About

At Search Institute, we believe in the potential of young people—their unique strengths, passions, and the limitless possibilities that arise with the right support. 

We are committed to transforming hearts and minds and inspiring action across youth support ecosystems—the various environments, relationships, and resources that contribute to the growth and well-being of young people. We strive to understand systems of access, opportunity, justice, and power in order to eliminate barriers, recognize strengths, and meet the needs of all young people to ensure access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.

Our Approach

Search Institute is more than a research organization; we transform complex findings into practical strategies and tools that support adults in co-creating spaces where youth can be and become their best selves. We work alongside our partners to refine our approaches, ensuring that change is meaningful and enduring.

• Generate Knowledge: Our work lives in the dynamic intersection of scientific research, practitioner wisdom, and youth voice, with a commitment to expand the collective knowledge of what all youth need to thrive.

• Co-Creating Solutions: We anticipate and solve for needs by developing research-informed frameworks, practices, and strategies that are actionable and adaptable across the youth support ecosystem. This collaborative process ensures that our solutions reflect youth voice and are centered on empowering adults to drive tangible and meaningful change.

• Empower Action: Our work identifies and promotes best practices, innovation, and meaningful change, including dismantling silos and fostering collaboration within and across sectors. As catalysts for change, we work alongside our partners to create a more cohesive, supportive ecosystem that prioritizes the well-being of young people.

Who We Serve

At Search Institute, we work hand-in-hand with leaders, educators, youth workers, families, and community partners across sectors to foster innovation and co-create solutions that work for real people in real communities, and most importantly that have real impact on young people. Through our partnerships, we help build bridges between research and practice, and between youth and the adults who support them. We strive to equip adults with the tools, training, and insights they need to make a difference.

What We Do

For more than 60 years, Search Institute research, frameworks and tools have been used around the world to strengthen young people’s relationships with the adults in their lives and empower change across the youth support ecosystem.

• Rigorous, Practice-Based Research: We seek to discover what young people need to succeed—and how they contribute to their communities and the world. We want to understand the people and places that shape who they are and the opportunities they have to learn, grow, and thrive. We anchor our research in positive youth development approaches, drawing on various disciplines, including developmental psychology, family science, social psychology, and educational psychology.

• Partner-Centered, Youth-Focused Solutions: Transformation calls for new ways of thinking, and our partnerships drive the innovation needed to address today’s complex challenges. Through professional learning experiences, surveys, measurement tools, and support for continuous improvement, we build capacity and inspire change. Together, we are shaping a future where every young person can thrive, by transforming the hearts and minds of adults.