NAF

NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds — especially students who may lack access to opportunity for college, career, and to be future ready. In the classroom, NAF transforms how we think about education—going beyond what traditional career and technical education programs offer with experiential learning activities that complement career-focused curricula. Outside the classroom, students are equipped with the future-ready skills and industry-specific learnings to be successful in any pathway they choose. NAF helps students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer. NAF puts students on a path to achieving their full potential.  

Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning. With the support of NAF community-based advisory boards, schools connect with the workforce to fuel shared progress—from creating culturally responsive curriculum and paid internship opportunities, to fostering innovation and building future-ready businesses.  

NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to over 600 academies across the country, focusing on growing industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences; and supports programs of study that are aligned with the National Career Clusters Framework. 

During the 2022-23 school year, over 112,000 students attended over 600 NAF academies across 35 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2022, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 88% of graduates planning to go to college.