10 Business Volunteer Opportunities for High School Students in 2024-2025
Volunteering through business programs offers high school students an opportunity to gain experience while contributing to meaningful projects. By taking on volunteer roles, you can develop valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, all within a real-world business environment. Volunteering not only allows you to explore different aspects of the business world, but it also provides a chance to make an impact while learning from professionals in the field.
Early exposure to business through volunteer work can also enhance your college applications. Admissions officers appreciate students who demonstrate initiative, including when they dedicate time to unpaid roles that foster personal growth and community engagement. Volunteering in a business setting shows that you are committed to learning, which can help set you apart from other applicants.
To help you explore these opportunities, here’s a list of 10 business volunteer programs for high school students in 2024-2025.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program offers high school students an experience in community service through paid internships with nonprofits like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity. As part of this eight-week program, you will gain firsthand insights into how businesses, governments, and nonprofits collaborate to address local challenges. Additionally, you will attend the National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will explore leadership and social responsibility, making this a valuable opportunity for those interested in business-oriented volunteer work. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Internships at local nonprofits at an eligible location around the country, and a leadership summit in Washington D.C.
Cost: Paid internship, fully funded trip to Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Current junior or senior high school students who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Application deadline: January 15, 2025
Dates/duration: The program starts soon after the school year ends and lasts for 8 weeks, including the 1-week summit
2. KPMG Future Leaders Program
The KPMG Future Leaders Program is a unique volunteer-oriented opportunity for young women aspiring to careers in business and STEM. This selective program invites 22 high school seniors to receive mentorship from experienced business leaders, including those from the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit. As a KPMG scholar, you’ll benefit from leadership training, career guidance, and networking opportunities. With its focus on mentorship and professional growth, this program helps you build skills and the confidence to contribute meaningfully to business and community initiatives throughout your academic and career journey.
Location: Varies; intern placements depend on KPMG's hosting decisions
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: Women high school seniors with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA
Application deadline: Application deadlines typically fall in early February
Dates/duration: The summer before college, specific dates TBA
The Meta Summer Academy offers a hands-on externship for high school students who want to explore careers in tech business and innovation. This selective, six-week program in California allows you to work 30 hours per week alongside Meta mentors, gaining experience in tech operations, coding, and soft skills essential for career growth. Meta covers transportation for participants, making the program accessible across California. As a tech-focused volunteer program, this academy equips you with valuable skills for economic success and future professional opportunities in the tech industry. To learn more about this internship, check out our guide here.
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City
Application deadline: March 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/duration: June 17 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The DOROT Summer Teen Internship Program is a volunteer opportunity for high school students to develop skills in nonprofit management and community engagement. This four-week program in New York City focuses on intergenerational activities, where interns connect with older adults through tech support, arts, and home visits, addressing social isolation. With over 112 service hours earned, you will gain practical experience in leadership and organizational roles. Multiple sessions across Manhattan, Long Island, and Brighton Beach make it an accessible choice for students aiming to build business-relevant volunteer experience.
Location: Various locations in New York City, NY
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors based in New York City
Application deadline: Rolling from December through June
Dates/duration:
Session 1: June 23 – July 17, 2025
Session 2: July 22 – August 14, 2025
5. SPARK SIP
The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP) offers a unique business volunteer opportunity, linking motivated high school students with mentors, professionals, and industry experts in diverse fields, including business and technology. Based primarily in Seattle, this nonprofit initiative offers hands-on projects, equipping you with practical experience in professional environments. Through partnerships with local businesses and institutions, SPARK SIP enables you to collaborate on projects like marketing, project management, and industry research, preparing you for future career paths while supporting local economic and community development. For tips on how to land this competitive internship, check out our guide here.
Location: Various locations in Greater Seattle, WA
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and currently live in the United States
Application deadline: Applications for summer 2025 will open sometime in March/April 2025
Dates/duration: Varies according to internship, 8-10 weeks from June to August
Ladders for Leaders offers high-achieving high school and college students the chance to participate in summer internships with leading corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies in New York City. As part of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, you will receive valuable pre-employment training, giving you essential skills for the workforce. This program not only prepares you for real-world careers but also helps businesses connect with motivated and vetted interns, fostering community engagement and youth development in the city.
Location: Various locations in New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Residents of one of the five boroughs of New York City aged 16 to 24 who are currently enrolled in high school or college. Prior work experience, either paid or volunteer, is also required
Application deadline: The application typically closes in January
Dates/duration: The program runs for 6 weeks, starting in early July
Interns 4-Good connects high school students with virtual internships at nonprofit organizations, offering an opportunity to gain experience in business-related roles. Interns can assist with marketing tasks, such as social media management and content creation, while contributing to meaningful causes. This program not only helps you build essential professional skills but also allows you to earn volunteer hours for your contribution. Positions are regularly updated, offering a diverse range of options for students looking to make a positive impact in the nonprofit sector.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (grades 9-12)
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Multiple opportunities throughout the year
The ED Student Volunteer Trainee Program offers high school students a chance to gain essential skills in government and education policy while engaging in volunteer work. You will work on projects aligned with the Department of Education's goals, enhancing your understanding of organizational operations and policy implementation. Alongside practical experience, you will benefit from professional development workshops, networking events, and exposure to the workings of federal education administration, making it a good opportunity for those interested in business within the nonprofit and public sectors.
Location: Primarily Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years of age
Application deadline: TBA for 2025
Dates/duration:
Fall: September through December
Winter/Spring: January through May
Summer: May/June through July/August
The Building-U Internship connects high school students with volunteer opportunities in nonprofit administration. Over a three-month period, interns can choose roles in areas such as business development, where they will work on tasks like establishing partnerships and organizing project data. This program emphasizes skill development in communication, research, and project management while contributing to meaningful initiatives. You will receive mentorship and collaborate within a student-driven environment, making it an ideal opportunity for those looking to gain experience in the nonprofit business sector.
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Typically lasts three months, from June to August (can be extended for year-round if the intern is interested)
The Millie King Entrepreneurship Program is a three-day training program hosted at Hunter College, designed for alumni of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) who are high school seniors or college students. You will engage in workshops covering small business strategy, social entrepreneurship, brand marketing, and financial structuring, guided by successful entrepreneurs and professionals. This free program, established in memory of Millie King, aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs essential business planning skills.
Location: Hunter College, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school seniors (MKEP is offered exclusively to BALI alumni)
Application deadline: Applications usually open by March
Dates/duration: Last week of July or first week of August
Bonus—Young Founders Lab
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: December 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort. You can access the application link here!
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.