Reflecting on Our 2025 Peer Learning Strategy Series
Throughout 2025, Workforce Matters hosted a four-part Peer Learning Strategy Series designed to help funders navigate emerging challenges and opportunities across the workforce development landscape. Each session brought together experts, funders, and practitioners to share insights, exchange strategies, and spark collaboration.
Here’s a look back at what we learned together.
February: Navigating the Current Federal Funding Environment
We kicked off the year with a timely conversation about the Administration’s federal spending priorities and their implications for workforce funders, grantees, and communities. Loh-Sze and Clair guided participants through the evolving policy landscape, emphasizing how shifts in federal investments can open both opportunities and challenges for workforce systems.
This funder-only conversation offered a rare space for open exchange—participants shared what they’re hearing from grantees, discussed how they’re responding, and identified potential areas for collective advocacy and collaboration. The dialogue underscored the power of funders coming together to align strategies and amplify impact in a changing funding environment.
April: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Workers
Hosted by Lauren Crain of WES Mariam Assefa Fund and Ranita Jain of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, our April session centered on advancing opportunities for immigrant and refugee workers—a critical and often underrepresented segment of the workforce. Lauren and Ranita shared how their organizations’ strategies have evolved to meet the needs of immigrants and refugees, including youth immigrant populations, especially amid shifting labor markets and policy contexts
Participants engaged in rich discussions about equitable grantmaking, data collection needs and risks, technical assistance and capacity building for immigrant-serving organizations, and how funders can better share power with community partners. The session closed with an expressed interest in future opportunities to learn from one another and build a collective agenda for supporting immigrant and refugee workers.
August: Investing in Disability Justice + Inclusion
Hosted by Elaine Katz of the Kessler Foundation and Tuquan Harrison of the James Irvine Foundation, this session spotlighted a topic that’s too often overlooked: Disability Justice and Inclusion in workforce development. Elaine and Tuquan shared their foundations’ ongoing commitments to investing in and advocating for workers with disabilities. In particular they explored approaches to intentionally integrate new priority populations into existing grantmaking strategies, identify the right partners to support these shifts, and effectively introduce and gain buy-in for new strategies within their organizations.
Participants explored low-cost approaches to support worker accommodations that are not as commonly known; creating safe environments for workers to disclose their disabilities and understanding models of partnership and investment that prioritize accessibility, representation, and equity. The session was both inspiring and practical—reminding us that advancing disability inclusion is integral to achieving workforce equity overall.
September: Advancing Workforce Equity—What It Looks Like in 2025
Hosted by Lauren King (W.K. Kellogg Foundation) and Anna Fontus (ECMC Foundation) and facilitated by our partners at D.O.N.E (Department of Nonprofit Efficiency). Lauren and Anna set the stage by reflecting on the way that they are continuing to advance organizational priorities and grantmaking strategies that advance economic equity amidst a rapidly shifting political and economic context. Participants reflected on “equity moments” that continue to give them hope such as new opportunities for collaboration and partnership, and seeing grantees remain committed to their equity work.
The conversation highlighted how funders are rethinking investments, partnerships, and communications to ensure that equity remains central—not peripheral—to workforce development. Attendees shared examples of equitable funding practices and discussed strategies for supporting organizations advancing justice and inclusion on the ground.
Looking Ahead
As we close out this year’s Peer Learning Strategy Series, one theme stands out: collective learning leads to collective action. Across all four sessions, funders deepened their understanding of how to navigate policy shifts, support marginalized workers, and continue to champion equity across the workforce ecosystem.
Workforce Matters is grateful to all our hosts, speakers, and participants for their contributions and insights. We look forward to continuing these conversations in 2026 as we build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient workforce future—together.
