Brooklyn, NY · 501(c)(3) Public Charity

Every young person has an edge. We help them find it.

We help young people build the mindset, leadership and entrepreneurial skills to turn their ideas into real impact.

Michael Ducille teaching a lecture hall full of students
Teaching discipline
Students selling the apparel brand they created at a pop-up shop
Student pop-up shop
Students working together on their business at a workshop table
Building the business
501(c)(3)public charity
Brooklyn, NYwhere we're based
Sponsoredfunding programs for youth who can't pay
In personor live on Zoom
Michael's programs through The 1 Percent Mindset have reached students at: Children's AidWildcatFedcapSt. Nick's AllianceQueens LibraryBMCC

Michael and The 1 Percent Mindset have worked with 10+ partner organizations.

Our Mission

To provide youth programs for underserved communities in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

We believe that with discipline, structure and the right mindset, every young person can turn their ideas into impact.

Our philosophy is simple: improve 1 percent every day.

What We Do

We fund programs for young people who can't pay.

Team-basedSchools & nonprofitsIn person or Zoom

As funding allows, the Foundation supports:

Sponsored program seats

Covering the cost of programs at under-resourced schools and community organizations.

Student scholarships

Helping students join programs and take the next step.

Student business seed money

Small startup grants for student pitch-competition winners.

What funded programs teach

01

Mindset

Goal-setting, discipline and accountability habits that carry into school, work and life.

02

Leadership

Teamwork, communication and responsibility, practiced by working together toward a shared goal.

03

Social Entrepreneurship

Students identify a real problem in their community, design a business to address it, and pitch their solution.

04

Financial Literacy

Practical money skills, from budgeting to the basic math behind a business plan.

Michael Ducille teaching a classroom of students
1%Better every day. That's the whole philosophy.
Meet Our Founder

No money. No connections. Just grit — and anyone can learn it.

Michael Ducille didn't come from money or connections. What he did have was grit, and he learned to use everything he had as an advantage. He started The 1 Percent Mindset to teach young people that same psychological edge, because anyone can do it.

Since 2018, Michael has personally worked with more than 1,000 young people through New York City Department of Education schools and community organizations. He founded The 1 Percent Mindset Foundation to expand that work and bring these programs to more young people in underserved communities.

The Foundation may contract The 1 Percent Mindset LLC, which Michael owns, to deliver programs. Those decisions are made under a conflict-of-interest policy, with Michael stepping out of the vote.

Michael DucilleFounder & President
In Their Own Words

Hear it from the students.

No statistic lands like a young person telling you, in their own voice, what changed.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Michael DucillePresident
LeCorey RobeyTreasurer