“The FAO program provides tangible benefits to the business world–entry–level workers with experience at major companies and organizations.”

Futures and Options Inc., an independent 501c3 not-for-profit educational program based in Lower Manhattan, places New York City high school juniors and seniors in supervised and paid semester internships throughout the city. Experienced educators prepare the students for candidacy through a structured orientation program, then monitor them through the internship by means of site visits, cohort meetings, continuing communication with on-site mentors, and both industry-specific and college guidance sessions. Individual evaluations and alumni tracking illuminate the success of the FAO Inc. program and provide the basis for ongoing growth and expansion. The program thus serves our business community, our urban youth, and the city at large.

• Cited as a model program by the U.S. Department of Labor, FAO serves the business community by providing pre-screened, prepared and productive employees.
• FAO prepares high school juniors and seniors for the challenges of the workforce through supervised, paid internships.
• Each semester, interns work a minimum of 12 hours per week for 12 weeks; in the summer, they work full-time for six weeks.
• FAO places approximately 75 interns each semester and 150 in the summer.
• Sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York, FAO opened its doors in 1995 and became its own 501c3 not-for-profit organization in 2000.