Free Programs and Fellowships for Teens Who Want to Build

Cost should never be the reason you don't start building. The programs below are completely free — and several of them actually pay you. Each one offers real experience, mentorship, and credentials that carry weight on college applications and beyond.

Paid Internships

Bank of America Student Leaders

Bank of America Student Leaders is one of the most competitive and rewarding summer programs for high schoolers interested in community impact. About 300 students are selected nationally for paid internships at leading nonprofits.

• What you get: 6-week paid internship at a local nonprofit (Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, etc.) plus a 3-day Leadership Summit on June 16-18, 2026
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in select U.S. communities
• Application window: February 9 - March 9, 2026
• Why apply: Paid work experience at an established nonprofit, national networking summit, and a credential that stands out. This is a resume-builder and a relationship-builder in one.

Teens in Public Service (TIPS) — Seattle

TIPS places teens in paid summer internships at 230+ nonprofits across the Greater Puget Sound region, including museums, nature preserves, food banks, and summer camps.

• What you get: Paid at Seattle minimum wage ($21.30/hr), up to 160 hours
• Eligibility: Ages 15-19, enrolled in high school (graduating classes 2026-2029)
• Deadline: March 2, 2026 at noon PST
• Why apply: Real nonprofit work experience with serious pay. Limited to the Seattle area, but if you are there, this is one of the best deals available.

Fund for the City of New York Summer Internship

The FCNY summer internship places high school students at one of NYC's most important civic organizations.

• What you get: Summer internship at FCNY
• Eligibility: High school students in New York City
• Dates: July 6-24, 2026
• Deadline: March 6, 2026
• Why apply: Direct exposure to how civic infrastructure works in one of the world's largest cities.

Fellowships

Ashoka Young Changemakers

Ashoka is the world's largest network of entrepreneurs driving change. Their Young Changemakers program identifies and supports high school students who are already leading innovative projects.

• What you get: Interactive workshops, expert-led seminars, personalized mentorship from Ashoka Fellows, and access to a global network of entrepreneurs and founders
• Eligibility: Grades 9-12 worldwide. You must already be leading a project with real-world impact.
• Deadline: March 1, 2026
• Why apply: Being named an Ashoka Young Changemaker is one of the most prestigious recognitions a teen entrepreneur can receive. The mentorship from established Ashoka Fellows is genuinely transformative.

Institute for Youth in Policy (YIP) Public Policy Fellowship

The YIP Fellowship is a two-month virtual program where students explore public policy from personal, local, and global angles, culminating in a capstone project.

• What you get: Synchronous meetings, policy exploration, capstone project, community of civic-minded peers
• Eligibility: Ages 13-25
• 2026 Cohorts: Winter (Jan-Mar), Spring (Apr-Jun), Summer (Jun-Aug), Fall (Sep-Nov)
• Format: Virtual (Wednesdays 8 PM EST + Saturdays 12 PM EST)
• Why apply: Multiple entry points throughout the year, completely virtual, and genuinely rigorous. Great for students interested in the policy side of real change.

Close the Gap Foundation Fellowship

The Close the Gap Fellowship pairs students with mentors from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft for weekly one-on-one sessions while they self-direct a real-world project.

• What you get: Weekly mentorship from a tech industry professional, guided project development
• Eligibility: 11th-12th graders in California, Oregon, or Washington who identify as low-income or previously qualified for free/reduced lunch
• Format: Hybrid (virtual mentorship + self-directed project)
• Why apply: The mentor pairing alone makes this exceptional. Having a Google or Amazon professional invested in your project for an entire school year is rare.

Girl Up Teen Advisors

Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation initiative, selects teen advisors to drive gender justice work for a one-year term.

• What you get: Direct mentorship from Girl Up staff, engagement with diverse stakeholders, certificate and letter from Girl Up and the UN Foundation
• Eligibility: Ages 13-17, currently enrolled in high school
• Commitment: At least 10 hours/month
• Why apply: Working directly with a UN Foundation initiative as a teenager is an extraordinary credential. Check the website for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Programs and Courses

Stanford e-Entrepreneurship U.S.

Stanford SEUS selects just 20 students for a virtual entrepreneurship course. Completers earn Stanford Continuing Studies credit and a SPICE Certificate.

• What you get: Stanford credit, Certificate of Completion, small-cohort learning with guest speakers
• Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the U.S.
• Deadline: Applications open March 1, 2026
• Format: Virtual (Saturdays 5-7 PM PT + ~4 hrs/week)
• Why apply: Free Stanford credit in a cohort of 20. That is an exceptional signal on any college application.

Suffolk University Summer Entrepreneurship Program

Suffolk's program offers 3 college credits and a full Shark Tank-style entrepreneurship experience, completely free.

• What you get: 3 college credits, team projects, visits to Boston's entrepreneurial organizations, Shark Tank-style pitch
• Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in metro-Boston
• Deadline: March 13, 2026
• Why apply: Three free college credits plus serious entrepreneurship training. If you are in the Boston area, there is no reason not to apply.

21st Century Leaders Summer Leadership Institutes — Georgia

21st Century Leaders runs free, week-long residential leadership institutes on Georgia college campuses covering healthcare, IT, film, and sustainability tracks.

• What you get: Free residential experience on a college campus with industry-specific leadership training
• Eligibility: High school students (Georgia-focused)
• Deadline: March 1, 2026
• Why apply: A completely free residential college experience with real industry exposure. If you are in Georgia, this is a no-brainer.

BizWorld YES! (Young Entrepreneur Success)

BizWorld YES! is a free 12-week virtual program where teens launch a real business with expert mentorship. Participants have collectively generated over $3 million in revenue.

• What you get: 12 weeks of mentorship, networking, and one-on-one coaching to launch a real business
• Eligibility: Ages 16-22
• Format: Virtual
• Why apply: The track record speaks for itself — $3M+ in real revenue generated by participants. Watch the website for upcoming 2026 cohorts.

Grants for Your Own Projects

Peace First Challenge

Peace First provides non-competitive mini-grants of up to $250, plus a guided self-paced learning journey for designing and executing community projects.

• Eligibility: Ages 13-25, anywhere in the world
• Deadline: Rolling/ongoing
• Why apply: Low barrier to entry, available worldwide, and the guided learning platform helps you develop your project even if you are starting from scratch.

Youth Service America (YSA) Grants

YSA offers $250-$1,000 grants for youth-led community service projects. The Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants ($250-$500) and 9/11 Day of Service Grants (up to $1,000) run on different timelines.

• Eligibility: Ages 5-25, U.S. and Canada
• Deadline: 9/11 Day of Service grant applications open May 1, 2026
• Why apply: Real funding for your own project, plus the credibility of a national organization behind you.

DoSomething.org

DoSomething.org runs multiple campaigns year-round, many with scholarship prizes attached. Their current Ripple Effect campaign offers a $250 scholarship for creating a PSA about waterway protection (deadline March 31, 2026). Over $300,000 in scholarships awarded annually.

• Eligibility: Ages 13-25, U.S. residents
• Why apply: No essays, no GPA requirements, no recommendations. Just take action and get entered. Multiple opportunities throughout the year.

Upcoming Deadlines

Every program on this list is free. Most have deadlines in March. If you have been waiting for the right moment to start building something real, this is it.

Looking for more structured guidance? Loona's programs provide intensive mentorship and venture-building support, and we offer financial aid to make participation accessible to every student. Read about high school students building real products for inspiration on what students like you are creating.