Best Workforce Grants in New Jersey

New Jersey and Philadelphia-area nonprofits offering workforce preparation, youth career pathways, or basic needs services may be eligible for funding supporting programs, operations, or capital projects. Organizations serving people in Camden County and nearby Pennsylvania counties can access funding through Connelly Foundation, which prioritizes strong leadership, proven impact, and financially viable, community-supported initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) music performance, presenting, and pre-collegiate music education organizations in New Jersey near Philadelphia can seek funding for general operating support or resilience efforts. With a mission to promote musical education and philanthropy, Presser Foundation provides grants of US $5,000 - US $25,000 that may bolster workforce-related programming and organizational stability for small music groups.

New Jersey workforce and apprenticeship sponsors seeking to expand USDOL Registered Apprenticeship programs in New Jersey can apply for support to grow training in apprenticeable occupations. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s GAINS program funds development in workforce preparation, job readiness, and apprenticeship pathways that lead to better-paying careers and advanced credentials.

Nonprofit and workforce organizations in New Jersey can use this program to deliver skills training, work readiness, and apprenticeship preparation for women and minority veterans in the construction trades. With a mission to strengthen the state’s workforce, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development provides up to US $1,500,000 to support training and support services leading to employment.

New Jersey employers seeking to train current frontline workers in job skills can receive up to US $7,000,000 in cost-shared support. Focused on workforce preparation and job readiness, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development reimburses up to 50% of training costs, prioritizing nine strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, technology, and transportation and logistics.

New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)

The New Jersey Department of Health leads the state’s response to public health challenges and works to improve health outcomes for all New Jersey residents. Through its three primary branches—Public Health Services, Health Systems, and Integrated Health—the Department collaborates across programs and partners to strengthen New Jersey’s health system. Guided by its mission to protect public health, promote healthy communities, and improve the quality of health care, the Department supports initiatives that advance prevention, system integration, and equitable access to health services statewide.

Rural Health Transformation Program_Advancing Technology, Prevention, and Workforce Capacity

The Rural Health Transformation Program 2026: Advancing Technology, Prevention, and Workforce Capacity focuses on expanding healthcare access, strengthening preventive services, integrating technology-driven solutions, and supporting training and capacity building to improve health outcomes in rural New Jersey. 

Nonprofit organizations in New Jersey offering citizenship preparation, legal naturalization support, and integration services for lawful permanent residents can apply for funding up to US $60,000. The New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development supports programs that build English, civics knowledge, and community engagement, which may complement workforce preparation and job readiness efforts.

Nonprofit and community-based organizations in New Jersey supporting Hispanic entrepreneurship can apply for up to US $75,000 to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate business education and mentorship. Focused on entrepreneurship, the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development invites programs that help Hispanic residents start or grow businesses and may also complement local workforce preparation efforts.

New Jersey workforce and Hispanic-serving organizations can support Latino adults’ job readiness, placement, and supported work services through this state program. New Jersey workforce groups can access funding via New Jersey Department of State Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development, with awards up to US $70,000 for employment-focused activities promoting economic self-sufficiency.

New Jersey youth-serving organizations offering workforce experience programs can access funding for at-risk Hispanic and Latino youth, including in-school and out-of-school participants. The New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development provides up to US $50,000 to help youth build workplace skills, understand employment expectations, and gain tools to secure and retain jobs.

New Jersey Hispanic community-based organizations offering health and wellness services can access funding through the New Jersey Department of State Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development. Grants up to US $75,000 support mental health services and family violence prevention that stabilize crises, build resilience, and connect families with needed community resources, complementing workforce preparation and stability efforts.

New Jersey workforce organizations supporting opioid-impacted individuals can access funding for training, career services, and supportive services through New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Pathways to Recovery program. This competitive grant offers up to US $1,000,000 per grantee over 24 months to expand job readiness, work experience, and employment retention across the state.

Nonprofit organizations providing workforce preparation and job readiness services in New Jersey can apply for support to run programs that benefit individuals, families, and children. Grants from MGM Resorts Foundation help agencies address economic opportunity, employment training, and related human services within regions where MGM Resorts employees live and work.

Eligible New Jersey employers, education and training providers, workforce boards, governments, and nonprofits can receive funding to deliver construction and building trades training and support services for women and minority veterans. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development provides up to US $15,000 to support job readiness, apprenticeship preparation, and long-term employment placement in construction careers.

New Jersey rural health providers and community-based organizations improving chronic disease education and reimbursement systems can access funding through the New Jersey Department of Health to support diabetes, cardiovascular, and other chronic disease education in rural areas. Projects may strengthen care coordination, expand participation in evidence-based education programs, and address health disparities impacting rural residents.

Nonprofit organizations providing workforce development, education, or human services programs in New Jersey can seek two-year flexible funding to strengthen career pathways and economic self-sufficiency. Focused on workforce preparation and job readiness, Provident Bank Foundation supports job training, employment supports, and related program, overhead, and equipment costs within its branch network communities.

Nonprofits, mission-oriented for-profits, and eligible housing authorities with scalable affordable housing innovations can seek US $2,000,000 grants to expand proven solutions nationwide, including New Jersey. Enterprise Community Partners and Wells Fargo support projects in design and construction, finance, or service delivery that increase affordable rental and workforce housing and may benefit workforce preparation and stability efforts.

Department of Labor and Workforce Development

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is dedicated to protecting our workforce, strengthening our businesses, and promoting the dignity of work.

The Division of Workforce Development is responsible for New Jersey’s workforce services, including vocational rehabilitation services, veteran’s services, and more. The division oversees the One-Stop Career Centers throughout the state, which offer a variety of programs and services to help employers meet their need to secure talented workers.

New Jersey Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE): Implementation & System Advancement (Phase II)

Grant Overview

Grant funds will be awarded to successful applicants who were previously awarded NJCIE Pilot Program grant funds from the NJCIE Pilot Program launched in 2024. Building on the success of the initial NJCIE Pilot launched in 2024, this next phase focuses on advancing participant outcomes and strengthening employer partnerships through more structured, outcome-driven service delivery models. This Phase II opportunity supports community rehabilitation providers in refining and scaling strategies that connect career pathway development, industry-recognized credential attainment, and competitive integrated employment. The program places an increased emphasis on measurable outcomes, including retention, wage progression, and long-term employment stability, while continuing to support the transition toward fully integrated employment opportunities statewide.

The purpose of the NJCIE program is to provide an opportunity for community rehabilitation providers to strengthen organizational capacity and pilot innovative employment and training services for people with disabilities that are intended to lead to competitive integrated employment. 

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.

Local public health departments in New Jersey can receive funding to strengthen infectious disease outbreak preparedness and core public health infrastructure, including workforce, foundational capabilities, and data modernization. The State of New Jersey Department of Health’s Strengthening Local Public Health Capacity Grant Program offers up to US $4,393,779 to build, promote, and protect local health systems.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering workforce preparation, job readiness, or related program support can access funding through the PSEG Foundation’s Neighborhood Partners Program; awards range from US $500 - US $15,000. Eligible programs must operate in PSEG’s listed NJ counties and may also address environmental sustainability, social justice, equity, or economic empowerment.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc

Since its founding in 1869, Goldman Sachs has been a dominant force in the financial world. Built from the foundation of our renowned investment banking business, the firm has evolved its culture and expanded its offerings over time - but its commitment to client service and excellence endures.

The Goldman Sachs culture values teamwork, client service, and giving back to the communities we serve. It has been described as the foundation of the firm's success. Moreover, the people of Goldman Sachs have long valued their opportunity to give back through public service and volunteerism, humanitarian efforts, and programs that foster economic progress in communities around the world.

Goldman Sachs Community Development Grant

The Community Development Grants program aims to address critical funding gaps in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities across New York City, New Jersey, and Salt Lake City. The program provides financial support to high-impact organizations dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and community stability. 

The Equity Builders Initiative

The Equity Builders Initiative: This initiative provides multi-year, general operating funding over three years. It is designed to help organizations build capacity and sustainably deepen their impact. Awardees typically share a mission of creating upward mobility through quality affordable housing, small business development, neighborhood revitalization, and community services. Applications should align with one or more of the following pillars:

• Affordable housing for LMI communities, such as development/preservation of units, homeownership counseling, rental assistance, and eviction prevention
• Community services, such as workforce development, job training, financial health programs, and access to healthcare or early childhood education
• Meeting the needs of small businesses, such as technical assistance for businesses, access to capital, and business incubation
• Revitalizing or stabilizing LMI geographies, such as community improvements, community hubs, transit-oriented infrastructure, and disaster resilience 

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running workforce development and career navigation programs for adult workers, including those in New Jersey, can seek US $10,000 - US $250,000 for training, upskilling, AI literacy, and wraparound services. With a mission to build economic mobility, Truist Foundation provides U.S. nonprofits with Inspire Awards for innovative career pathways in the age of AI.

New Jersey and New York 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored groups supporting low-income Korean and Asian American immigrants’ economic security can access funding through the Korean American Community Foundation. Grants up to US $100,000 support workforce development, education, public benefits counseling, affordable housing, healthcare, and related services, as well as community organizing and advocacy to address economic instability.

The CFNJ Empower New Jersey Grant, offered by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, supports organizations in New Jersey focused on economic empowerment. This initiative aims to enhance economic stability, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and financial literacy through effective projects. With a history of granting over $100 million to non-profits, CFNJ seeks to fund innovative programs that foster access to opportunities. Up to two grants will be awarded, reinforcing the Foundation's commitment to community progress.

Workforce and education organizations in New Jersey can seek funding to run pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship programs. New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development supports workforce preparation and job readiness by backing programs that combine industry-based training, classroom instruction, and documented partnerships with apprenticeship sponsors.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools in New Jersey offering manufacturing-focused workforce education can apply for American Honda Motor’s Education Pillar Award, with grants of US $25,000 - US $100,000 for hands-on training programs. Eligible initiatives strengthen the manufacturing talent pipeline through design, data analytics, automation, and AI/ML skills development for current and future jobs.