Best Workforce Grants in Massachusetts

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution provides Massachusetts environmental and coastal institutions with US $1,000 - US $5,000 in Sea Grant Program Development funds for small research, extension, education, and outreach projects. Eligible projects must support WHOI Sea Grant’s strategic focus areas, including environmental literacy and workforce development, and may also cover workshops, conferences, travel, and graduate student support.

Nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts offering community programs, including workforce preparation, education, health, environment, arts, or youth and family services, may be eligible for support that strengthens local communities. Wolverine Worldwide Foundation focuses on initiatives near its Boston office that promote healthy lives, diversify trades and talent, and advance industry and community giving.

Massachusetts businesses with 100 or fewer in-state W-2 employees can receive grant-funded workforce training to upskill their employees through the Workforce Training Fund Express Program. Commonwealth Corporation provides Massachusetts workforce preparation and job readiness support, offering up to US $15,000 per company per calendar year for approved training providers and courses.

Massachusetts employers that contribute to the Workforce Training Fund can apply for Commonwealth Corporation’s Workforce Training Fund Program General Program; awards US $10,000 - US $125,000 for training current and newly hired employees. Funding supports workforce preparation and job readiness efforts that improve productivity, competitiveness, job retention, job growth, or wages, including ABE, ESOL, DEI, and green economy training.

Fair Share Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Services

The purpose of this competitive grant program is to expand the Public Adult Education (PAE) system's capacity to

• Increase the number of providers and classes to address the demand for adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services.
• Prepare English learners for entry and success in the Massachusetts workforce by incorporating digital skills and contextualized workplace preparation into instruction.

Priorities:

Competitive priority will be given to applications that

• Have formal agreements with current DESE providers to enroll eligible students who are currently waiting for English for Speakers of Other Languages ESOL classes.
• Include a partnership with a workforce training provider or employer.
• Demonstrate the capacity to provide adult English for Speakers of Other Languages ESOL students with the necessary job readiness and digital skills to meet the needs of local employers.

Funding:

• Up to $2,000,000 is available.

Event production consultants or firms in Massachusetts can receive up to US $50,000 to plan and manage workforce development events, including logistics and on-site support. Focused on clean energy and climatetech workforce preparation, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center seeks support for three major in-person workforce convenings and related events through this Scope 3 opportunity.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting low- to moderate-income individuals and families with workforce, housing, small business, or early childhood programs in Massachusetts can apply for Eastern Bank Foundation’s Impact Grants. With a mission to build economic inclusion and mobility, the foundation provides US $50,000 - US $150,000, including multi-year support, for efforts such as workforce development and job readiness.

Essex County Community Foundation

Since 1998, Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) has proudly served the 34 unique cities and towns of Essex County. What started as an organization solely dedicated to strengthening our region’s nonprofits, has evolved – along with our communities – to an innovative and deeply connected Foundation inspiring system based social change.

Essex County Community Foundation inspires philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County by managing charitable assets, strengthening and supporting nonprofits, and engaging in strategic community leadership initiatives. Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life in the 34 towns and cities of Essex County.

• We help donors of all sizes elevate their giving by managing charitable assets, sharing our local expertise and providing philanthropic guidance and education.
• Essex County’s 4000+ nonprofit organizations are doing smart, innovative work. We support their critical efforts with education, resources and funding.
• To solve our region’s most complex social issues, we invest and engage in community leadership initiatives driven by our Systems Philanthropy approach to change.

Essex County Veterans Fund 

The Essex County Veterans Fund aims to build community and increase access to critical support services for the 30,000 veterans that call Essex County home. Through grant-making and capacity-building, the initiative will leverage collective funding to make a significant difference in the quality of life for these local heroes and their families.

Our investments will be focused on multiple areas across two different rounds of grantmaking in 2026: Honoring Our Veterans and Serving Those Who Served Us. 

Grant Round 2 - Serving Those Who Served Us

Focus Areas

• Health and Wellness – strengthening the capacity of organizations to effectively provide mental health, disability, and other health services to veterans with diverse experiences and needs.

• Basic Needs and Economic Opportunity – increased access to food, clothing, supplies, and housing; career counseling and workforce training.

Immigrant Career Pathways

This funding opportunity aims to provide grants for English classes combined with vocational skills training, creating pathways to better-paying jobs for immigrant and low-income residents.

Grant Description

This request for grant applications holds two distinct funding opportunities. Each opportunity has $300,000 available (subject to appropriation and the availability of funds) to distribute to community partners. Even if your program serves both purposes, please only choose one opportunity to apply to; note that an applications will only be considered only in one category. 

Option A:

Immigrant Career Pathways: Bridging Language and Employment

This opportunity provides grants for ESOL classes combined with skills training and certifications in childcare, construction, and small business development. The program addresses language barriers and workforce needs for immigrant residents while meeting the city's demand for qualified workers.

Option B:

Workforce Training Programs Focused on Trades

This opportunity provides grants to expand vocational training in trades such as HVAC, automotive, computer skills, and cooking, with a focus on low-income residents. The initiative creates pathways to better-paying jobs while addressing the community's need for skilled workers.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island serving primarily low-to-moderate income residents with workforce preparation, job readiness, or related services can seek US $2,500 - US $10,000 for their programs. Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation also supports financial literacy, affordable housing, youth development, and small business support initiatives in communities served by its bank branches.

Organizations and qualified consultants supporting workforce preparation and clean energy job readiness in Massachusetts can seek funding for technical assistance, training provision, research, and subject-matter expertise. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center offers up to US $130,000 across multiple scopes to strengthen clean energy and climatetech workforce development initiatives, including internship support and services for underrepresented businesses and young adults.

Massachusetts Latinx-serving nonprofits focused on basic needs or economic mobility, including workforce preparation and job readiness, can access funding through the Boston Foundation’s Latino Equity Fund. Organizations headquartered and primarily operating in Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Plymouth, or Norfolk counties may receive one-time US $25,000 grants, with priority for community-based groups in designated Latinx hub communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Massachusetts serving socioeconomically disadvantaged people with immigrant services, workforce development, K-12 education, or arts education can apply for multi-year operating support, with awards up to US $150,000. With a mission to assist disadvantaged individuals, Clowes Fund provides introductory and continuation grants, including youth development and job skills training programs.

Massachusetts workforce development organizations and training providers can access funding for clean energy career pathways, upskilling, and training infrastructure in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center offers US $50,000 - US $800,000 over one to two years for projects that expand climate-critical workforce training, equipment, and educator capacity, emphasizing strong employer partnerships and high-quality career outcomes.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and accredited schools in Massachusetts communities where State Street operates can seek general operating support for workforce preparation, job readiness, and educational access programs. With a mission to promote economic opportunity, State Street Foundation provides funding to organizations improving educational achievement, college success, employability, and racial equity outcomes for people aged 14 and over.

Nonprofits, schools, and training providers offering clean energy career awareness or workforce training in Massachusetts can apply for grants up to Up to US $600,000. Grants from Massachusetts Clean Energy Center help workforce preparation and job readiness programs serving students and young adults from environmental justice communities, tribes, underrepresented clean energy groups, and current or former fossil fuel workers.

Massachusetts 501(c)(3) organizations addressing food security, housing stability, or safe spaces can apply for Sincere Charitable Foundation’s grants, with awards up to US $25,000. Eligible nonprofits must serve Massachusetts, have operating budgets under $25 million, and may include workforce or job-readiness programming connected to basic needs and community well-being.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations offering education, workforce development, job training, economic development, affordable housing, or critical needs programs in Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island can apply for grants up to US $10,000. With a mission to strengthen communities, Bristol County Savings Bank supports initiatives that improve quality of life and economic opportunity in its service areas.

Nonprofit organizations providing workforce preparation, job readiness, and related human services in Western Massachusetts can apply for MGM Resorts Foundation’s Community Grant Fund. Grants support one-year projects in areas like workforce development, economic opportunity, education, housing, and family services for people in communities where MGM employees live and work.

Massachusetts workforce training providers, academic institutions, and community-based organizations can seek funding to develop and expand offshore wind workforce preparation and job readiness initiatives across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center supports infrastructure upgrades, training programs, DEIJ-focused efforts, and workforce, safety, or diversity studies to build a skilled, safe, and equitable offshore wind workforce in southern New England.

Massachusetts workforce nonprofits serving out-of-school, low-income Boston youth ages 18–24 with education, training, and job readiness programs can access funding through the City of Boston’s Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth initiative. Approximately US $12,000 is available in FY27 only to organizations that already received FY26 WIOA Youth awards.

Nonprofit and community organizations serving marginalized youth with workforce preparation and job readiness programs in Massachusetts can apply for the City of Boston’s Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Youth Funding. This multi-year opportunity supports integrated education, training, and employment services for priority youth populations in Suffolk County, including out-of-school youth and those facing significant barriers.

Massachusetts workforce development organizations focused on clean energy training can receive up to US $375,000 to plan or implement climate-focused career pathways for young adults. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center supports work-based learning, skills training, and service opportunities in energy efficiency and clean heating and cooling for ages 18–24 from environmental justice, low-income, tribal, underrepresented, or fossil-fuel-impacted communities.

Massachusetts community-based organizations leading workforce development projects can receive up to US $200,000 to boost job readiness and economic mobility within a single municipality. Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides funding for initiatives that address a community-defined economic need and create clear pathways to stable employment and wage growth within one year.

Nonprofit agencies, educational institutions, libraries, and similar organizations in Massachusetts can seek funding to provide volunteer-based adult education tutoring that builds literacy, numeracy, ESOL, and workforce readiness skills. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education supports one statewide program offering one-to-one or small-group instruction that helps adults progress academically and move toward family-sustaining careers.

Nonprofits, mission-oriented for-profits, and eligible housing entities with proven, ready-to-scale affordable housing innovations can seek US $2,000,000 grants to expand their impact nationwide. Enterprise Community Partners and Wells Fargo support solutions in design and construction, finance, or service delivery, and Massachusetts workforce housing initiatives serving residents up to 120% AMI may be competitive applicants.

Massachusetts youth workforce and education programs that are members of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition can receive funding for comprehensive education, job training, and skills development in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education supports YouthBuild sites combining academic instruction with hands-on construction of affordable housing for young people ages 16–24.