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Donate to YJI / Make In-kind Donations to YJI Youth
Become a YJI Intern or MFT Trainee
Become a Mentor
Sponsor a Mentoring Relationship
Become a Community Sponsor (New!)

Donate to Youth Justice Institute

Make In-kind Donations to YJI Youth - Click Here


YJI gratefully accepts donations of new books, clothing and hygiene supplies to distribute to young people in need. These can either be purchased from the Amazon site above or individually.

Youth Need Books

A young person in detention spends hours a day alone in their small, locked room and the gift of a book can have a positive impact on their mind and perspective. Many young people begin to enjoy reading and literature for the first time as YJI staff and volunteers expose them to reading for enjoyment and challenge them to expand their knowledge in new ways. It is common for young people to begin reading a book every week and to take pride in sharing their new interest with others.

Youth Need Clothes

Young people who live in desperate, chaotic situations often only have the clothes on their back. It is common for young people who move from home to home, placement to placement or spend time homeless or on the streets to have minimal clothing and belongings. Some young people have to leave custody to go to a placement in their pajamas because that is all they have; some will skip school because they only have one set of clothing and no money to wash it. Others are sent out of state to a placement but don’t own a winter coat or boots. We provide young people the basics they need to help them be successful in changing their lives.

Youth Need Basic Hygiene Supplies

A young person living on the streets, in a chaotic environment, or an out-of-home placement often doesn’t have the daily things they need to take care of themselves that many of us take for granted. Items like toothbrushes, soap and shampoo can make the difference between a young person who feels good about themselves and one who does not. We provide hygiene supplies to youth who otherwise would not have these items.

  • All donations should be dropped off at our offices or sent to:
  • Youth Justice Institute
  • PO Box 31733
  • San Francisco, CA 94131-0733

Become a YJI Intern - Apply Here

Become an intern with YJI and provide critical services such as administrative support, policy work, and data collection. Fill out our online application here. YJI also accepts MFT Trainees; learn more about our Mental Health Traineeship program here (or apply directly by sending a cover letter and resume to YJI's Mental Health Team).

Become a Mentor - Apply Here

Are you looking for experience working with youth? Have you ever gone through tough times but had a role model or mentor to support you? If yes, this is the perfect internship for you. Be a mentor to youth who are involved in (or at risk for involvement in) the juvenile justice and foster care systems and who need your support and guidance. This is a great way to give back to the community while at the same time gaining direct experience working with system-involved youth. Fill out our online application here.

Sponsor a Mentoring Relationship

Want to support our mentoring program, but short on time? Please consider sponsoring a mentoring relationship. Most YJI mentors are low- or no-income students who need help paying for fun activities to do with their mentees as they provide support and guidance in their lives. With your sponsorship you will directly impact the development of their relationship. Your support will allow the mentor to expand the mentee’s world by opening up the doors to new experiences and ideas that these youths are rarely exposed to, but which many of us take for granted. 

Sponsors help cover the costs of:

  • Transportation for mentors/mentees to meet up
  • Lunch
  • Ice cream/ coffee shops
  • Movies
  • Museums
  • Other activities like sailing, bowling, rock climbing

As a mentorship sponsor, you’ll get updates from your mentor and mentee about what they’ve been up to and how the relationship is impacting each of their lives. You’ll also be invited to meet the mentors and youth at our end-of-the-year celebration! kaina-deleteme[at]-deleteme-yjinstitute [dot] org Kaina to become a sponsor or learn more about the program here.

Become a Community Sponsor for YJI's Mentoring Program (New!)

YJI is seeking Bay Area shops, museums, and other businesses to join our community sponsorship program. Becoming a community sponsor is a great way to give back to your community and support the positive development of young people.

What does becoming a community sponsor entail?
As a community sponsor, you pledge an ongoing, in-kind donation. YJI then offers these donations to our mentors when planning activities to do with their mentees. Examples include:

  • Four ice cream cones/month
  • Two movie passes/month
  • Two museum passes/month
  • Two sailing lessons/year


Why become a community sponsor?

  • Mentoring builds safety in your community. Studies of formal, one-on-one mentoring programs like YJI's reveal success in decreasing violent behavior, crime, and substance use, and increasing academic success, self-esteem, and knowledge of career opportunities for youth. citation
  • Mentors need your support. Most YJI mentors are low-income students who come from similar backgrounds as YJI youth and need help paying for fun activities to do with their mentees as they provide support and guidance in their lives.
  • Mentees need your support. Your support will expand mentees' worlds by opening up the doors to new experiences and ideas that these young people are rarely exposed to, but which many of us take for granted. 

All community sponsors will receive a certificate of support from Youth Justice Institute and a shout out on our website. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

How to Sign Up

Online donation form is coming soon. In the meantime, please contact Kaina at 510.238.0775 x303 or by kaina-deleteme[at]-deleteme-yjinstitute [dot] org if you are interested in becoming a community sponsor.