OUR
HISTORY

The ICL Foundation is an award winning youth leadership nonprofit organization.

For over 20 years, ICL has inspired, educated, and supported student leaders to make a positive impact in their local and global communities.

Founded in 2001

In 2001, Kirk Spahn founded the Institute for Civic Leadership, a non- profit organization dedicated to helping high-achieving youth meet their academic and professional goals while developing character and leadership skills.

The Foundation has transformed the lives and futures of 5,000+ young people through global youth conferences, leadership speaker series, mentorship, and award-winning service and leadership courses.

ICL students also initiated service projects — from building schools to anti-gang education and healthcare initiatives.

Growth + Success

ICL continues to garner support and affiliation from global leaders and icons, including President Bill Clinton and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, authors Malcolm Gladwell, Neil deGrass Tyson and Dr. Jim Loehr, tennis champions Monica Seles, Tommy Haas and Novak Djokavic, and Grammy winners Alicia Keys, Wyclef Jean, and David Foster.

The ICL Foundation has helped create equity in the US school system. In conjunction with The Alcoa Foundation, Citibank, and Verizon, ICL developed IMPACT LEARNING: an award-winning leadership and character curriculum that was implemented in schools across the country.

Honors + Awards

6 Congressional Medals of Service

The United Nations Service Leadership Award

The Dale Earnhardt Award for Community Leadership

In 2015, ICL opened the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in Times Square

Over the past 20+ years, the ICL Foundation has invested $10+ million to empower student champions and leaders.

Michael Bloomberg

Former NYC Mayor

"ICL is the type of organization whose results speak for themselves. To put it simply, ICL strongly impacts the young leaders of this city and inspires impassioned youth that they can achieve greatness now and ICL gives them the tools and resources to make that difference. I have been involved with ICL for years and every year the students impress me more and more."