The organization partners with public schools in 29 high-need communities across the US and through international affiliates in the UK and Johannesburg, South Africa.

[citation needed] City Year was founded in 1988 by Michael Brown and Alan Khazei, then-roommates at Harvard Law School.

Inspired by a visit with City Year during his 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton enlisted the help of Michael Brown, Alan Khazei and others to establish AmeriCorps through the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

[5] City Year AmeriCorps members commit to 11 months of service, leadership development and civic engagement, serving as tutors, mentors and role models in high-need schools.

It provides extended-day activities: after-school programming, homework assistance, enrichment curricula and civic projects that build and serve communities.

In 2017, 23% of the organization's operating revenue came from AmeriCorps, 54% from corporations, foundations and individual donors, and 23% from school districts and other local government grants.

Care Force is a part of City Year specifically created to engage corporations and their employees in high-impact volunteer events to help improve schools and communities.

Since launching in 2001, Care Force has led more than 100,000 volunteers in service projects and managed more than 700 events, and worked in over 220 communities in 10 countries over three continents.

These young people work in teams as tutors, mentors and role models to children in 10 primary schools throughout Johannesburg and Soweto.

Since its inception in 2005 City Year South Africa has graduated over 1,200 Service Leaders who engaged over 20,000 children through after-school programs and various other projects.

[18] Leadership development days include CV and interview guidance, work-shadowing, networking sessions, public speaking and presentation skills training.