Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator

GBC-Education's Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator is a program designed to support U.S.-based youth-serving nonprofit organizations working to address the youth employment crisis and skills gap.

Geographic Scope: United States

Focus Areas:

• Youth skills development for ages 16-30
• Workforce readiness and employment pathways
• Digital skills and AI training
• Programs serving underserved and marginalized youth
• Education-to-employment pipeline development

Eligibility:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Must be U.S.-based
• Must serve youth aged 16-30
• Must have current IRS tax-exempt status
• Must demonstrate financial stability and appropriate safeguarding practices

Program Benefits:

• One year of intensive training
• Access to business community partnerships
• Strategic planning and fundraising support
• Skill-building in communications and organizational development
• Networking with other youth-serving organizations
• Access to funding and investment opportunities

Standards for Participation:
Organizations should demonstrate alignment with ten standards for skills-friendly communities:

1. Direct engagement with young people
2. Focus on underserved youth
3. Inclusive and equitable education systems
4. Clear pathways from education to employment
5. Curriculum adapted to future workforce skills (4IR skills)
6. Employer engagement in opportunity pipelines
7. Meaningful and equitable employment
8. Youth-focused funding partnerships
9. Supportive ecosystem for youth
10. Dedicated platform for opportunity dissemination

Background: Based on GBC-Education's State of US Cities and Youth Skills Report, which identifies systemic needs and opportunities in youth skills development across U.S. cities.

Application Process

Application Format: Online application form

Key Application Steps:

1. Complete contact information for primary point of contact
2. Provide organization details (name, address, mission, founding year, activities overview)
3. Submit organization's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt form
4. Upload latest annual report (if available)
5. Provide website and social media profiles (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok)
6. Provide current CEO/President name and EIN/Tax ID

Required Information - Project Details:

• Project description (how organization helps young people gain skills; 350 words max)
• Number of young people impacted annually
• Digital skills and AI initiatives (350 words max)
• Current use of AI tools in programs (350 words max)
• Stakeholder collaboration efforts (350 words max)

Required Information - Impact & Metrics:

• Key performance metrics and impact measurement (350 words max)
• Growth plans for next five years (350 words max)
• How accelerator participation will help achieve impact goals (350 words max)

Compliance & Safeguarding Questions:

• Annual accounts published by IRS (Form 990 or 990-EZ)
• Independent audit of annual accounts
• Income and expenditures in balance
• Reasonable balance of project costs vs. admin costs (15% industry standard)
• Diversified funding base
• Up-to-date child abuse/endangerment policies
• Appropriate background checks for staff/volunteers working with youth
• Appropriate safety measures for youth in care
• Disclosure of any legal proceedings or incidents

Additional Information:

• Source of application awareness (email, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google Search, Conference, Other)
• Optional comments for project team and judges

Form Features:

• Save progress option with email and password
• Resume later functionality
• Review & Submit verification step
• Confirmation required before final submission

Eligibility Check: Shortlisted organizations will be contacted for an eligibility check interview with the GBC-Education team.