeCroy & Milligan Associates, shows that youth in NPFY’s Level Up program are not only improving—they’re thriving in every area of their lives.
- 92% of youth improved in academic behavior, family functioning, and conflict resolution.
- 97% experienced an increase in protective factors—the internal strengths that help youth manage stress, build resilience, and make healthy choices.
- Rates of depression dropped by 15%, and exposure to community violence decreased by 12% since joining Level Up.
- Youth rated their mentorship experience 5.5 out of 6, and 90% said their mentor “has my best interests in mind.”
- Looking ahead, 58% plan to attend college, and 33% plan to attend trade school—tangible signs of purpose and forward momentum.
These outcomes validate what we’ve known for years: consistent mentorship, coupled with a structured, research-driven curriculum, changes the trajectory of a young person’s life.
Who Is LeCroy & Milligan Associates?
Founded in Tucson, Arizona, LeCroy & Milligan Associates has over 30 years of experience evaluating youth development, education, and community impact programs across the Southwest. Their team of psychologists, educators, and data analysts has helped dozens of nonprofits and public agencies strengthen program design and demonstrate measurable success.
NPFY has partnered with their firm to track outcomes year over year since 2022. —ensuring that our programming remains effective, data-informed, and deeply responsive to the realities our youth face. Their work gives us an honest mirror to celebrate what’s working and refine what’s not—so that every young person we serve receives the highest quality support.
How New Pathways for Youth Makes It Happen
Every young person who joins NPFY begins a journey of growth and transformation. Through our Level Up program, they’re matched with a caring, trained mentor and guided through a series of structured personal development Power Up that help them gain the skills to overcome adversity and achieve self-sufficiency.
Our evidence-based model is built around key areas that support holistic youth development: helping young people understand and manage their emotions in healthy ways; build trusting, empathetic relationships with clear communication; strengthen decision-making and personal accountability; set meaningful goals for their education, career, and life; and cultivate a deep sense of purpose and belonging through community engagement.
Volunteer mentors aren’t just role models—they’re partners in transformation, helping youth build confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.
Why Your Support Matters
This progress belongs to all of us. Every gift, every volunteer hour, every youth mentor who shows up consistently helps make these outcomes possible.
Your generosity ensures that:
- Youth can access life-changing mentorship and developmental workshops.
- Families receive ongoing support through community partnerships.
- NPFY can continue measuring impact transparently through our collaboration with LeCroy & Milligan Associates.
See the full 2025 Survey Highlights here and discover how your support is driving measurable impact.
Your continued commitment ensures that transformation isn’t just possible—it’s happening every day in the lives of Phoenix youth.
Because of you, every young person knows: You matter. Your future matters. Become a mentor