Are there entrepreneurs in your classroom? NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education FORUM Charleston, SC November 5, 2007

Who is NFIB? The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the largest small- and independent- business advocacy group in the country NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of it’s members to own, operate and grow their businesses NFIB created the Young Entrepreneur Foundation to promote the principals of small and independent business to America’s youth

What is YEF? 501(c)3 organization serving as the education arm of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Educating young people about the critical role of small business and the American free-enterprise system Helping students interested in small business and entrepreneurship further their education Promoting the lessons of free enterprise in the classroom through a variety of programs

Young Entrepreneur Foundation Staff Hank Kopcial – Executive Director Chantel Bartlett – Program Manager (Young Entrepreneur Awards) Julie Carney – Program Manager (Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom)

Why is entrepreneurial education important? Studies show that 6 out of 10 young Americans want to be in business for themselves VISA/NFIB survey of educators and guidance counselors found that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive in students Most students don’t know where to go for advice on turning ideas into reality 64% felt high schools should offer basic “how to” classes on starting a business Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership found that 85 percent of students said they were taught little or nothing about how business works

Are there entrepreneurs in your classroom? What can you do to help bring out the entrepreneurial spirit in your students?

YEF Programs NFIB Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom Johnny Money: The Online Game Take Time to Teach (T3) Mentoring NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards (scholarships for high school seniors)

NFIB Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom (EITC) Three-module curriculum written by YEF & George Washington University for use in high school classrooms Module One - Explores small business and its importance to the US economy Module Two - Discusses the characteristics of an entrepreneur and how to turn an idea into a business Module Three - Reviews the basics of how to start a business Each module includes teacher notes, lesson plans, overheads, activities, and a quiz/answer key Interested educators/teachers register for FREE with YEF in order to download and use the curriculum EITC is designed for any classroom and any teacher, regardless of discipline. Visit us online at

EITC (continued) Johnny Money: The Online Game Small-business simulation game allowing teens to explore the risks and rewards of business ownership Designed to reinforce lessons learned from the Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom curriculum Simulates running a small business where the student makes day-to-day decisions affecting the success of their business Available early Take Time to Teach (T3) Mentoring Program Created to help teachers become comfortable teaching entrepreneurship in their classrooms T3 matches NFIB members with local educators to assist the introduction of EITC into schools Visit us online at

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award is a merit-based, $1,000 non-renewable scholarship Applied to educational expenses at any accredited, nonprofit two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school in the US Eligibility: high school seniors entering his/her freshman year Should have entrepreneurial spirit and initiative: starting a business, participation in organizations such as DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and Junior Achievement An established business is not required

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards Apply online November 12, 2007– February 11, 2008 Visit to applywww.NFIB.com/YEA ACCESS KEY = NFIB After February 11, 2008, an impartial committee will choose a group of semi-finalists Semi-finalists will be notified by at the end of the February

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards Semi-finalist applicants will be required to: Submit a typed 1,000 word essay High school transcripts NFIB member nomination Semi-finalist materials postmarked by March 28, 2008

Promote Entrepreneurship to the Next Generation of Small-Business Owners How can you help? Deliver application packets to your high schools Talk to your local school boards about entrepreneurial education Utilize the FREE EITC curriculum in your classroom Participate in the T3 program Identify students eligible for an Award and encourage them to apply

For more information regarding the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation: Visit YEF at Call