Best Workforce Preparation Job Readiness Grants

The Pittsburgh Foundation Basic Needs Grants: Employment aims to enhance job opportunities for low-income individuals facing barriers such as disabilities or housing insecurity. With a focus on equitable community development, these grants support programs that provide skills training, job placement, and comprehensive assistance. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $150,000 and are awarded for up to two years. The foundation prioritizes funding for organizations that serve disadvantaged communities and address historical social injustices.

The Partners for Places Jobs and Inclusive Infrastructure Initiative Grants aim to support communities by leveraging infrastructure funds to create equitable projects that benefit underserved areas. This pilot program will provide funding for local workers through career training and inclusive economic practices. With grants ranging from $45,000 to $120,000, the initiative focuses on enhancing human infrastructure, fostering collaboration among key partners, and ensuring that frontline communities directly benefit from project implementations.

The OneAmerica Financial Community grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations focused on education, workforce development, safety, wellness, and community vibrancy. With a commitment to making a difference, OneAmerica aims to transform lives through strategic philanthropy. Their initiatives include disaster relief, arts support, and civic engagement, fostering resilient communities. By investing in meaningful change, they build a foundation for shared success across the country, ensuring that community needs are met and future generations thrive.

The Find Your Future (FYF) Program, initiated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, offers specialized internships to youth in foster care. This initiative matches eligible college students with paid internship opportunities across the state, fostering professional development through workshops and aftercare services. Participants receive stipends and support in resume building, financial literacy, and networking skills, aiming to enhance their career prospects and personal growth. The program is designed to empower youth as they transition into the workforce.

The Amazon Rappahannock Region Community Fund, managed by The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, will distribute $300,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and Louisa Counties. The fund focuses on areas such as STEM education, sustainability, community development, digital skills, cultural heritage preservation, and health and wellbeing. Eligible projects must serve local communities and adhere to specific requirements, promoting innovation and collaboration.

The Kingman Rangers Workforce Development Program, initiated by the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment, aims to enhance the natural environment of Kingman and Heritage Islands while providing employment opportunities to local residents facing barriers. This program supports ecological restoration, visitor engagement, and educational initiatives, creating pathways for both adults and students from under-resourced schools in the Anacostia Watershed. It fosters community involvement and personal development for a sustainable future.

The Weld Trust offers Cycle Grants to nonprofits, schools, and government entities serving Weld County residents. They accept Letters of Inquiry three times a year for various initiatives including access to resources, childhood literacy, and food security. Eligible organizations can receive up to two grants per cycle and six per year, with funding available for indirect costs up to 15%. This initiative aims to foster health and education within the community.

The Weld Trust's Flagship Grants support significant community projects in health and education for nonprofits and schools in Weld County. Grants typically exceed $750,000 and require additional funding sources, covering 15-35% of project costs. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or operate under a tax-exempt nonprofit. These grants aim to foster partnerships that address fundamental issues and deliver measurable outcomes, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited.

The WMU Department of History offers the History Alumni Travel Award to support undergraduate history majors and minors in their scholarly pursuits outside the classroom. This award is designed to fund research, internships, volunteer experiences, and travel to scholarly conferences. The grant amount varies, and applications are due by March 15. Interested students should submit their applications to the department chair to take advantage of this opportunity.

The WMU Department of History offers the History Undergraduate Fellows Emeriti Grant Program to support undergraduate history majors and minors in scholarly pursuits beyond the classroom. Grants ranging from $50 to $500 can be utilized for research, internships, volunteer work, or travel to conferences. Applicants must submit an application, resume, transcript, project description, budget, and faculty mentor support. Deadlines are November 15 for spring projects and March 15 for summer and fall projects.

The Seabury Foundation's Family Grants provide essential funding for 501(c)(3) organizations invited by a Seabury Family sponsor. Eligible organizations can apply for grants up to $25,000 to support general operations or specific projects. Focus areas include academic support, arts enrichment, lifelong learning, environmental sustainability, and wellness. Organizations with annual operating expenses exceeding $2.5 million may only seek project support. Note that after three years of funding within four years, organizations must wait three years before reapplying.

The A Fund for Women Grant, offered by the Madison Community Foundation, aims to empower women and girls in Dane County by supporting projects focused on economic empowerment and education. Eligible 501(c)3 organizations can apply for funding to enhance accessibility to education, promote financial literacy, and advocate for policy changes that support women's rights. The deadline for full applications is June 25, 2025, and multi-year grants may be considered.

The objective of the Regional STEM Network Grant  is to support and fund innovative and collaborative initiatives that strengthen awareness, opportunities, and retention in Nevada’s STEM education and workforce pathways.

The Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants provide essential funding for health care sector training, supporting projects that enhance collaboration between businesses and workforce partners. With awards ranging from $5,000 to $400,000, these grants aim to address skill shortages, ensuring workers gain necessary training for sustainable employment. This initiative focuses on the health sciences and related fields, promoting professional growth and economic advancement for participants while fostering partnerships among multiple employers.

The Schrafft Charitable Trust offers grants to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts focused on youth development. Prioritizing those serving underserved populations aged 6-21, the Trust supports programs that enhance educational, artistic, and economic opportunities. New grantees must submit a Letter of Intent if they haven't received funding in the last three years. The Trust aims to foster paths to independence through community-driven initiatives, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in its funding decisions.

The GFO-25-901 program, administered by the California Energy Commission, aims to enhance the workforce for residential building electrification and efficiency training. This initiative supports long-term market transformation by funding contractor training projects, which ultimately reduce training costs and provide necessary certifications. As California transitions to 100% clean energy, such efforts are vital for combating climate change and ensuring a sustainable energy future.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering funding through the Fast Track Training Support Program to enhance workforce skills for HVAC supply chain manufacturers in St. Clair County. This initiative aims to support local businesses by providing training and job placement services, fostering economic development and innovation within the region. Eligible organizations can apply for this critical funding to upskill workers and meet the demands of a growing industry.

The Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment & Infrastructure Grants aim to equip Massachusetts residents for the growing clean energy workforce, projected to expand by over 34,000 jobs by 2030. These grants provide up to $800,000 in funding for organizations that facilitate career pathways and upskilling in climate-critical occupations. Applicants can focus on various strands including training for new workers and upskilling for existing employees, ensuring a skilled workforce to meet state climate goals.

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Fund 1.5, funded by the California Employment Training Panel, offers up to $934,702 to enhance the skills of electricians in installing electric vehicle charging equipment. This initiative aims to certify electricians through specialized training, ensuring they meet industry standards. Eligible participants must possess a current General Electrician Certification issued by the California Department of Industrial Relations. This program reflects California's commitment to expanding its electric vehicle infrastructure.

The New American Long-term Care (LTC) Workforce Development Legal Services initiative, led by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, aims to enhance the long-term care workforce by providing immigration legal services to New Americans. This program focuses on culturally responsive support to ensure that individuals born abroad can successfully enter and thrive in the LTC sector, promoting workforce integration and stability for these communities.

The Regional Investment Initiative's Implementation Phase aims to support California's disadvantaged communities by funding economic development projects that align with regional Jobs First Strategies. With up to $125 million in available grants, the initiative focuses on creating good-paying jobs, fostering equitable economic growth, and investing in workforce development. This approach seeks to transition California to a clean energy economy while ensuring prosperity for all through targeted investments in job training, business development, and innovative practices.

The Youth Workforce Development Program by the District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services aims to prepare justice-involved youth for successful transition into adulthood. Through structured job training, skill development, and real-world experience, the program facilitates pathways to sustainable employment. It emphasizes collaboration with community partners and focuses on proven results for youth aged 18 to 21. By fostering a supportive environment, this initiative seeks to empower young individuals and promote their reintegration into society.

The Community Empowerment Fund Grant aims to support community-based organizations in Boston working to empower Black men and boys. With a total of $500,000 available, grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to programs focusing on areas such as mentoring, housing mobility, and economic inclusion. This initiative seeks to enhance opportunities for historically marginalized communities, particularly in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park, while emphasizing the importance of measurable outcomes.

Purpose

The selected EPTA PY 25-26 awardee will provide developmental evaluation and technical assistance to projects providing skills trainings to target populations who face unique challenges to accessing employment opportunities. This grant funding provides a valuable opportunity to leverage the evaluation outputs and implement necessary adaptations to support workforce development projects that benefit the individuals and communities they serve.

Description

This grant aims to provide specialized support to help ETPP PY 25-26 projects work better and help program awardees to achieve successful project outcomes. This grant supports a thorough analysis of PY 25-26 ETP Programs, the evaluation will follow best practices for rigorous, transparent, and reproducible analysis, and provide outputs of the evaluation, such as real time interventions, progress reports, and analysis findings. The selected PY 25-26 EPTA awardee will coordinate communities of practice with other technical assistance (TA) providers and assist ETP Program awardees with elevating best practices,  enhancing awardee knowledge and skills, providing targeted assistance, sharing resources, and promoting effective program and administrative practices.   Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PST on January 5, 2026. An informational webinar will be held on December 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. PST. Pre-registration is required. The EDD encourages applicants to submit a notice of intent to apply by December 15, 2025, noon PST to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov. The SFP will be posted on EDD's Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals website.

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation K-12 Grant supports local nonprofits and schools in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties, focusing on arts, education, health, and community services. With a responsive grantmaking strategy, the foundation aims to address unmet community needs and foster resilience through various types of support, including operating, program, and capital funding. Organizations must demonstrate management capacity and a clear evaluation plan, ensuring long-term impact and community collaboration.

The Career & Technical Education (CTE) Impact Funding program aims to enhance career exploration for students in grades 5-12 across a diverse region. By fostering partnerships with local businesses and industries, the initiative supports the development of new CTE programs and pathways. It focuses on equipping students with essential technical skills, increasing awareness of CTE opportunities, and ensuring equitable access to career-connected learning experiences, ultimately preparing them for future success in their careers and higher education.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) offers Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants to enhance access to training for individuals from underrepresented communities. Grants of up to $1,200,000 are available over two to three years for projects that create career pathways in climate-critical occupations. Applicants can propose initiatives focused on employment training, pipeline preparedness for adult learners, or capacity planning for effective training programs, aiming to address existing barriers and foster employer engagement.