Further Together: Advancing Equity Through Workforce Philanthropy will be Workforce Matters’ third national conference of grantmakers in the Workforce Matters network. This October, we’ll bring together grantmakers to:
  • Learn from national experts and peer grantmakers about timely issues, promising practices, and innovations in supporting workers and learners.
  • Connect and network with colleagues from across the nation.
  • Explore opportunities for collaboration.
Save $200 by registering early! Early bird registration closes July 31.

News and Events

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

By Workforce Matters | May 28, 2025

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, Read more

Meeting Our Steering Committee: Tuquan Harrison

By Workforce Matters | May 28, 2025

Tell us a little bit about your background and why you joined Workforce Matters. My name is Tuquan Harrison (he/they), and I am a Program Officer at the James Irvine Foundation. For the past three years, I have Read more

Meet Our Steering Committee: Laura Love

By Workforce Matters | April 30, 2025

Tell us a little bit about your background and why you joined Workforce Matters.  I currently lead the work-based learning strategy at Strada Education Foundation. Our aspiration is for every learner to have access to Read more

Recap: 2025 Budget and Tax Briefing 

By Workforce Matters | April 16, 2025

Thanks to all members who joined us for Workforce Matters’ 2025 budget briefing and discussion on March 27.  A special thanks to Economic Opportunity Funders for their excellent Annual Budget and Tax Briefing, which provided Read more

Applications Now Open: Trust Based Philanthropy Learning Lab

By Workforce Matters | April 16, 2025

This summer, Workforce Matters will launch a new peer-to-peer learning lab facilitated by Surabhi Jain of Surbahi Jain Consulting. This learning lab will serve as a community of practice for grantmakers interested in learning how Read more

Investing in Fair Chance Hiring: Key Research Areas to Explore 

By Workforce Matters | April 16, 2025

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 Read more

FundforWorkforce_Logo_DrkBlu@3x

The Fund for Workforce Equity is a pooled fund organized by Workforce Matters to spark innovative strategies to center workers and learners of color in the design and implementation of workforce policies and programs.

We announced our second round of grantees in March 2025. Read more about them on the Fund for Workforce Equity website.

About Workforce Matters

Workforce Matters is a national network of grantmakers that draws on expert and practitioner knowledge and works together to strengthen workforce development philanthropy such that it empowers workers, learners, and job seekers to realize their full potential; dismantles inequities based on race, gender, ability, and other individual characteristics; and advances equitable education and employment outcomes for youth and adults.

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