Increasingly, when foundations, government programs, and innovative community organizations want creative solutions to difficult funding issues, they turn to young people for solutions. Youth are connected to their communities in an authentic and unhindered way that can help grant makers understand issues better. YFYI became aware of this phenomenon in 2003 and with generous funding from DCYF, invested $165,000 in the hands of 15 youth to be given out as grants that would help other youth in the community make a positive difference.  Since then, YFYI continues to hire 15 new youth every two years to grant a total of approximately $150,000 per fiscal year to dozens of inspirational, transformative youth-led projects in San Francisco.

Every two years YFYI employs 15 youth to fill either Program Officer or Youth Evaluator positions. Both positions are involved in reading project proposals, interviewing applicants, going on project site visits and making funding decisions. Program Officers are responsible for contacting funded projects on a weekly basis, putting together legal documents and contracts, and consistently supporting projects. Youth Evaluators on the other hand, are responsible for evaluating both YFYI and potential YFYI project goals, demographics, target audiences, civic engagement, budgets.

Once employed with YFYI,

Each new staff undergoes eighty hours of training on various subjects such as Philanthropy,  active-listening, common visions, team-work etc. and then is given an intensive 36 question long evaluation.

YFYI does not only focus on their staff as Program Officers and Youth Evaluators. YFYI, along with CHALK offer their youth various free workshops on school, potential career pathways, hobbies and other topics. YFYI aims to guide their youth on the pathway to success.