The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc. (CWI) is a workforce development organization based in Gary, Indiana, and is classified as a public charity. It describes itself as both a convener of community and industry groups and a direct provider of workforce and adult education services, including career advising, credit recovery, adult education, and oversight of WorkOne American Job Centers in Indiana.
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc at a glance
In short: The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc gave $6.6M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $656K), mostly in Indiana. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,557,122
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $655,712
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $176,727
- Total assets
- $3,891,482
- +11.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc
- How to Apply
-
The materials provided do not state a process for applying for grants from CWI. CWI has issued requests for proposals for providers to deliver WIOA-funded services; the cited 2023 and 2024 program solicitations are past cycles.
- Contact
Mailing address: 504 Broadway 4Th Floor, Gary, IN 46402
Phone: (219) 462-2940
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jobworks Inc ($3.1M). Together the top 10 received $6.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 24 grants of 47 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CWI’s website describes its service area as Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke counties in Northwest Indiana. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $159K; repeat grants $780K. How we count
Medians: $159K first-time, $177K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2019) to $6.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $6.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jobworks Inc Fort Wayne, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $3,141,153 |
| Goodwill Industries of Michiana Inc South Bend, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $2,341,411 |
| Tradewinds Merrillville, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $245,571 |
| Workforce Development Services Inc Gary, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $232,646 |
| Michigan City Area Schools Michigan City, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $196,498 |
| Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana Hammond, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $156,956 |
| Merrillville Community School Merrillville, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $118,000 |
| Southlake Tri State Management Corp Merrillville, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $84,380 |
| School City of East Chicago East Chicago, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $31,278 |
| Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs Indianapolis, IN | Support Grant for Community and Business Investment | $9,229 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,891,482 | $16,379,488 | $16,436,648 | $6,557,122 | 10 | $13,009 |
| 2024 | $3,493,814 | $15,174,309 | $15,336,962 | $6,246,809 | 10 | $2,131 |
| 2023 | $3,712,051 | $16,535,508 | $16,469,900 | $6,292,784 | 10 | $1,216 |
| 2022 | $2,958,255 | $14,608,336 | $14,627,031 | $5,038,841 | 11 | $2,461 |
| 2021 | $2,445,469 | $12,182,315 | $12,113,484 | $3,987,931 | 6 | $359 |
| 2020 | $2,594,420 | $11,227,387 | $11,241,200 | $3,767,996 | 7 | $8,947 |
| 2019 | $2,604,250 | $11,952,549 | $11,937,027 | $3,094,305 | 8 | $227 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CWI’s stated mission is to catalyze community and business investment in building and aligning workforce, education, and economic development strategies while accelerating economic growth for regions and states. Its website also describes priorities that include career advising, skill building, and increasing post-secondary credential attainment.
In its 2024 filing, CWI reported programs for adults, youth, dislocated workers, and adult education participants. The filing describes training and education services intended to improve basic skills, work readiness, employment, and educational or occupational attainment. These are program services for participants, distinct from grants to outside organizations.
The grantees’ own descriptions provide examples of the kinds of organizations receiving CWI grants. Goodwill Industries of Michiana describes itself as providing employment training, job placement, and community-based services for people including those with disabilities, limited education or job experience, economic challenges, or criminal records. Workforce Development Services Inc. says it assists with workers’ and employers’ training and employment needs in Northwest Indiana.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CWI reported 10 grants totaling $6,557,122. Grant amounts ranged from $9,229 to $3,141,153, with a median of $176,727. The largest awards were $3,141,153 to JobWorks Inc. and $2,341,411 to Goodwill Industries of Michiana Inc. Other notable grants were $245,571 to Tradewinds and $232,646 to Workforce Development Services Inc. Each listed grant had the stated purpose “support grant for community and business investment.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Daugherty as President & CEO and Kathleen Neary as Strategic Innovations Officer. Listed board leaders include Michael Suggs, Chair; Glen Todd, Vice Chairman; Dana Rifai, Treasurer; and Louie Gonzalez, Secretary. The filing also lists directors Jim Jorgensen, Beth McFarland, Heather Ennis, and Alisa Hecimovich.
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc is led by Lisa Daugherty, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 3 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Daugherty
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$146K (2022) → $207K (2025)
Michael Suggs
Board Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Jorgensen
Director
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2020
Vice Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Ennis
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alisa Hecimovich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth McFarland
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Sizemore
Chief Fiscal Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$112K (2023) → $136K (2025)
Kathleen Neary
Strategic Innovations Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$80K (2024) → $126K (2025)
Glen Todd
Vice Chairman
Board Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Rifai
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louie Gonzalez
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Michelle Grant (2019–2024) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Andrea Proulx Buinicki (2023–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Ron Bush (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Bjarne Henderson (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Linda Woloshansky (2019–2022) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Mike Suggs (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: George Finney (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Mike Baird (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Casbon (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael Baird (2019) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Robert Bernth (2019) — Chairman
- Former: Roy Vanderford (2019) — Director of Wrkforce
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $207K, to Lisa Daugherty (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc
How much does The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc give each year?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc gave $6.6M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.2M across 10 grants.
What is The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's typical grant size?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's median grant in 2025 was $176,727, and its average grant was $655,712, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc that year got $159K on average.
Where does The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc give grants?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Merrillville, IN (3 grants).
Does The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Grant for Community and Business Investment" (10 grants).
Who are The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's largest grantees?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Jobworks Inc ($3,141,153), Goodwill Industries of Michiana Inc ($2,341,411) and Tradewinds ($245,571), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.4M.
What does The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc fund?
CWI’s stated mission is to catalyze community and business investment in building and aligning workforce, education, and economic development strategies while accelerating economic growth for regions and states. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc?
The materials provided do not state a process for applying for grants from CWI. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's EIN?
The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2099782. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-center-of-workforce-innovations-inc-morg_b58eedd286cd498794bf542ae1c16eac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352099782_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-center-of-workforce-innovations-inc-morg_b58eedd286cd498794bf542ae1c16eac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Center of Workforce Innovations Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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