Workforce Matters is launching the Fund for Workforce Equity, a new pooled fund that aims to center workers of color in the design and implementation of workforce policies and programs.
Donor Name: Workforce Matters
State: Selected States
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 07/31/2022
Grant Size: $50,000-$70,000
Details:
In its inaugural grantmaking round, the Fund will provide flexible resources and support to workforce development organizations seeking to pilot, adopt, and learn from new strategies as well as innovate on or extend existing strategies that:
- Authentically respect, value, honor, and compensate workers, learners, and job candidates for the skills and perspectives that they bring to designing and implementing workforce programs and policies; and
- Invest in creating spaces for People of Color to exercise their power and agency in developing and implementing workforce programs and policies.
In addition, the Fund for Workforce Equity will support the following strategies:
- A Learning Community for grantees to share promising practices and lessons learned.
- Technical Assistance that provides grantees access to expertise and resources on human-centered design and other best practices for elevating worker and learner voice.
- Evaluation and Learning efforts that share lessons from the initiative with grantees and the broader workforce field, and that support funders in disseminating and investing in promising practices among their grantees.
Funding Information
The Fund for Workforce Equity anticipates that up to $1,000,000 will be awarded to support organizations in implementing initiatives that center workers and learners of color in workforce policy and program design and implementation. The total number and dollar amount of awards will depend on contributions to the Fund and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee. Applicants may request grants of up to $70,000. It is anticipated that typical awards will range from $50,000-$70,000.
Priority Places, Populations, and Learning Interests
Contributors to the Fund for Workforce Equity have selected several priority places, populations, and topics that they are particularly interested in learning more about and will, subsequently, give special consideration to as part of the selection process. While there are no geographic requirements other than being U.S.-based, there is targeted funding available for organizations providing services to workers and learners in the following geographies and target populations, in accordance with the interests and requirements of its supporters:
- California
- Cleveland-Cuyahoga County, OH
- Southeast Michigan (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Livingston, Monroe counties)
- Northwest US (Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon)
- Post-secondary institutions in New York City serving young adults ages 14-30
- Western New York (Erie, Cattaraugus, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Genesee, Allegany counties)
- Rural communities
In addition, they are particularly interested in partnering with and learning from programs that:
- Offer digital skills and/or IT training;
- Serve immigrants and/or refugees;
- Serve opportunity youth/young adults; and/or
- Serve populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Applicant Qualifications and Priorities
- Must provide workforce development programming or advocacy, including but not limited to:
- Education and training programs that help individuals acquire and retain good jobs4
- Efforts that help workers to increase their income and/or advance their careers
- Internships, apprenticeships, and/or learn-and-earn experiences
- Career coaching/counseling
- Providing or coordinating work supports such as transportation or child care services
- Organizing or advocacy efforts related to any of the above
- Must have already invested in organizational racial equity training
- Must be U.S.-based
- For organizations that provide direct services to individuals: Must serve a majority of workers and/or learners of color
- Must be classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or be fiscally sponsored by an organization that is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization or be a federally recognized or state-recognized tribal government
For more information, visit Workforce Matters.
