Learn about grants for workforce development, labor rights, and social mobility by browsing our curated list of top funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities by using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.
Funding Trends
Funding for programs designed to increase social mobility are staples of American philanthropy. However, many donors are often ardent believers in a system in which hard work results in a just reward — a belief system that reinforces disproven ideas about economic mobility and perpetuates strategies that actually restrict support for the most vulnerable.
The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the racial justice turn in grantmaking, has further lifted the veil on millions of people living in the United States, especially marginalized communities. These elements combine to create an evolving giving space.
Because government and business play such an outsized role in the world of work and economic opportunity in the United States, philanthropy often works at the margins. As a result, philanthropic funding tends to focus on advocacy and ensuring a level playing field.
This includes funding to build research evidence supporting raising up of the federal minimum wage (which amazingly, at the time of this writing in 2021, is still $7.25/hour) as well as changes to other federal and state policies to promote high-quality skills training for job seekers.
Private foundations are the most prominent funders of nonprofits and related causes focused on work and opportunity. Many private foundations have evolved their interest areas to include racial equity, public policy and worker’s rights.
Corporate-sponsored foundations and corporate social responsibility programs often take more of a market based approach, trying to link local labor market needs with a better trained and more capable workforce.
Foundations for Work and Economic Development
3M FOUNDATION
The 3M Foundation broadly supports job skills training through its education program.
AARP FOUNDATION
The AARP Foundation works to support health, mental health, food systems and economic opportunity for Americans aged 50 and up.
ABELARD FOUNDATION
The Abelard Foundation supports early-stage grassroots nonprofits in a broad range of issue areas.
ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Adtalem’s economic development giving overlaps with its higher education grants. This work supports “workforce initiatives that advance career opportunities for new majority students and improve the economic health of local communities.”
ADOBE FOUNDATION
Adobe’s economic development grantmaking overlaps with its STEM education giving, which offers mentorships, training and internships, beyond grantmaking, to help students between high school and graduate school gain the skills to work digitally.
AEGON TRANSAMERICA FOUNDATION
The AEGON Transamerica Foundation funds a broad range of initiatives in areas where the insurance company has a corporate presence. Its giving funds arts & culture, civic & community, education & literacy, health & welfare, and support for the United Way.
ISABEL ALLENDE FOUNDATION
This foundation’s economic development work focuses on women, especially in the Bay Area.
ALLY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Ally Charitable Foundation’s first round of grants included a $400,000 commitment to “promoting the economic mobility of Black and Brown small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities and Little Rock, Arkansas.”
ALL WITHIN MY HANDS
All Within My Hands was founded by the members of the heavy metal band Metallica. The organization supports work readiness, vocational and technical schools, and community colleges to help people prepare for new careers.
HERB ALPERT FOUNDATION
The foundation’s giving for economic development overlaps with its humanitarian aid and community development, predominately in Southern California.
ALSTOM FOUNDATION
Alstom disperses its work and opportunity grants at the national and global levels. Grants encourage economic development and justice by “facilitating the movement of both people and goods such that remote and disadvantaged communities may take advantage of local markets, education, health and other facilities.” Alstrom’s Economic and Social Development grants support organizations that “develop the employability of disadvantaged women and youth seeking to enter the job market,” as well as those that “protect children, frequently orphans, living in dire circumstances.”
AMALGAMATED FOUNDATION
The Amalgamated Foundation does not name economic opportunity as an area of grantmaking focus, but it has supported organizations in this area via its 2020 Expanding Our Democracy funding program and its COVID-19 response funding.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
The foundation’s career grants support women who “preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce.” These grants prioritize women of color and women seeking their first advance degree.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express conducts work-related funding through its leadership program, which predominately focuses on “creating and funding programs that strengthen leaders within nonprofit and social purpose organizations working to solve the world's biggest challenges.”
AMERICAN HONDA FOUNDATION
The American Honda Foundation funds STEM, environmental education, job training, and literacy in local and regional community programs that benefit youth.
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL
Ameriprise Financial commits to grantmaking that creates “positive change” in communities across the U.S. This includes not only meeting “basic needs” but also supporting “community vitality.”
PAUL M. ANGELL FOUNDATION
The Angell Family Foundation supports economic opportunity efforts that support quality workforce training, including vocational training and credentialing, as well as education for financial literacy and stability.
AON FOUNDATION
Aon funds job training and workforce development initiatives in communities where its employees live and work as part of its education grantmaking.
ARCA FOUNDATION
The foundation takes a racial and economic equity lens towards it economic development grants, which are relatively broad and awarded alongside civic engagement grants. The foundation aims to “shift the policy debate on democratic inclusion, wealth, poverty, and race.”
THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
The Asian American Foundation supports the Asian American and Pacific Islander community with grants for anti-hate, education, narrative change, and resources and representation initiatives.
AT&T FOUNDATION
AT&T does not have a grantmaking program dedicated to housing or urban development, but it supports some human services organizations across the United States.
BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation seeks to “address critical issues facing our neighborhoods and communities.” It offers institutional support for specific programs as well as general operations.
BANK OF THE WEST
Bank of the West funds nonprofit organizations that work to increase affordable housing, homeownership, and financial services in low- to moderate-income communities.
BAUMAN FOUNDATION
The Bauman Foundation supports education and economic development programs.
BBVA FOUNDATION
The BBVA Foundation broadly funds human services and community development projects in communities where its parent company has a corporate presence.
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
The James Beard Foundation awards grants, fellowships and scholarships for small businesses and individuals who aim to advance the food and beverage industry.
BEN & JERRY’S FOUNDATION
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of its ice cream company namesake, is devoted to supporting grassroots efforts for activism and change. Access to affordable housing is a component of its economic justice initiative.
THE BENJAMIN FUND
The Benjamin fund supports economic justice and opportunity efforts around the United States.
BEZOS EARTH FUND
Bezos Earth Fund is the climate funder created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. It supports environmental conservation and justice, climate change and clean energy, marine and freshwater restoration, and animal and wildlife preservation.
BLACKROCK PHILANTHROPY
BlackRock offers grants to organizations offering skills training to underserved young adults, scaling interventions that help building savings and making local nonprofits more resilient.
ARTHUR M. BLANK FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Blank Foundation’s economic development grants center on bolstering Atlanta’s historic Westside communities and attracting new jobs and businesses to the area.
BOHEMIAN FOUNDATION
The Bohemian Foundation promotes economic opportunity, civic engagement, and government accountability in Colorado and beyond.
BOOZ ALLEN FOUNDATION
Booz Allen supports career transition programs for veterans and STEM education in the United States.
BOEING FOUNDATION
Boeing funds career transition programs for veterans in select United States regions.
OTTO BREMER TRUST
The Otto Bremer Trust broadly supports programs that contribute to the increased health, safety, and well-being of the people in Bremer’s community and region.
BRIGHT HORIZON FOUNDATION
This foundation’s economic development funding broadly invests in economic justice and opportunity.
CAMPHILL FOUNDATION
The foundation broadly supports programs that “practice an art of daily living, mindful of man’s responsibility to the earth” and create opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
CAPITAL ONE FOUNDATION
The Capital One Foundation funds a range of community initiatives related to education, workforce development, financial security, and small businesses.
MARGARET A. CARGILL PHILANTHROPIES
Cargill supports post-secondary success and skill development programs as part of its “quality of life” grantmaking.
CASE FOUNDATION
Case works to increase the number of entrepreneurs who bring fresh ideas to all areas of business.
ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
The Annie E. Casey Foundation supports research and research-based policy in the areas of child welfare, juvenile justice, community change, evidence-based practice and equity and inclusion.
MARGUERITE CASEY FOUNDATION
The Marguerite Casey Foundation supports employment, education, workers’ rights, and policy issues in select regions of the United States.
CATERPILLAR FOUNDATION
The Caterpillar Foundation supports organizations that address the root causes of poverty, and offers some support for workforce readiness.
CATHAY BANK FOUNDATION
The Cathay Bank Foundation seeks to “create opportunities” for the geographic areas its banks serve, with those opportunities touching upon many different sectors of need and community development.
CERES FOUNDATION
The Ceres Foundation funds job training, career readiness, and education efforts for youth under 30 in the United States.
CHATLOS FOUNDATION
While Chatlos does not name work and opportunity as part of its priorities, taxes show that it supports community programs that provide services such as vocational training.
CITIZENS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Citizens Charitable Foundation funds job training and financial education programs in communities where the bank operates.
CISCO SYSTEMS FOUNDATION
The Cisco Foundation provides grants for economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in the United States and internationally.
CITI FOUNDATION
Citi’s urban development grantmaking consists of a range of initiatives seeking innovative solutions to pressing problems that cities face.
COCA-COLA FOUNDATION
The Coca-Cola Foundation does not prioritize housing or homelessness, but sometimes awards related grants through its Empowering Women and Enhancing Communities programs.
COMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Comerica Charitable Foundation broadly funds housing and community development projects in communities where the bank operates.
COMMON STREAM
Common Stream funds grassroots economic justice initiatives in New England and throughout the United States.
CRUISE INDUSTRY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation supports job training and education efforts in regions where the cruise industry has a significant presence.
THE NATHAN CUMMINGS FOUNDATION
The Nathan Cummings Foundation advocates for racial and economic justice in the United States and Israel.
DEUTSCHE BANK AMERICAS
Deutsche Bank supports work and opportunity through its Made for Good initiative, which supports innovative approaches to job creation and entrepreneurship.
DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION
The foundation supports adult literacy via its adult literacy program and its signature high school equivalency program, Rise Up and Shine.
EBAY FOUNDATION
This foundation’s giving for work and opportunity remain low-profile, but broad with a particular interest in building entrepreneurship amongst vulnerable communities that have been systemically and historically prohibited from opening businesses.
ECMC FOUNDATION
Career readiness is a major component of ECMC’s two-pronged strategy, the other being college success.
ECOLAB FOUNDATION
The Ecolab Foundation broadly funds basic needs and community development services in the areas where its parent company operates.
EDISON INTERNATIONAL
Edison International views workforce development through the lens of its civic engagement program.
EMERGING MARKETS FOUNDATION
EMpower focuses its grantmaking on improving the lives of at-risk children and young people ages 10 to 24. The foundation’s economic development grantmaking helps organizations to ensure that young people have access to training and opportunities allowing them to earn a living wage.
EMERSON CHARITABLE TRUST
This foundation conducts economic development-related grantmaking through its education giving, which heavily invests in supporting STEM careers in engineering and manufacturing.
ENERGY FOUNDATION
This foundation’s economic development grants center on green jobs and the green economy.
FARMERS INSURANCE
Farmers Insurance invests in job readiness programs through its education grantmaking.
FCA FOUNDATION
The FCA Foundation funds community, regional, and national initiatives in support of education, youth development, military families, and multicultural inclusion. The foundation also supports scholarship programs.
FEDEX CARES
FedEx supports entrepreneurship and access to jobs and opportunity for the underserved in the United States and around the world.
MOSES FELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Moses Feldman Foundation’s Social Justice, Education and Human Services grantmaking program funds efforts to “strengthen civic leadership,” “contest hate and bigotry,” and “help disadvantaged populations access services that address urgent needs and build self-sufficiency.”
FIDELITY FOUNDATION
The Fidelity Foundation offers a variety of grant types to a broad range of community and social service programs that provide basic needs.
FIREDOLL FOUNDATION
Firedoll broadly supports economic opportunity efforts. This work frequently overlaps with its community development work.
EILEEN FISHER FOUNDATION
Fisher’s grantmaking for economic opportunity overlaps with its giving for human rights. It is particularly concerned with textile industry workers, human trafficking and child labor.
FLUOR FOUNDATION
The Fluor Foundation broadly funds job readiness and trade education in areas where its employees live and work.
FORD FOUNDATION
The iconic Ford Foundation is respected worldwide, with a global reach and a vast range of grantmaking interests including focus areas in inequality, social justice, freedom of expression, and workforce development. Its grants for work and opportunity prioritize emerging technologies and preparing the workforce for the future of work.
CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION
The Frueauff Foundation broadly funds human services and community programs in Arkansas and throughout the United States.
GANNETT FOUNDATION
Sourced from A Community Thrives, Gannett’s work and opportunity grantmaking overlaps with its housing and homelessness funding.
GATES FOUNDATION
The Gates Foundation funds economic opportunity and development initiatives in the United States and abroad.
GE FOUNDATION
The GE Foundation supports education and job skills development programs in the United States.
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
General Motors names workforce readiness and economic prosperity as areas of focus for its community development funding.
GEORGIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION
The Georgia-Pacific Foundation promotes entrepreneurship in areas where its employees live and work.
GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN
The Global Fund for Women supports organizations fighting for women’s economic and political rights, as well as, the right for women and girls to be free from violence.
GOLDMAN SACHS
Goldman Sachs invests in economic opportunity and development through its 10,000 Small Businesses program and giving for veterans.
Google supports economic opportunity and 21st-century job skills in the United States and around the world.
GRACE & MERCY FOUNDATION
This foundation gives broadly for economic opportunity projects and programs in the U.S. and abroad, prioritizing communities and areas of high need and vulnerability.
CHARLES M. AND MARY D. GRANT FOUNDATION
While the foundation does not outline specific goals for its giving in this area, past grants demonstrate a strong interest in developing economic opportunity in the poorest areas of rural Appalachia.
WILLIAM T. GRANT FOUNDATION
Grant’s work and opportunity grantmaking is limited to research and interventions for young adults up to the age of 25 and often overlaps with the foundation’s higher education and technical or vocational training grantmaking.
This foundation economic opportunity tend to cluster in South Florida and often serve organizations that support the Haitian-American community.
GEORGE HANLEY FOUNDATION
The Hanley Foundation’s social empowerment focus area also funds work that creates or supports “green jobs” and a clean economy.
HEARST FOUNDATIONS
The Hearst Foundations have a mission to “build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives.” They seek to achieve this by supporting well-established nonprofit organizations that operate in the realms of culture, education, health, and social service.
HECKSCHER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
The Heckscher Foundation funds workforce development and job readiness efforts as part of its overall education mission.
HILL-SNOWDON FOUNDATION
The Hill-Snowdon Foundation’s broadly funds economic justice and community strengthening initiatives in Washington D.C. and across the United States.
CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
Hilton’s grants for economic opportunity center on developing career pathways into the hospitality industry.
GRAHAM AND CAROLYN HOLLOWAY FOUNDATION
The Holloway Foundation’s workforce development grantmaking funds organizations that offer “career development training for individuals who otherwise would not have access to those prospects.”
HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION
The foundation is committed to “educating more people in the skilled trades and helping them find careers in the home improvement industry.”
ROY A. HUNT FOUNDATION
It supports economic development projects such as workforce readiness and entrepreneurship.
IKEA FOUNDATION
The IKEA Foundation supports workforce development and 21st-century skills training around the world, as well as efforts to promote sustainable agricultural systems that benefit local farmers.
INCITE LABS
Incite Labs supports grantmaking in the environment and climate change spaces, as well as community development, work and economic opportunity, and science research. It does limited grantmaking to civic engagement organizations.
THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
The James Irvine Foundation promotes career development and economic development for low-income Californians.
JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
Jewish Women International supports economic security for women, gender-based violence prevention and women’s leadership through its workshops and signature programs.
JOYCE FOUNDATION
The Joyce Foundation funds a broad range of organizations and initiatives related to racial equality and economic mobility in the Great Lakes region. The foundation’s mission and focus areas are continually evolving to address critical social issues.
JPB FOUNDATION
The JPB Foundation supports economic opportunity efforts as part of its broader grantmaking for poverty.
JPMORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION
The JPMorgan Chase Foundation supports local, regional, and national community development organizations.
W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports economic development, work opportunity, and minority entrepreneurship in the United States, Mexico, and Haiti.
KERN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Kern Family Foundation supports economic opportunity through its Faith, Work, and Economics program area, which is aimed at Christian pastors and ministers.
KEYBANK FOUNDATION
The KeyBank Foundation broadly funds housing and community development initiatives in areas where the bank operates.
KOVNER FOUNDATION
The Kovner Foundation’s Opportunity Society program area promotes conservative and libertarian perspectives of economic and social opportunity through research and scholarship.
KRESGE FOUNDATION
Kresge is now one of the largest private foundations in the United States. It broadly supports a range of community development and human services program.
LEMELSON FOUNDATION
The Lemelson Foundation supports work and economic opportunity via its entrepreneurship and regional ecosystems funding areas.
LEVI STRAUSS FOUNDATION
Levi Strauss supports workers’ welfare and workers’ rights in the garment industry.
LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION
The Liberty Hill Foundation supports work opportunities through LGBTQ organizations in the Los Angeles, California area.
LIBERTY MUTUAL FOUNDATION
The Liberty Mutual Foundation funds housing, homelessness, and basic needs programs in areas where its employees live and work.
LINCOLN FINANCIAL FOUNDATION
Lincoln Financial supports housing and economic development projects in select cities in New Hampshire, Indiana, North Carolina, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.
LOWE’S CHARITABLE FINANCIAL FOUNDATION
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation prioritizes K-12 education and community improvement. It broadly funds housing and community development initiatives in the United States and Canada.
LPL FINANCIAL FOUNDATION
The LPL Financial Foundation supports economic empowerment in the communities where its offices are located.
LUMINA FOUNDATION
Lumina Foundation’s “Goal 2025” program seeks to significantly increase the number of Americans with higher degrees by the stated year. A signature focus of the foundation is competency-based education, which moves from the credit-hour system to focus instead on programs that help students master job skills, or "competencies."
J. WILLARD AND ALICE S. MARRIOTT FOUNDATION
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation’s supports education, economic opportunity, and hospitality workforce development in the United States.
MAXIMUS FOUNDATION
The MAXIMUS Foundation broadly funds job training and work initiatives in areas where the company has a corporate presence.
WILLIAM G. MCGOWAN CHARITABLE FUND
The McGowan Charitable Fund supports job training and education programs in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania.
ROBERT AND JANICE MCNAIR FOUNDATION
McNair’s work and economic opportunity grantmaking stems from its Centers for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise, which aim to “inspire and educate future business leaders.”
MELVILLE CHARITABLE TRUST
The Melville Charitable Trust is committed exclusively to fighting homelessness in Connecticut and throughout the United States.
METLIFE FOUNDATION
MetLife’s grantmaking centers around financial inclusion for economically disadvantaged communities around the world. This is manifested in a concern for building the capacity of people to engage with and benefit from the financial goods and services sector.
MICROSOFT PHILANTHROPIES
Microsoft supports economic opportunity and empowerment programs around the world, with a special focus on Washington State.
MS. FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
The Ms. Foundation for Women seeks organizations that address broad policy changes for women’s rights. It’s work and opportunity grantmaking invests in low-income women, women’s economic empowerment, affordable childcare, and immigration policies as they affect women.
MOODY’S FOUNDATION
Moody’s grants for economic opportunity focus on small businesses and financial literacy at the global level.
MOZILLA FOUNDATION
The Mozilla Foundation is committed to supporting “individual and collective actions that advance a more human-centered internet” and has created and funded several programs that aim to support the democratization of information, improved connectivity and equitable regulation of the online world.
MUFG UNION BANK FOUNDATION
MUFG funds economic development and financial inclusion initiatives in Chicago, New York, California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest.
NEW PROFIT
New Profit names postsecondary and career pathways as a funding priority.
NEW PROSPECT FOUNDATION
The New Prospect Foundation’s grantmaking primarily centers around community development, economic opportunity, and human services in the Chicagoland area and beyond.
NEW SOCIETY FUND
The New Society Fund supports education, opportunity, and economic justice organizations in the United States.
NEW WORLD FOUNDATION
The New World Foundation’s Phoenix Fund for Workers and Communities supports labor organizing efforts in the face of the “realities of globalization by multinational corporations and regional free trade agreements which impose serious losses for workers and their communities.”
NFL FOUNDATION
The NFL Foundation funds economic advancement initiatives in the United States as part of its social justice grantmaking.
HENRY E. NILES FOUNDATION
The Henry E. Niles Foundation’s grantmaking for Economic Self-Sufficiency broadly supports efforts to promote economic opportunity through programs like mentoring, entrepreneurship, job training, and micro-credit initiatives.
NORDSON FOUNDATION
The Nordson Foundation supports community development and enrichment initiatives in the regions where it has a corporate presence.
NORMAN FOUNDATION
The Norman Foundation is supports economic and environmental justice initiatives throughout the United States. It also links economic justice work with environmental justice.
OMIDYAR NETWORK
The Omidyar Network globally funds innovative economic opportunity and worker empowerment initiatives, such as worker organization.
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS
The Open Society Foundations support work and opportunity in accordance with their Economic Equity and Justice focus area, which prioritizes “reform of fiscal systems, corporate governance, and labor rights protections” that bring opportunity to underprivileged people around the world.
OPUS FOUNDATION
The Opus Group supports workforce and economic development in the regions where Opus employees live and work.
ORGANIZATION FOR AUTISM RESEARCH
A significant portion of OAR’s applied research and graduate research grants support studies that concern work, working in tech, vocational training, housing and mental health among autistic populations.
PACE ABLE FOUNDATION
This funder supports work and opportunity via its local business support initiative, which has supported organizations that support business development and career education.
PALMER FOUNDATION
The Palmer Foundation supports organizations, schools and institutions that help young people develop career skills and job training.
PERSHING SQUARE FOUNDATION
Pershing Square funds economic opportunity and work readiness programs in the United States and internationally.
PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
Pew support work and opportunity in the U.S. via its finance and economy program, which aims to “understand and improve the economic health of families across the income spectrum and across generations.”
PIMCO FOUNDATION
The PIMCO Foundation invests in college and career readiness in the U.S. It operates mainly in Orange County, California and New York City.
PINK HOUSE FOUNDATION
A significant portion of Pink House grants go to organizations involved in the promotion of worker’s rights and fair pay.
PITNEY BOWES FOUNDATION
Pitney Bowes broadly supports opportunity and career preparation programs in select communities.
PNC FOUNDATION
The PNC Foundation supports job training and economic development in the cities and states served by its parent banking corporation.
T. ROWE PRICE FOUNDATION
The T. Rowe Price Foundation awards disease-related grants or organizations operating in the United States.
PRINCIPAL FOUNDATION
The Principal Foundation supports financial security and economic opportunity programs in the communities where its employees live and work.
PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION
The Prudential Foundation invests in programs that prepare students for their careers, as well as postsecondary education. Prudential broadly funds community development initiatives across the United States.
PUBLIC WELFARE FOUNDATION
The Public Welfare Foundation funds workers’ rights efforts in the United States.
NINA MASON PULLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust supports housing and homelessness efforts in Arizona and Indiana through its basic needs and critical services grantmaking.
PWC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
PwC has recently named social entrepreneurship as an emerging area of grantmaking interest.
THE BERNARD AND AUDRE RAPOPORT FOUNDATION
The Rapoport Foundation supports job training and related programs in Waco, Texas, and throughout the United States through its education and social services focus areas.
ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION
Economic opportunity for low- and middle-income Americans appears to be another significant area of interest for the Robbins Foundation.
ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
Rockefeller is one of the largest foundations in the United States, and one of the oldest players in global development philanthropy. It is organized around the "dual goals of building greater resilience and advancing more inclusive economies."
ROTH FAMILY FOUNDATION
Under the umbrella of its Education Opportunities program, Roth’s Economic Development initiative funds groups that focus on issues of economic justice and economic development.
RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION
The Russell Sage Foundation funds research into economic inequality and the future of work as part of its overall dedication to social science research.
SALESFORCE FOUNDATION
The Salesforce Foundation supports STEM education and workforce development at the local and national level in the United States and abroad.
SATTER FOUNDATION
The Satter Foundation supports job creation and economic opportunity in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
DR. SCHOLL FOUNDATION
The Dr. Scholl Foundation funds education and career preparation programs in the United States.
SCHULTZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Schultz Family Foundation supports job preparation, hiring, and mentoring programs through its Opportunity Youth grantmaking.
CHARLES SCHWAB FOUNDATION
This corporate funder offers several kinds of grants that benefit small-business development, microfinancing innovative loans, and promote financial capability.
SIEMENS FOUNDATION
Siemens’s main giving avenue is through its Workforce Development program, which aims to “help close the opportunity gap for young adults in STEM technical careers.”
MAY AND STANLEY SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST
The May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust funds employment and training initiatives for people in vulnerable and underserved demographics.
SPARKPLUG FOUNDATION
The Sparkplug Foundation often supports economic justice and opportunity initiatives around the United States, Israel, and Palestine through its community organizing grantmaking.
DIANA DAVIS SPENCER FOUNDATION
The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation funds entrepreneurship and anti-regulation efforts in the United States.
STATE FARM
State Farm supports safety, community development, and education in the United States.
STATE STREET FOUNDATION
State Street’s workforce development grantmaking prioritizes programs that “increase access to industry-recognized credential programs,” “build basic job-readiness skills,” “increase employment experience,” “increase job placement,” and “increase job retention.”
SURDNA FOUNDATION
The Surdna Foundation invests in the environment, local economies, and culture.
TARA HEALTH FOUNDATION
This foundation conducts grantmaking through a gender lens and invests in equitable workplaces, although this is a smaller area of giving.
TD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
TD Bank has just launched a brand new housing initiative, and also broadly funds community development in communities where the bank has a presence.
TEXTRON FOUNDATION
Textron supports workforce development and education initiatives in areas where its employees live and work.
THRIVENT FOUNDATION
The Thrivent Foundation funds employment and financial well-being initiatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
TJX FOUNDATION
The TJX Foundation is a well-endowed funder that gives millions of dollars a year to thousands of charitable organizations. It prioritizes grantees serving the young, underprivileged, and mentally ill with a variety of services, including education and career preparation.
TOMKAT FOUNDATION
TomKat names “good money” as one of its main funding priorities and is committed to supporting initiatives for fair and transparent financial services, financial literacy and economic opportunity for underserved people.
PETER AND ELIZABETH C. TOWER FOUNDATION
Tower has given to several organizations that help disabled people obtain the training, counseling and experience they need to secure employment.
TRAVELERS INSURANCE FOUNDATION
The Travelers Insurance Company supports education and career development, among other community development programs.
UPS FOUNDATION
The philanthropic arm of UPS supports economic opportunity and education initiatives through its diversity and inclusion grantmaking.
UNION PACIFIC FOUNDATION
Union Pacific Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad. It focuses on improving and enriching health, human services, and the overall quality of life for the 50-plus regions on the Union Pacific railway line.
U.S. BANCORP FOUNDATION
The foundation makes grants through its Work Grants program to support “programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.”
VOQAL
Voqal promotes economic opportunity and education initiatives as part of its overall mission to use media and technology to bring about social change.
VOYA FOUNDATION
The Voya Foundation supports workforce readiness and career opportunity programs as part of its overall mission to promote financial resilience throughout the United States.
WAGNER FOUNDATION
The Wagner Foundation’s Economic Mobility program supports “access to economic opportunity through training, apprenticeships, and other employment programs.”
WALMART FOUNDATION
The Walmart Foundation funds programs that promote economic mobility, economic opportunity, global entrepreneurship, and workers’ rights, as well as career transition programs for military veterans.
HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg broadly funds programs related to basic needs, housing, and homelessness.
WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND
The Wellspring Philanthropic Fund is a global grantmaker that supports a wide variety of causes, including racial equity, economic justice, support for women, children, the LGBTQ community, people living in poverty, refugees, and those with disabilities.
WERNER-KOHNSTAMM FAMILY FUND
WKF advocates for economic opportunity and rights for immigrants and migrant workers in California.
WORKDAY FOUNDATION
Workforce development is the Workday Foundation’s main philanthropic focus, accounting for well over half of its annual grantmaking. The foundation’s impact grants support “forward-thinking organizations that prepare people of all ages for careers in tech.” Veterans and youth, including refugees, have been populations of interest.
WYSS FOUNDATION
The Wyss Foundation engages in grantmaking for work and opportunity across its programs, particularly it’s “communities” program, which works to create fair lending practices and building family wealth.
XEROX
Xerox takes a broad view of education support. Its funding in this area works to “create opportunities for young people to pursue college degrees and, ultimately, careers in STEM.”
XCEL ENERGY FOUNDATION
Xcel’s economic sustainability initiative supports programs that promote workforce development, workforce readiness, specific job skills training, job placement and job creation.
THE CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE
While CZI does not have a funding initiative dedicated to economic opportunity, it does make grants in this area through its Justice & Opportunity and Community initiatives; however, the latter limits its focus to the Bay Area.
