issue areas

Current Workforce Needs in Native Nations and Communities: Notes From the Field

Earlier this year, Workforce Matters fielded a feedback survey and hosted two listening sessions in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Over 100 individuals participated, including grant partners in our Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities initiative, Native-led nonprofits, Tribal programs, 477 programs, WIOA Section 166 Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Workforce 101: An Overview of Public Workforce System Funding and Infrastructure

Workforce Matters created and released Workforce 101 in May 2025. Developed by Nancy Snyder Consulting and delivered by Nancy Snyder and Katie Spiker of the National Skills Coalition, this webinar and slide deck provided a detailed overview of the publicly-funded workforce development system with insights specifically tailored toward philanthropic interests.  Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Workforce development is about more than jobs and skills: A conversation with Narbada Chhetri

Earlier this year, Workforce Matters made a second round of investments through our Fund for Workforce Equity. In this round, we supported seven organizations working to engage workers and learners most impacted by racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in designing and implementing workforce development programs and policies.  In recognition of Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Investing in Fair Chance Hiring: Key Research Areas to Explore 

Authors: Matthew Bruce, Executive Director, Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, and Steph Dolan, Program Director, Corporate Coalition of Chicago  What do Martha Stewart, Donald Trump and Robert Downey Jr. all have in common?   All have criminal records. While these individuals have gone on to varying degrees of fame and success, many Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Facing Federal Funding Uncertainty: Updates and Next Steps for Workforce Matters Members 

As our members are aware, the Trump Administration’s actions this week around federal funding assistance have caused no small amount of disruption and confusion across the country. A funding freeze communicated via a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 27 had the potential to impact Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

2024 Workforce Policy Wrap-Up with the Employment and Training Administration

Last month, Workforce Matters hosted an end-of-year workforce policy briefing with staff from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to receive updates on ETA’s most recent investments about which philanthropic partners may want to inform their grantees and community partners. Highlights from the conversation are included Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

SHIFTing the Workforce through investments in Native and Tribal Led Communities 

Recapping our time at the SHIFT Conference In September, members of the Workforce Matters team joined hundreds of workforce leaders and practitioners in Memphis, Tennessee to participate in the SHIFT Conference hosted by the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS). Together with peers from around the country, we laughed, danced, Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Championing Workforce Inclusion: Investing in Opportunities for Workers and Learners with Disabilities

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October, Workforce Matters asked two of our members, Elaine Katz from the Kessler Foundation and Tuquan Harrison from the James Irvine Foundation, to briefly share about their work to invest in and advance opportunities for workers and learners with disabilities.  People Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago

Webinar Recap: Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement (DALE) with USDOL Acting Secretary Julie Su 

On Aug 12, 2024, Funders for a Just Economy, Workforce Matters, Ford Foundation, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance, Raise the Floor Alliance, Arriba Las Vegas, Warehouse Workers for Justice, and the International Association of Bridge Structural Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers co-sponsored an educational webinar Read more

By Workforce Matters, ago