Campus Philly was created in the early 2000s as part of a solution to a larger regional challenge: 21^st century jobs were going to demand college degrees but only 17% of Philadelphians had a BA or higher. At the same time, the region was home to dozens of colleges and universities, from the most prestigious in the world to the most accessible. The solution: we leverage the assets in our own backyard and encourage regional college students to explore off campus, become attached to the Philadelphia region, connect with employers through internships, and develop the professional networks they need to launch their careers here after they graduate.

At the start, CollegeFest, the Insider Guide to Philadelphia (a printed guide written for and by college students), and campusphilly.org were our signature programs. And Campus Philly was part of a larger coalition called the Knowledge Industry Partnership that included the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, the Commerce Department of the City of Philadelphia, Visit Philadelphia and Innovation Philadelphia.

In 2004, Campus Philly became a 501(c)(3) organization, embracing a larger mission of fueling economic growth in the region by encouraging college students to explore off campus and connect to employers for internships and post-graduation jobs. We launched in-person career and professional development events, took over a website to promote internships and careers, and expanded the number of colleges and universities with whom we worked.