Companies & Organizations that Hire Current and Former Foster Youth

This list is a work in progress. 

If you have programs to suggest to add to this page, please contact us. 

NATIONWIDE

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is a national non-profit that transforms the lives of disadvantaged youth through the culinary arts and prepares them for college and careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

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Gap: Offers "This Way Ahead" paid internships. Helps teens and young adults from low-income communities land their first job. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is Gap's partner in this program.  

 

Starbucks College Achievement Plan: Consider working at Starbucks for the college tuition support! In collaboration with Arizona State University's online program, Starbucks offers eligible U.S. employees full tuition coverage for every year of college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Partners receive support from a dedicated team of coaches and advisors, 24/7 tutoring on a variety of subjects, and a choice of more than 50 undergraduate degrees through ASU's research driven and top-ranked program, delivered online.

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Start Somewhere: Nationwide jobs in hospitality, professional services, retail, restaurants and transportation. Part of the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative.

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Year Up: (Multiple Cities): Empowers low-income young adults  to go from poverty to professional careers  in a single year.

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YouthBuild: Low-income young people learn construction skills to help build affordable housing and other community assets such as community centers and schools.

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ARIZONA

• Cup O'Karma (Mesa & Chandler, Arizona): Provides housing and support services for abused women turned away by other shelters due to substance abuse and other problems. Learn more

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CALIFORNIA

• Locations in California: PRIDE Industries provides paid internships, part-time and full-time jobs with benefits to current and former foster youth ages 18-24.

• Fresno, CA: Hope for Youth

• Fresno, CA: Say Hello! door-to-door advertising, offering employment/workforce training to marginalized community members. 

• Glendale, Burbank and La Canada, CA: City of Glendale, CA

• Los Angeles, CA: Stepping Forward LA has a short-term paid internship that hires current and former foster youth and gives them hands-on work experience.  

• Los Angeles, CA: The Bixel Exchange connects L.A.’s top tech employers to diverse, under-represented high school and community college students that are seeking access and exposure to technology careers.

• Los Angeles, CA: iFoster works with community partners to train youth to be successful in a variety of careers and employers in the grocery industry

• Los Angeles, CA: L.A. Kitchen provides training in the culinary arts to former foster youth. 

• Los Angeles, CA: Tender Greens Sustainable Life Project Internship includes work experience at a Tender Greens restaurant, field trips to our farms and markets, cooking and nutrition classes, and life skills and employment workshops. Upon completion of the program, students are given an opportunity to apply for a full-time job at Tender Greens. 

• Orange County, CA: Doing Good Works, provides life skills and vocational training and jobs in print, promotional, and packaging.

• San Francisco, CA: Larkin Street Academy employment programs for homeless youth at Larkin Street’s Larkin Street Academy program include YouthForce, Job Readiness Class, Institute for Hire Learning, and Wire Up

• San Francisco, CA (bayview/hunter neighborhood): Old Skool Cafe, a youth-run, jazz-themed restaurant in San Francisco.

• San Jose, CA: ​Pivotal matches young people from foster care to summer job internships that match their individual passions, skills, and career goals.

• Vista, CA: Kitchens For Good Apprenticeship Program 

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COLORADO

• Denver, CA: Women’s Bean Project offers a transitional job in gourmet food manufacturing and handmade jewelry assembly designed to provide women immediate income, arrange support services to overcome barriers to employment, and teach the job readiness skills needed to get and keep a job. 

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

• Washington, DC: D.C. Central Kitchen provides training in the culinary arts to former foster youth. 

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ILLINOIS

• Chicago area: Portillo's is offering full-time and part-time jobs to current and former youth in foster care.

• Chicago, IL: Blue Sky Bakery & Café provides a 12-week job training program and job placement for homeless and at-risk youths ages 16-24. 

• Chicago, IL: Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative focused on securing year round jobs for young people ages 16 to 24. 

• Chicago, IL: Inspiration Kitchens training in the food service industry. 

• Chicago, IL: The Rebuilding Exchange provides job training and employment in the fields of deconstruction, materials management, warehousing, retail and carpentry and reclaims building materials. 

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NEW YORK

• New York, NY: The Hot Bread Kitchen Bakers in Training program is an innovative workforce development program that supports low-income, minority and immigrant women to launch culinary careers and food businesses. More

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MINNESOTA

• Minnesota Employment & Economic Development: Programs are designed to help at-risk teens and young adults find jobs, build job skills, learn specific trades, and explore education, training, and career options.

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MISSOURI

• St. Louis, MO: STL Youth Jobs training our youth to be ready for the jobs of tomorrow through individualized career assessment, financial literacy and job readiness training, employment experience and continuing career support.

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PENNSYLVANIA

• Philadelphia, PA: The Money & The Elephant provides professional, relationship & communication skills to former foster youth during an eight-month employment period at the cafe. 

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