Principles

TEMPERAMENT: INTEGRITY AND HONESTY ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

We expect our people to maintain high ethical standards in everything they do, both in their work at The New Tenth and in their personal lives.

AMBITION: PURPOSE-DRIVEN: Belief is at the core of all achievement. We respect and treasure the power of a shared purpose and vision. It allows us to endure in times of adversity and will enable us never to get too high when things are going well or get down when they are not. Life presents these different colors and shades that require an intensity of belief and calm resolve. We believe deeply in the enduring human spirit and the possibility that lies in each of us. 

LIBERTY: WE OFFER OUR PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AHEAD MORE RAPIDLY THAN IS POSSIBLE AT MOST OTHER PLACES.

Advancement depends on merit, and we have yet to find the limits to the responsibility our best people can assume. To be successful, our young men and women must reflect the diversity of the communities and cultures in which we operate. That means we must attract, retain and motivate people from many backgrounds and perspectives. Being diverse is not optional; it is what we must be.

ENVISION: WE STRESS CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

While recognizing that the old way may still be the best, we continuously strive to find a better solution to any problem we may encounter. We pride ourselves on having pioneered many practices and techniques that have become standard in the industry.

NURTURE: WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF OUR WORK.

We have an uncompromising determination to achieve excellence in everything we undertake. Though we may be involved in a wide variety and heavy volume of activity, we would, if it came to a choice, rather be best than biggest.

TRUSTWORTHINESS: OUR ASSETS ARE OUR PEOPLE, CAPITAL AND REPUTATION.

If any of these is ever diminished, the last is the most difficult to restore. We are dedicated to complying fully with the letter and spirit of the laws, rules, and ethical principles that govern us. Our continued success depends upon unswerving adherence to this standard.

EXPANSION: OUR WORLD IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, AND WE AGGRESSIVELY SEEK TO EXPAND OUR INFLUENCE AND RELATIONSHIPS.

However, we must always be fair competitors and must never denigrate others.

DEDICATION: THE DEDICATION OF OUR PEOPLE TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE INTENSE EFFORT THEY GIVE THEIR DUTIES ARE GREATER THAN ONE FINDS IN MOST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. We think that this is an integral part of our success.

ONENESS: WE CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO ANTICIPATE THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

We know that the world will not stand still and that complacency can lead to extinction.

ZERO EXCUSES: APPETITE FOR CHANGE

If it were easy, everyone would do it. While we don't know the future, we can begin the process of knowing ourselves: The strengths and weaknesses that make up our character. We will continue to pursue truth in all of its forms, having the flexibility and the courage to change our minds and courses when we are wrong and be humble when we happen to be right—understanding that the road to success is never without obstacles.

Our Vision

At The New Tenth Foundation, we believe in cultivating leadership where it is needed most—empowering the next generation of youth and marginalized communities to transform their potential into lasting change.

Rather than relying on outdated systems of privilege, we invest in visionary thinkers, innovators, and change-makers who will lead by example—proving that equity and excellence go hand in hand.

Our approach is not about handouts, but hand-ups:

• Identifying and nurturing talent in underserved communities.

• Equipping future leaders with the skills, resources, and networks to succeed.

• Inspiring collective progress—because when one rises, we all rise.

This is more than individual success; it’s about shifting paradigms, breaking cycles, and rewriting the future. By unlocking the potential of the 10%, we create ripple effects that uplift the 100%—ensuring no one is left behind in the march toward justice, innovation, and shared prosperity.

Our mark on history will be indelible: a world where leadership is earned, opportunity is universal, and progress is unstoppable.

Our Mission

To ignite minds and awaken hearts—unleashing the God-given potential in every individual through skill, intellect, and unshakable purpose.

We fight for a world where justice opens doors, innovation breaks chains, and faith fuels the courage to rise. Mastery of hand and sharpness of mind mean little without the wisdom to wield them rightly—that’s why we teach more than trades or textbooks. We teach that living is not merely surviving, and that true success is measured by the lives we lift as we climb.

Through education that empowers, opportunities that transform, and community that sustains, we equip the forgotten to become architects of their destiny. No more mistaking the grind for the goal, or the struggle for the story’s end. Here, we build legacies, not just livelihoods—because a generation rooted in justice, daring in innovation, and anchored in faith can remake the world.