City Year transforms the lives of two distinct sets of constituents — but it doesn’t stop there. Relying on powerful stories to engage them, it also transforms the lives of donors.

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

“Many are in nonprofits, some in the school system, some in business,” he says. “It’s really very inspirational.”

City Year tries to keep connected with alums from the very beginning so it doesn’t have to reconnect with them later in their lives and careers. To that end, it encourages alumni and parents groups, and has an alumni advisory board. It also offers the Leadership After City Year program, known as LACY, that helps volunteers network and integrate their City Year experiences into the next phases of their lives, whether that be college, grad school, career or additional volunteer work.