Reducing Barriers to Training for Quality Jobs in the Philadelphia Region Grant Program (Pennsylvania) - fundsforNGOs

The William Penn Foundation is accepting applications for its Reducing Barriers to Training for Quality Jobs in the Philadelphia Region.

Donor Name: William Penn Foundation

State: Pennsylvania

County: Bucks County (PA), Chester County (PA), Delaware County (PA), Montgomery County (PA), Philadelphia County (PA)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 07/30/2026

Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million

Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned

Details:

The Foundation and its funder partners seek to support efforts that expand the effectiveness of high-quality workforce training by funding the supportive services that reduce barriers to accessing and completing workforce programs, transitioning to quality employment, and successfully completing the first year of employment.

This funding opportunity will not support organizations that are new to workforce training. Funding awarded through this opportunity will be directed to organizations with a track record of success in workforce development and will help programs to better address gaps and ensure even more success for training participants. Whether organizations directly train and place jobseekers or work on systems change efforts, competitive proposals will be able to quantify the projected increase in the number of individuals who will connect to supportive services, complete training, transition to, and retain quality employment as a result of grant funding.

Focus Areas

They are particularly interested in initiatives focused on:

Linking supportive services with established high-quality job training to address barriers and ensure more individuals complete training and obtain quality employment with strong advancement prospects;
Enhancing coordination and collaboration between job training programs and social service agencies providing supportive services;
Advancing public policies that can tackle systemic barriers to training access and completion; and
Engaging employers to strengthen hiring practices and address and remove barriers to employment placement.

Funding Information

Grant requests under $1 million will be most competitive.

Grant Period

Up to three years

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Public charities include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply.
Projects connecting individuals to short-term or other temporary employment (e.g. summer internships) are not eligible for funding under this RFP. Projects focused on career exposure or exploration are also not eligible for funding. In addition, requests to support core technical training infrastructure (e.g. space, equipment, staffing) are not eligible for funding under this RFP.
Projects eligible for funding under this RFP will provide supplemental services and supports to established job training programs so that those programs can have better success in participant completion and transitions to quality employment
All projects must focus on supporting individuals in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties.

Review Criteria