In Tandem for Organizations

Tap into the power of youth voice.


Engage youth and work in tandem to create something authentic for young people.

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Better serve youth

We empower organizations to achieve authentic youth engagement by providing the tools for seamless, impactful collaboration.

Need

Whether you're an early stage edtech startup or a mature non-profit looking to scale impact, you’re working to create something that's valuable to youth. You recognize that success is much more likely if you authentically engage youth—but the process is daunting, costly, unpredictable and requires a LOT of work.

Impact

In Tandem simplifies youth engagement. Our cohort of Youth Partners show up with a wide variety of student experiences and identities. This diversity allows partner organizations to customize their engagements to test assumptions about how products and services resonate in different contexts.

You focus on creating a superior, youth-centered product or service—we’ll ensure you have the youth input you need to maximize your impact.

How we support partner success

Streamlined process Simplified engagement Increased adoption Enhanced credibility
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Streamlined process

From the initial contact to the final implementation, our team ensures that every step is clear and efficient. We provide comprehensive support to help organizations quickly integrate youth voices into their workflows.

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Simplified engagement

We make it easy to connect with today’s youth through our cohort of Youth Partners. Our team handles all the logistics, so you can focus on gathering valuable insights without the work of managing the engagement process.

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Increased adoption

Our Youth Partners provide authentic perspectives, which leads to solutions that resonate with young people, increasing their willingness to engage and adopt these innovations.

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Enhanced credibility

Demonstrating a commitment to involving youth in decision-making processes shows stakeholders and the community that the organization values the input of those directly impacted by their work. This can lead to stronger relationships and greater support from both youth and adults.

In Tandem for organizations

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Who we work with

We help support organizations dedicated to creating better outcomes for youth.

  • Edtech startups
  • E-learning startups
  • Youth-serving nonprofits
  • Anyone with a program or service designed for youth
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Benefits

Create more credible, user-centric products by seamlessly integrating authentic feedback from youth.

  • Minimize R&D time
  • Align programs with youth needs
  • Increase engagement and adoption
  • Optimize internal resource use
  • Enhance product credibility

Youth privacy and safety are crucial for initiatives like yours. We've got it covered.

Learn more here


Virtual summer orientation

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Design activities

Youth Partners can directly shape youth-focused projects through interviews, focus groups, and surveys, working with organizations to prioritize youth input. averaging 2-3 activities monthly, each lasting 30 minutes to an hour. Choose your level of involvement, The program is flexible to accommodate other commitments ( All activities are remote, with technical support available.


Time commitment

Throughout the year, Youth Partners can choose their level of engagement. On average, they should expect to participate in at least two to three activities each month, plus trainings and networking opportunities. Activities usually take between thirty minutes and an hour each. However, the program is designed to be flexible and allows them to choose which activities they participate in. We welcome youth balancing other jobs, home responsibilities, extracurricular activities, or other commitments.


Compensation

Youth Partners & Peer Mentors receive a quarterly scholarship for their participation. Scholarships start at $50 per quarter and increase based on your level of participation in the program. Because the stipend is a non-qualified scholarship, and is considered taxable income, there are no restrictions on how the money can be spent. We offer a number of payment options to accommodate the needs of participants. 

“Often, decisions are made on behalf of youth without their voices being included in the conversation. It's essential for youth to be centered in research and policy conversations to ensure their priorities are driving the education they receive.”

Sierra Noakes, Director of Edtech Evaluation & Contracting, Digital Promise

“Working with youth in our research has been a dream! We've found that young people are eager to have frank, insightful discussions about what they want and need in their own educational experiences - and that insight is invaluable to help us build products they would actually want to use.”

Desirée Stanley, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

“Involving youth in research design is valuable because it gives young people agency and a voice in topics that matter to them. In my experiences, this leads to greater impact for youth in developing effective interventions that are relevant and resonate with their lived experiences and expertise.”

Eduardo Lara, Center for Digital Thriving

“We have had speakers that are in the space and it’s just really inspiring because those are people that I want to be when I grow up.”

Manuela C., 9th grade

“Many stakeholders working on research and products that impact young people have a strong desire to include youth perspectives in the work but lack the ability to easily do so. In Tandem not only provides access to a diverse group of well-trained young people but also removes much of the legal and administrative friction that can hold up the work including parental consent, scheduling, and payment distribution.”

Amy Green, Hopelab

“Engaging young people as partners in research is not just a nice-to-have but a necessity for developing research insights and creating programs and products that resonate with their lived experiences and needs. Young people's use of technology is particularly nuanced and complex. If researchers, policymakers, school administrators, and product developers want to support young people's digital thriving, they really need to involve young people as collaborators in their work.”

Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, Hopelab

“I think that it is important for teenagers to co-design products and research, especially when these are geared toward our age group. Developers can generate a greater understanding of teenage minds and experiences even through working with us on a singular project. This allows researchers "into our minds," so that they can apply their firsthand knowledge to other studies and products as time passes. Additionally, this gives students and teenagers the opportunities to co-create a truly beneficial and important end result for people like themselves.”

Audrey D., 11th grade

Questions?
Let’s answer them.

Learn more about partnering with In Tandem for youth-centered design. Question not answered here? Contact us using the form below.

What types of organizations can benefit from In Tandem's services?

In Tandem is ideal for youth-facing edtech, e-learning, and non-profit social impact organizations. Our program helps these organizations engage youth to improve their products, programs, and services.

How does In Tandem ensure the safety and privacy of youth participants?

Our commitment to youth safety and privacy informs our policies. All interactions are monitored, and we provide a secure environment for youth to share their insights. View our privacy policy.

What can organizations expect from Youth Partners?

Organizations can expect authentic, insightful, engagement from our Youth Partners, yielding actionable insights. Organizations that engage Youth Partners will better understand the experiences, needs and preferences of their primary audience, leading to more relevant and effective products, programs, and services.

How does In Tandem facilitate communication between organizations and Youth Partners?

In Tandem provides user-friendly tools and interfaces that make communication easy and efficient. We handle all logistics, ensuring that organizations can focus on gathering valuable insights without worrying about managing the engagement process.

What are the costs associated with using In Tandem's services?

Costs vary depending on the specific needs and scope of the project. We offer flexible pricing options to accommodate different budgets. For detailed pricing information, please contact awyattmcgill@in-tandem.org.

Can organizations customize their engagement with Youth Partners?

Yes, organizations can customize their engagement based on their specific needs and goals. We work closely with each organization to understand what they are trying to achieve so we can tailor the engagement to help them achieve it.

What is the process for onboarding with In Tandem?

Onboarding with In Tandem is straightforward. Our team provides comprehensive support, including detailed guides and personalized assistance. We help organizations integrate youth engagement into their workflows, ensuring a smooth transition and effective use of our tools.

How can organizations get started with In Tandem?

To get started, organizations can fill out the contact form on our website. Our team will reach out to discuss your needs and guide you through the onboarding process.

“Young people have so
much lived experience
and wisdom to share."

- Amy Green, Hopelab

Ready to become a partner?

Initial engagement

Submit a contact form, set up a discovery call, and together we’ll scope your needs.

Planning & agreement

Develop a joint impact plan, finalize the service-level agreement, and set up pricing.

Onboarding & execution

Get started, set milestones, and ensure smooth progress with regular check-ins.

 

In Tandem - Overlapping Circles

Contact us

Eager to get authentic youth feedback on your product or design? Contact us to learn more. 

Interested in becoming a Youth Partner? Click here.