Boston Youth Fund
Empowering Boston's teens with meaningful summer job opportunities, professional skills, and community connections since inception.
Our Mission
Over the years, the Boston Youth Fund (BYF) has made it a priority to offer positive job experiences to youth. It has been our philosophy that it is imperative to not only provide a paycheck, but also a quality work experience. This allows the youth of Boston an opportunity to discover and explore their talents while contributing to the well being of their community.
The goals of the BYF are very important. By following through on these goals, we are able to effect thousands of youth throughout the City of Boston. One of the most significant goals the BYF hopes to accomplish is granting youth the opportunity to discover new skills, as well an understanding about the workforce they will encounter in the future. Through their BYF experience, each youth employee is able to gain a sense of responsibility and teamwork, while broadening their sense of community. The Boston Youth Fund intends that all participants in the program be a part of a solid working experience, and that they form lasting relationships that carry beyond the summer months.
Ultimately, it is always a major priority of the BYF to hire as many Hopeline applicants as possible. Each February, youth applicants register with the Hopeline for the possibility of being offered a summer job. Registrants must be between the ages of 15 and 17 and in addition, must be a resident of the city of Boston.
BYF Summer Employment Program & HOPELINE Application
Are you interested in working this summer? If you are a Boston resident that meets our eligibility criteria, check out our Summer Employment Programpage for eligibility and HOPELINE application details. Don't miss out!
Summer Jobs
Learn about the BYF Summer Employment Program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply through the Hopeline.
View Program Details →Work Sites
Browse our directory of community-based organizations and potential summer work sites throughout Boston.
View Work Sites →FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about eligibility, the application process, pay, and more.
Read FAQs →Registration
Access the Hopeline online registration form to apply for summer employment with the Boston Youth Fund.
Register Now →Frequently Asked Questions
The Boston Youth Fund (BYF) is the City of Boston's teen employment program. It provides thousands of Boston teens between the ages of 15 and 17 with meaningful summer job opportunities across community, faith-based, and government agencies.
The program is designed not only to provide a paycheck but also to offer quality work experiences. Youth employees gain new skills, learn about teamwork and responsibility, and contribute to the well-being of their community.
Since its inception, the BYF has been committed to helping Boston's young people explore their talents while building lasting professional relationships that carry beyond the summer months.
To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 17, must be full-time residents of the City of Boston, and must be legally permitted to work in Massachusetts and the United States.
Teens must apply themselves through the Hopeline registration system. Parents and other adults are not permitted to apply on behalf of a teen. A valid email address is required as the primary communication channel.
Teens register through the Hopeline system, which opens annually in February. Applications can be submitted online through the BYF website or by calling the Hopeline phone number during designated hours.
After registering, applicants receive a tracking number. They can then view the list of potential work sites and contact organizations they are interested in, especially those requiring additional applications.
BYF participants work in a wide variety of roles across over 100 partner organizations. Positions include administrative assistants, junior counselors, mural painters, peer leaders, lifeguard interns, and many more.
Work sites include community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, health organizations, arts programs, and city agencies throughout Boston's neighborhoods.
The majority of positions are filled through a random selection process conducted by BYF. The program begins contacting selected teens in mid-April and continues through May, June, and sometimes into July.
Some partner organizations conduct their own interview-based selection for a portion of their employees. These work sites are noted on the partner list, and interested teens should contact those organizations directly after receiving their Hopeline tracking number.
The BYF summer employment program typically runs for approximately six weeks during July and August. Teens are paid an hourly wage for a maximum of 25 hours per week.
Specific dates and pay rates are announced each year when the program details are finalized. Contact the BYF headquarters at 617-635-4202 for the most current information.