We fund organizations with strong and effective leadership that prepare children and youth from economically vulnerable households for fulfilled and productive lives.
The foundation believes that early work experience is a predictor of long-term employment as an adult and is achieved by:
- • Providing hands-on job experiences
- • Meeting youth where they are and providing comprehensive support to ensure young people gain meaningful employment, develop soft skills, and understand the culture or work
- • Connecting youth to fields in which there are current job opportunities and career ladders, including, but not limited to, construction, healthcare, and technology
Programs must provide or connect youth to paid work experience and teach soft skills.
Strong applicants will provide programs leading to careers in which there are current and emerging job sectors in the Bay Area, offer youth paid employment opportunities as part of the program, and connect program participants with industry leaders or a network of program alumni to further their professional development.
Preference may be given to programs serving foster and homeless youth, and youth living in neighborhoods that experience persistent levels of poverty. Partnerships with high schools and community colleges that provide work-based learning and/or apprenticeships will be considered.