Eligible ages: 13 and up. The 2026 Youth Art Summit brings together young artists, arts organizations, creative businesses, educators, and community members for a day centered on youth creativity and opportunity. This annual, free event creates space for connection, collaboration, and visibility across San Francisco’s youth arts ecosystem. Youth Art Summit 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at YAX Studios at La Fénix in the Mission (1950 Mission Street).

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Eligible grades: 9 to 12. Mission Bit is offering free summer coding classes online and invites students to join for a fun and hands-on learning experience. Students can take classes like Intro to Python, Intro to Web Design, and Intro to Unity Game Design, all taught over Zoom. Devices can be provided if needed, and students will learn new skills, build projects, and connect with others while exploring coding in a supportive environment. Classes will take place from June 23 to July 31, 2026. Applications are due by May 10, 2026.

View details about Mission Bit's Summer 2026 Explore Code Academy

Eligible ages: 14–21. In 2026, GIRLFLY will bring 20 young women and gender-nonconforming youth together for a four-week Summer Arts & Activism Project. Students will explore the idea of freedom and what it means to use their voices through dance, movement, and music. With guidance from professional teaching artists, participants will create aerial and site-specific dances, learn body percussion and vocal skills, build community, and perform original work for the public. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with two required performances at the end, and participants will earn a $550 stipend for completing the program. Applications are due by May 15, 2026.

View details about the GirlFly Summer Art & Activism Program

Eligible ages: 15 to 25. Join this free virtual workshop designed for students, recent graduates, and early-career job seekers to learn how to use LinkedIn to support their career goals. Participants will learn how to build a strong profile, develop a personal brand, and use LinkedIn to network and find job opportunities. The session takes place on May 26 at 4:00 PM, and registration is required to attend.

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Eligible grades: 9 to 12. Future Founders Summer Camp, hosted by the California College of Business, Science, and Technology, is a 2-week immersive program in San Francisco designed for students eager to break into the world of business and entrepreneurship. Participants are coached by industry professionals while building foundational skills in finance, banking, and business planning, ultimately developing their own ventures. Over 10 intensive days, students engage in hands-on activities, networking opportunities, and mentorship, creating a strong launch pad for future professional and entrepreneurial success. The program will take place from July 6 to July 17, 2026. Registration will close on May 30, 2026.

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Eligible grades: rising 9th to 12th. AAMPLIFY trains and supports Asian American high school leaders. During the 2-week AAMPLIFY Social Justice Leadership Program, you will strengthen your leadership skills, gain friends and mentors, and learn how to advocate on issues that matter to you and your community. There is no cost to attend. Applications are due by May 31, 2026.

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Eligible grades: 9 to 12 in the 2026-2027 school year. Youth MOJO develops the leadership of Chinese high school youth in San Francisco, with a focus on social issues such as housing, education justice, immigration, and workers’ rights. Youth leaders develop leadership, communication, advocacy and organizing skills. The program aims to empower youth to fight for positive change in their community. MOJO begins on Sunday, June 14, 2026 with a mandatory all day Youth Leadership Retreat. The program ends on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Applications are due by June 5, 2026.

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Eligible grades: high school students and college freshmen. The Summer Adventures Volunteer Program is designed for rising high school students and college freshmen to build leadership skills, develop new abilities, and support younger youth in their community. Volunteers work with staff and peers to plan and lead activities and lessons for students entering grades 1–8 in the Summer Adventures Program. Activities include academic enrichment, arts and crafts, STEM projects, and cultural experiences. The program runs for eight weeks, with flexible shift options available. Applications are due by June 5, 2026.

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Eligible ages: 11 to 18. First Exposures is a free photography mentoring program for young people in the Bay Area. The program helps youth learn photography, express themselves, and build confidence with support from mentors and teaching artists. Participants learn how to take and edit photos, use cameras and darkroom tools, and explore their creativity while making friends and having fun. The summer program runs from June 29 to August 7, 2026. Applications are due by June 8, 2026.

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Eligible grades: 9 to 12. The Youth Empowerment Fund is looking for high school-aged youth to serve as Community Funders. In this role, participants help decide which community projects receive funding by reviewing applications, joining interviews, and working with a team to select projects that support positive change. They also help lead workshops and share information so other youth can apply and succeed. This role builds leadership, teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills while giving youth a chance to be part of meaningful community work. Applications are due by early July 2026.

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Eligible ages: 14 to 18. Climate Warriors is a free 4-week summer program where students learn how to make videos and record sound while working together as a team. They use these skills to create a short documentary about an environmental justice topic. No experience is needed to join. The program runs from July 6 to July 31, 2026, and students who complete the program will receive a $200 stipend. Applications will be accepted until July 5, 2026.

View details about mClimate Warriors Summer Filmmaking Intensive

Eligible ages: 12 to 24. Community Health Programs for Youth offers free, confidential mental health services. From trauma-informed care to short-term counseling and substance use support, their team meets youth where they are, in schools, clinics, and community spaces.

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Eligible ages: 8 to 21. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that help young people grow and reach their potential. The program matches youth with trained adult mentors through a careful process that focuses on safety, commitment, and strong connections. Youth are referred by parents, guardians, teachers, and social workers, and the program serves families across all nine Bay Area counties. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

View details about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area Mentorship Program

Eligible grades: 11 and 12. The Black and BIPOC Early Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps train more Black and Pacific Islander teachers to work with young children in San Francisco. The Transitional Age Youth Pathway, which is for youth in grades 11 and 12, helps young adults earn an Assistant Teacher Permit. In this pathway, participants learn in a small group with others, earn college credits, and have their tuition paid for. They also receive tutoring and support from coaches and mentors. Participants can join affinity groups, build strong friendships, and connect to jobs at early childhood education centers in San Francisco. Applications are due in early spring 2026.

View details about the Black and BIPOC Early Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Eligible ages: 18 and up. BAYCAT's Intermediate Summer Internship is a paid program that helps people build their skills in film and video production. Participants work together to create short videos, learn how a real film set works, and meet deadlines while getting feedback on their work. They try different roles like camera, lighting, sound, and production support, and take part in workshops to grow their skills and confidence. This program is best for people who already have some experience with video production and want to keep learning, work with others, and create professional projects. Applications are due by early May 2026.

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Eligible grade: high school juniors. Destined for College is a free program from ScholarMatch that helps high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. Students join the virtual program during their senior year and meet once a month with a college coach by phone, text, email, or video. Coaches help students explore college options, review financial aid offers, write personal statements, search for scholarships, fill out financial aid forms, and solve any problems with their college applications. Applications are due by September 18, 2026.

View details about ScholarMatch's Destined for College Program!

Get zero-cost services from our job centers designed for youth and young adults who are between the ages 16 to 24.

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Eligible ages: 17-24. New Door Ventures helps young people in San Francisco get on the path to good jobs and financial stability. In their six-month program, 15–20 youth join as a group of interns. They learn job skills, work together, and support each other during their internships. Applications are accepted all year.

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Eligible ages: 16 and 17. Online pre-registration to vote is available for California youth who are 16 or 17 years old. Young people can sign up so they are ready to vote when they turn 18. Pre-registration does not change the voting age, which is still 18: it simply allows teens to fill out the voter registration form early. To pre-register, a person must be a United States citizen, live in California, not be serving a state or federal prison sentence for a felony, and not be found mentally unable to vote by a court.

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Eligible ages: 18 to 24. The Adult Pathway of the Black and BIPOC Early Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Program supports young adults who want to become early childhood educators in San Francisco. This pathway helps participants earn an Assistant Teacher Permit. Students learn in a small group with others, earn college credits, and have their tuition paid for. They receive tutoring and support from coaches and mentors along the way. Participants can join affinity groups, build strong professional connections, and connect to jobs at early childhood education centers in San Francisco. Applications are due in early spring 2026.

View details about the Black and BIPOC Early Educator Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Eligible ages: 18 to 24. The Introduction to Skilled Trades program gives young adults a paid chance to explore careers in manufacturing and skilled trades. Participants get hands-on training in areas like machining, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and automotive mechanics, and take a class at City College of San Francisco. The program also helps them get ready to continue in a trades program at City College in the fall. No experience is needed, just an interest in learning, showing up, and taking part. Along the way, participants get support through each step, from applying and preparing to completing summer classes and planning their next move. Applications will be accepted through early May 2026.

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Elilgiblity: African American young professionals and college age students. Finding a job after college can be hard right now. Many people are looking for work, and some entry-level jobs are changing because of AI. This can feel stressful for recent graduates and people just starting their careers, but they are not alone. The Job Forum is hosting a real-talk session with African American professionals who have been in the same place and will share what worked, what was hard, and what they learned. Speakers from different fields will talk about how to search for jobs, build a network, explore different career paths, decide if more school is worth it, and stay motivated. Participants can bring questions and share their interests when they register so the panel can focus on what they want to know, and the event will also include small breakout groups for more personal conversation and connection. The workshop will take place online on May 13, 2026 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Eligibility: Native American college students. The Native American Health Center offers the Seven Generations Scholarship Fund to support Native American and Alaska Native students living in Alameda, San Francisco, and Contra Costa counties. This scholarship helps students pay for college or job training programs and supports their goals for the future. Students who apply must be tribally enrolled or affiliated, have finished high school or an equivalent program, be accepted to or enrolled in an accredited school in the U.S., have at least a 2.5 GPA, and be taking at least one class. Applications are due by May 15, 2026.

View details about the Seven Generations Scholarship Fund

Eligible ages: 18 and up. 826 Valencia is offering a summer internship for people who want to work with young people and support their creative writing. Interns help students in grades 3 to 12 during writing programs, work with staff at summer camps, and learn how to teach and support youth in a fun and welcoming environment. The internship takes place in person at 826 Valencia locations in San Francisco and includes training, coaching, and hands-on experience in education and nonprofit work. The program will take place from from June 15 to July 31, 2026. Applications are due by May 17, 2026.

View details about 826 Valencia's Education Programs Internship

Eligible ages: 18 to 24. Dev/Mission's Pre-apprenticeship Program helps young adults learn coding and build skills for careers in tech. Participants get free training in areas like computer basics, programming, and hands-on projects, along with support to prepare for jobs. Each person is paired with a tech mentor for six months who offers guidance and advice along the way. The program also helps connect participants to internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities, giving them the tools they need to get started in the tech field. The program will take place from June 8 to August 14, 2026. The registration period will close in mid-May 2026.

View details about Dev/Mission's Pre-apprenticeship Program

Eligible ages: 18 to 30. The American Indian Cultural District will host its 2026 Young Leaders Council Spring Recruitment Mixer on May 22, 2026. Native young adults from the San Francisco Bay Area are invited to enjoy light refreshments, raffle prizes, and learn more about the Young Leaders Council. Attendees will also learn how they can build leadership skills, support Native communities throughout Yelamu (San Francisco), and help shape the future of the American Indian Cultural District.

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Eligible ages: 18 to 24. Mission Bit is offering its free Tech Start summer program for San Francisco residents, designed to help young adults prepare for careers in tech. The remote program runs June 8 to 18, 2026, Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Zoom, with a required orientation on June 4, 2026 from 4–4:30 p.m. Participants will take part in workshops and sessions on financial literacy and investing (with JPMorganChase), networking (with LinkedIn), resume building, career panels, and mentoring. All participants who complete the program will receive a $100 stipend. Applications are due by May 24, 2026.

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Eligibility: under age 30 and enrolled in a college, university, or trade school. The Legacy Foundation for Bayview Hunters Point offers a scholarship for students who live in the Bayview neighborhood (zip codes 94124, 94134, and 94107) and are working toward a diploma, certificate, or college degree. The Legacy Foundation was created as part of the Bayview Hunters Point Shipyard Redevelopment Project to support the community as the neighborhood grows and changes. Its programs focus on helping low- and moderate-income families, improving education and job skills, and strengthening the community. Applications are due by June 3, 2026.

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Eligible grades: high school senior or currently in college. Every year MCK awards a scholarship up to $2,500 to students in San Francisco's Hunters Point-Bayview, Tenderloin and Treasure Island neighborhoods. The money gets paid directly to the individual's school to pay for tuition, books, or other needs. Applications are due by June 15, 2026.

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Eligible ages: 18-24. Are you in school, working, or somewhere in between? You may be eligible for cash, food, and health care benefit programs to make ends meet. Applications for benefits programs are always open.

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Eligible ages: 18 to 26. The Booker T. Washington Community Service Center's Transitional Age Youth Program supports young adults as they build independence and figure out what’s next. Participants can get one-on-one support, help finding a job, and join workshops on money, mental health, parenting, and everyday life skills. There are also community events and peer support, with both drop-in and group sessions so people can connect, learn, and grow together.

View details about the Transitional Age Youth program

If you graduated from a San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) or SFUSD affiliated charter school in the Class of 2025, 2024, or 2023, then you have at least $50 in your K2C account, plus any contributions or incentives to continue your education after high school! There is no deadline to claim your money.

View details about claiming your Kindergarten to College money

Eligible ages: 18 to 24. LYRIC offers paid internships all year and invites young people to fill out a form if they are interested. The Youth Ambassadors program is for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual youth and allies, where participants build job skills, work on projects related to their goals, and help run LYRIC programs. The program takes place in set cohorts, with dates shared once they are confirmed. Interns work about 10 hours a week, Monday through Friday for two hours each day, and are paid an hourly wage. The internship location is shared only with those who are selected.

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Eligible ages: 18 to 24. Mission Language & Vocational School offers a bilingual (English and Spanish) Hospitality Training Program for young adults who want to work in the hospitality industry. In this program, students get hands-on experience at Jim’s Restaurant in the Mission and earn industry certificates when they finish. The program is for San Francisco residents who are currently unemployed or underemployed and interested in hospitality careers. Participants must be able to attend about 10 hours a week for 8 weeks.

View details about the Mission Language and Vocational School's Hospitality Training Program!

Eligible ages: 18 and up. Get trained and qualified for a DMV Class B Permit to begin a career in transportation with the CityDrive program. Services are offered at no cost, including free access to services and job referrals.

View details about applying to train for a career in transportation

Eligible ages: 18 and up. OEWD's Hospitality Initiative prepares you for a career in hospitality at no cost. Open to both beginners and experienced hospitality workers.

View details about applying to train for a career in hospitality

Eligible ages: 18 and up. CityBuild provides industry-recognized training for construction and construction administration to San Francisco residents.

View details about applying to train for a career in construction

Eligible ages: 18 and up. The SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development's TechSF program prepares you for a career in technology by offering training programs at no cost to participants.

View details about applying to train for a career in technology

Eligible ages: 18 and up. The SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development's HealthCare Academy prepares you for a career in healthcare at no cost. Open to both beginners and experienced healthcare workers.

View details about applying to train for a career in healthcare