NIA · YM Chess AI
Online · Ready to help
Stanwood, WA · Founded 2024
Empowering underserved youth through chess, strategy, and technology. Building the thinkers, leaders, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
Our Mission
Young Minds Chess Foundation believes that the chessboard is a classroom. Every opening, every sacrifice, every endgame teaches a young person to think ahead, recover from setbacks, and strategize for victory in chess and in life.
We serve underserved communities across Washington State, providing free or low-cost chess instruction, STEM integration, mentorship, and technology access to youth who need it most.
Our programs are rooted in the belief that intelligence is universal and opportunity should be too.
The Connection
The same cognitive architecture that makes a great chess player makes a great engineer, scientist, or programmer. We teach both — simultaneously.
Programs & Impact
The Story Behind the Mission
"Chess saved me. Now I'm using it to save others."
Growing up in Watts and Compton, Los Angeles, Charell Williams learned early that survival required strategy. The streets demanded it. Chess formalized it. Every move on the board mirrored a decision in life: when to be patient, when to sacrifice, when to press the advantage, and when to protect what matters most.
That lived experience — combined with a career spanning aeronautics, international marketing, IT services, and voice work — gave Charell a rare perspective: the kids who need chess the most are the ones who never get access to it.
Young Minds Chess Foundation was built to close that gap. Not just with chess sets and lessons, but with mentorship, technology access, and the belief that every child in every underserved community deserves the tools to think strategically about their own future.
As a Washington State Certified Peer Support Professional, published author, and founder of TechSavvy Solutions, Charell brings the full weight of a multidisciplinary career to every program the foundation delivers.
"Intelligence is not the privilege of a zip code. Strategy is not reserved for elite schools. We are here to prove that. One move at a time.."
— CHARELL WILLIAMS, FOUNDER
Community Trust
Real words from educators and community partners who have witnessed the impact of chess-based learning firsthand.
Charell brings a rare combination of technical expertise, genuine care for students, and a strategic teaching philosophy. The chess program has noticeably improved student focus and problem-solving in the classroom.
What sets this program apart is the intentional connection between chess and real-world thinking. Students aren't just learning a game. They're learning how to approach challenges with patience, discipline, and confidence.
My son struggled with focus and self-confidence. After six weeks in the Young Minds program, he's thinking ahead, staying calm under pressure, and approaching school with a completely different mindset.
Real Impact
From classrooms to careers — here's what happens when technology meets genuine investment in young people.
My dad would always leave me with you and your constant projects are what kept me curious about technology. Looking back at it now I am very glad I was able to see you most Sundays and got to talk to you about your work and the freedom you have as an independent worker.
Help Launch Our Next Program
Help us launch our next school program this season. Every dollar moves us closer.
Young Minds Chess Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. Every dollar you give directly funds chess equipment, STEM curriculum, instructor training, and youth tournament scholarships.
Your investment doesn't just teach chess. It changes the trajectory of a young person's life.
EIN: 99-5034649 · Effective Date: Nov 15, 2024
Young Minds Chess Foundation · Stanwood, WA
Get In Touch
Whether you're a school administrator, grant officer, community partner, or a family interested in our programs, we want to hear from you.