Beginning in the year 2000, Thrive Foundation stimulated a study of thriving within the field of positive youth development. We made significant investments in scientific research to define thriving in youth and ways that caring adults can encourage youth thriving trajectories.

Thrive Foundation funded prominent scientists in the field of positive youth development to define thriving and indicators of thriving, including Dr. Peter Benson of Search Institute; Dr. Bill Damon of Stanford’s Center on Adolescence; Dr. Rich Lerner of Tufts Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development; and Dr. Linda Wagener of Fuller Seminary. We supported Dr. Carol Dweck’s work at Stanford University, pinpointing how important a youth’s growth mindset is to a thriving trajectory. These social scientists have recently published numerous books and journals that promote thriving concepts.

Thrive Foundation partners with social sector organizations to develop tools that actively translate this emerging academic research to practical application. The University of California, 4-H academic team's monograph summarizes the research rationale that is the basis for Thrive's theory of change and tool development.