Intermediaries are organizations that connect and support institutions and individuals that have common interests, helping them to produce better results than they would have achieved working separately. PYN is a "youth workforce development intermediary" that connects and supports employers, schools, city agencies, youth-serving organizations, funders and advocacy organizations, with the ultimate goal of helping youth take their rightful places as active and productive citizens. Read more about PYN and intermediaries.

PYN supports schools primarily through our contracted providers, which work directly with schools and students through WorkReady programs, Student Success Centers and GEAR-UP.

PYN contracts with youth-serving organizations, (also known as "providers") to operate programs or provide services through competitive procurement processes known as Requests for Proposals (RFPs). All RFPs are posted on our website and/or on the websites of the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success and Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (PWIB).

PYN convenes and collaborates with dozens of organizations, schools and government agencies through partnership efforts aimed at increasing and enhancing opportunities for youth including: Project U-Turn, WorkReady Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success. For more information, please contact Jenny Bogoni at 267-502-3800.

The decision-making authority for the majority of funds PYN contracts to operate youth programs rests with the local workforce investment board (WIB) and its youth council, which are mayor-appointed policy bodies required under the federal Workforce Investment Act. PYN was selected through a competitive procurement process by the WIB to staff the Council and manage federal funding dedicated to youth workforce development. PYN's responsibilities include providing technical assistance, building the capacity of providers, evaluating programs and supporting infrastructure functions (such as youth payroll and data collection) for contracted youth-serving organizations.

Youth can apply for summer jobs supported by PYN in two main ways: (1) Most WorkReady Philadelphia summer jobs are filled directly by the organizations that operate these programs. These organizations recruit participants directly based on the areas of the city, schools, and/or specific populations they are contracted to serve. For a list of organizations, click here. (2) Each year, a portion of the WorkReady summer jobs are made available city-wide through an open-enrollment process. In either case, youth complete an on-line application as the first step. Youth applying for slots specifically through a contracted provider are given a "code" by that organization to put on their application so that it can be connected to that program. Due to funding requirements, the youth application process usually begins in April or May. The application and additional information and resources are available at PYN's website for youth.

PYN was selected through a competitive procurement process to manage youth workforce investments on behalf of the PWIB. This responsibility includes staffing the PWIB's federally-required youth council, a role filled by the Mayor-appointed Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success. PYN staffs the Council's Leadership Team, comprised of senior representatives from City government, the School District of Philadelphia, higher education and the private sector, as well as subcommittees that oversee WorkReady Philadelphia and Project U-Turn.

Along with our partners, we put the talent and drive of Philadelphia's young people to work as full and contributing members of a global economy. Click here to learn more about the impact of our work.

PYN's budget in fiscal year 2011 exceeds $38M, and includes a wide variety of investments from government, foundations, employers and other valued contributors. For a complete list of PYN supporters, click here.

Individual tax-deductible donations can be made directly to PYN to support its work, including WorkReady Philadelphia and Project U-Turn. Contributions can be made via credit card or check or through the United Way's Donor Choice.