Youth Workforce Initiative Program

Background

Many young people in the United States today face challenges to financial stability that prior generations did not. A crucial condition for investing in oneself, gaining economic mobility and actively building wealth is the opportunity to earn steady, livable wages. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator shows that a living wage in 2024 for a single adult, no children, working full time in San Diego County is $29.52.

The local employment projections over the next ten years for San Diego shows a 19% growth in construction, healthcare and social assistance, and a 14% increase in trades. There are and will be thousands of jobs that provide a livable wage and do not require an advanced degree. Ensuring youth have agency in their career path and options that are accessible is essential to a strong, diverse workforce.

Students of color represent 70% of the K‑12 population, yet this diversity is not reflected in all workforce industries in demand.

The foundation’s strategic plan focuses on workforce development as a priority within all core areas of the foundation’s granting pillars: Health and Medical Research, Arts, and Youth Success.

Goals

The long-term goals of the foundation for Youth Success are that:

• Youth furthest from opportunity experience robust career progression
• The San Diego workforce is resilient, skilled and qualified

This initiative supports career paths that help young adults earn steady, livable wages in San Diego. It focuses on industries that align with our funding priorities, labor demand, and our goal of ensuring young people can live and thrive in San Diego County.

The goals of this initiative are that San Diego youth have:

• Increased access to high-quality internship/​apprenticeship programs that provide education/ training, supportive services, and pathways to productive careers with steady, living wages.
• Increased earning potential and career mobility while pursuing education and/​or careers

To achieve the above goals for youth in San Diego, the workforce ecosystem will need:

• Capacity for delivery of career pathway programs such as, the ability to expand program and/ or internship hours, offer additional seat availability, and reduce barriers to program completion such as financial, transportation, childcare and mental health.
• Increased coordination and collaboration across sectors to reduce the disconnect between learning environments, employers and the needs of young people going into and in the workforce.
• Access to paid internships/​apprenticeships with mentorship for underrepresented communities within the workforce
• Opportunities for increased earning potential for young adults already in the workforce through additional education, certifications, leadership/​professional development and trade courses etc.

Funding Priorities

• Industries with Priority Consideration:
  • Healthcare — registered nurses, lab technicians, phlebotomy, etc.
  • Creative workforce — design, media, software development, stagecraft, etc.
  • Environmental — blue & clean tech, natural resource management/​monitoring, regenerative agriculture, etc.
  • Trades/​Career Technical Education — such as electricians, mechanics, information technology, etc.
• The Program Should Serve: Young adults ages 18 – 26
  • Priority Population:
  • Overburdened Youth:
  • Young adults, who experience excessive physical, emotional, or psychological pressure beyond what is considered normal or healthy for their age.
  • Opportunity Youth:
  • Young adults who are not in school or working, or are underemployed

What We Will Fund

• Programs that provide quality job training, credentials, and certifications through partnerships with educational institutions, workforce development boards, and supportive services organizations
• Programs that provide access to extended and meaningful internships/​apprenticeships in specific industries that lead to living wages for opportunity and overburdened youth.
• Programs that reduce barriers, such as financial ability, transportation, childcare, family support etc., to access and complete, education/​certifications/​credentials or internships/ apprenticeships.
• Programs that include strong career guidance and support such as personal development, networking events, leadership development, mental wellbeing, etc.

Funding

• Funding Length: 2‑year funding
• Potential Grant Amount: Grants will be up to $450,000 over 2 years
• Total Funds for the Initiative: $6M in funding
• Number of Awards: we anticipate awarding 13 – 15 grants.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Lead organization must be located in and serving San Diego County
• 501(c)(3), fiscally sponsored, or a tribal entity
• If your organization is a current workforce grantee, there must be less than 6 months left on current award

Ineligibility

• What We Will Not Fund
  • Planning grants
  • Career exposure programs
  • Workforce programs for youth under the age of 18
  • Internships and/​or apprenticeships that do not pay the participating youth
  • Career camps
• New projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the understanding that if it is at the conceptual stage, and no planning or partnerships have been committed, it will likely not move forward.
• Career Technical Education high schools may not apply, unless in collaboration with other industry partners such as employers, CBOs, or secondary education institutions, AND through this project, the CTE High School is serving students aged 18+ only.