We believe every young person deserves a fulfilling career

A smiling woman with long dark hair, dressed in white, standing outdoors with a black fence and greenery in the background.

Our mission is to accelerate students into purpose-filled lives that lead to economic freedom.

Prelude offers work-based learning experiences that empower students to identify and reach their most ambitious goals.

Supporting the next generation, together

We serve more than 100 student interns at partner companies across six cities. 

  • Skyline of a city with tall buildings, partially cloudy sky, and a highway with vehicles in the foreground.

    Newark, NJ

  • Philadelphia city skyline viewed across the water with a bird flying overhead on a clear day.

    Camden, NJ

  • Skyline of a city at sunset with skyscrapers and dark clouds.

    Charlotte, NC

  • Nighttime city skyline with illuminated skyscrapers and construction cranes over a body of water.

    Cambridge, MA

  • A panoramic view of Los Angeles with the downtown skyline in the distance, green hills in the foreground, and a partly cloudy sky.

    Los Angeles, CA

  • St. Louis Skyline

    St. Louis, MO

Our partners are paving the way for young professionals 

Prelude’s work is made possible by the dedication and commitment of our high school, employer, and program partners, as well as the generosity of our philanthropic supporters.

Partner with us
Audible logo with black text and an orange open book icon with radio wave lines
The logo of The Campbell's Company featuring the word 'Campbell's' in red cursive with 'The' above and 'Company' below in capitalized red letters.
Wells Fargo logo with red square and white text
Logo of NFI with a stylized red swoosh.
Camden Education Fund logo with a pencil icon and text.
Array Education logo
Logo of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation featuring a colorful, intertwined loop symbol.
Logo for Campaign Big Picture Learning Academy featuring a stylized flame icon above the letter B, with bold black and red text.
Black and white logo of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
Logo of Central Piedmont Early College with a stylized city skyline and the acronym 'CPEG' in large letters.
Culver City High School logo featuring a knight with a sword and shield, with the school's name encircling the emblem.
Logo of KIPP NJ with the text 'KIPP' in dark blue and 'NJ' in light blue.
Uncommon Schools Camden Prep logo with text
Cooperman College Scholars logo with a circular emblem featuring a graduation cap
Uncommon Schools North Star logo with dark blue and gray text and a white star between 'North' and 'Star'.

Navigating the “hidden curriculum” of the workplace

Interested in our work on economic mobility and work-based learning?

Explore our resources

Young people from lower-income backgrounds face financial pressure to enter the workforce but do not have the connections and experience to thrive in upwardly mobile jobs. We believe all students should leave high school equipped to build relationships, solve complex problems, and advocate for themselves.

Prelude was founded to open doors so students can succeed in college, careers, and beyond. We’ve seen that individuals who get hands-on guidance and on-the-job experience are better equipped to pursue postsecondary education, secure meaningful jobs, and achieve economic freedom.

Further Reading

Prelude is led by a committed group of education professionals passionate about student success.

Meet our team