IYF

The International Youth Foundation® (IYF®) stands by, for, and with young people. Founded in 1990 through a generous grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, IYF is a global nonprofit with programs directly benefiting 8.1 million young people and operations spanning 105 countries so far. Together with local community-based organizations and a network of corporate, foundation, and multilateral partners, we connect young people with opportunities to transform their lives. We believe that educated, employed, engaged young people possess the power to solve the world’s toughest problems, and we focus our youth development efforts on three linked objectives: unlocking agency, driving economic opportunity, and making systems more inclusive. Our vision is to see young people inspired and equipped to realize the future they want. The International Youth Foundation: Transforming Lives, Together. To learn more about the International Youth Foundation, please join us at iyfglobal.org. 

Office Locations

Baltimore, MD, USA & Mexico City, Mexico

Industry Focus:

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) works across multiple sectors to equip young people with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. Our core areas include:

Education & Skills Development: We provide vocational, technical, digital, and life skills training, while improving education-to-employment systems in collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners.

Workforce Development & Employment: We connect youth to employment opportunities through job readiness programs, entrepreneurship support, and strategic partnerships with the private sector. Our work spans industries such as:

Service
Agriculture
Construction
Logistics
Information Technology (IT)
Manufacturing
Aerospace
Advanced Manufacturing
Automation
Automotive
Banking Services
Energy Efficiency
Hospitality
Trade
Energy

Youth Agency & Leadership: We promote civic engagement, leadership development, and social entrepreneurship to empower youth as changemakers.

Social Development & Well-being: We support youth mental health, health education, and inclusive programming for vulnerable populations, including orphans, children with disabilities, and youth from low-income backgrounds.

Systems Change: We work to make educational, economic, and governmental systems more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs and voices of young people.