Building a Stronger Jeffco: $1M in Workforce Development Grants Create Career Opportunities

To help people build stronger careers and financial stability, Colorado Gives Foundation has awarded 32 grants to nonprofits, totaling $1,043,400, to support workforce development. These grants are designed to provide Jefferson County (Jeffco) residents with the essential tools and training needed to secure employment and earn a livable wage. A livable wage ensures a full-time worker can meet their family’s basic needs like housing, food, transportation and healthcare without needing outside assistance. For a single adult with no children, this is around $27 per hour, while for a family with one working adult and one child, it rises to $43 per hour.*

Workforce development isn’t just about teaching skills or helping people get jobs — it’s about removing the barriers that stand in the way of a stable future. Many of the organizations we support work closely with employers to make sure training leads to real job opportunities and that successful pilot programs can grow to help even more people.

We believe that when people have access to career-based education and training aligned with their goals, they can make intentional life and work choices. This path leads to greater economic freedom and the ability to build generational wealth. From early care and education to workforce development, our commitment is to create pathways for everyone in Jeffco to thrive.

Why Workforce Development MATTERS

Conversations with our community and partners reveal a growing need for focused workforce support. Here’s why:

Earnings Gap: Individuals without a college degree or vocational training often earn significantly less than those with these credentials.
Declining College Enrollment: Fewer high school graduates are enrolling in college today compared to 2009.

These gaps in access to education and training make it harder for people to support themselves and their families. By investing in quality educational opportunities, we can help residents build in-demand skills, increase their earning potential, and create a more stable future for everyone in Jeffco.

Holistic Strategies for Real-World Impact

Workforce development doesn’t happen in isolation. A job or training program is only effective if participants have the stability to attend. For example:

Families need stable housing to focus on learning.
Parents require reliable child care.
Justice-involved individuals need clear pathways into a workforce that often excludes them.

The most impactful programs combine job training with “wraparound services” that address the whole person. These include housing assistance, transportation, child care, career coaching, disability inclusion and mental health resources. “It’s exciting to support organizations that not only help people build skills but also connect them with essential wraparound services to succeed in today’s complex economic landscape,” said savinay nathan, community impact vice president for Colorado Gives Foundation.

Key Funding Areas for a Stronger Workforce

This year’s grants focus on comprehensive strategies that empower individuals and strengthen our local economy. Our funding supports organizations working in these key areas:

Supporting Re-entry + Justice-Involved Individuals: Transitional jobs, coaching and employer partnerships to help people re-enter the workforce.
Empowering Low-Income + Housing-Insecure Families: Workforce programs paired with affordable housing and financial coaching to build lasting stability.
Guiding Youth Toward Success: Scholarships, mentorship and holistic supports for young people, including those in foster care.
Assisting Parenting Teens + Single Mothers: Family-centered programs with integrated child care and flexible scheduling to help break cycles of poverty.
Improving Language Access + Cultural Responsiveness: Closing wage and employment gaps through culturally relevant training and entrepreneurship support for non-native English speakers.
Expanding Pathways for People with Disabilities: Inclusive training environments and employer partnerships to expand career opportunities.
Aligning Training with Industry Needs: Employer-led training and apprenticeship programs to match skills with job market demands.
Providing Essential Wraparound Supports: Transportation, childcare and career coaching to help participants complete programs and achieve their goals.
Building Scalable Solutions with Data: Pilot programs that identify successful workforce models for future scaling.

From Surviving to Thriving: Angela’s Story

The power of this work is best seen through the people it impacts. Angela’s journey with Thrive – Transformation at Work, one of our grantees, shows what is possible.

Once an incarcerated high school dropout and a single mother relying on public assistance, Angela received a scholarship to participate in a Thrive program. With access to education, coaching and a strong support system, her life changed. Today, she is employed full time, no longer relies on public assistance, and is pursuing homeownership. Her story shows how these programs help individuals move beyond day-to-day survival to lasting success.

Join Us in Building a Stronger Jeffco

Workforce development is about more than just teaching skills or finding jobs. It’s about removing the barriers to stability and creating pathways for every individual and family in our community to prosper.

We invite you to be part of this important work. You can explore the full list of grants on our Grant Opportunities page, learn more about partnership opportunities, or make a gift to support future community investments. Together, we can build a more equitable and resilient Jefferson County.

* According to 2025 MIT’s Living Wage Calculator for Jefferson County