PHILADELPHIA, PA — A coalition of local philanthropic and corporate funders, led by the William Penn Foundation, has committed $8.35 million to 19 nonprofit organizations that provide workforce training and employment support across the Philadelphia region. The initiative is expected to assist more than 4,100 jobseekers and partner with 116 employers to strengthen hiring pipelines and improve access to quality jobs.
The funding comes from six organizations—William Penn Foundation, Comcast, Connelly Foundation, Future Standard, M&T Bank, and the Philadelphia Foundation—and is part of a broader $20 million public-private investment announced earlier this year to address the region’s persistent barriers to economic mobility. The City of Philadelphia previously pledged $10 million to create the City College for Municipal Employment, with local funders matching the contribution.
Shawn McCaney, executive director of the William Penn Foundation, said the grants aim to reduce the obstacles that prevent residents from gaining the skills needed for higher-paying jobs. He noted that the awards will help training providers offer supports that improve completion rates and connect participants directly to employers.
The coalition’s investment supports programs that combine paid, hands-on training with wraparound services such as transportation aid, childcare support, financial stipends, and case management—resources that research shows are critical to helping jobseekers succeed.
Dalila Wilson-Scott, Comcast’s chief impact and inclusion officer, said the effort represents more than an investment in workforce development. “We are creating a future where every Philadelphian—regardless of zip code—can access the support, training, and opportunity they need to succeed,” she said.
Funding priorities were shaped by regional labor-market analysis from Pew and the Brookings Institution, which highlighted the need for talent pipelines in three sectors with strong job-growth potential: enterprise digital solutions, materials machining and fabrication, and biomedical and life sciences.
The 19 nonprofits receiving grants span youth programs, reentry services, healthcare training, manufacturing pathways, English-language instruction, and sector-specific apprenticeships. Recipients include organizations such as Big Picture Alliance, Chester County OIC, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, JEVS Human Services, Per Scholas, University City District, Wistar Institute, and YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, among others.
Each organization will use the funds to expand training capacity, provide financial supports to participants, or strengthen employer engagement. Several programs also aim to reduce structural barriers by improving inclusive hiring practices or offering job-readiness coaching.
The investment builds on findings from Opportunity Insights, led by Harvard economist Raj Chetty, showing that communities improve long-term economic mobility when public, private, and nonprofit sectors coordinate strategies. With this latest wave of funding, Philadelphia officials and regional funders hope to replicate that model by aligning training providers, employers, and support networks to open more pathways into stable, family-sustaining careers.
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