Powering Economic Opportunity Fund

The Powering Economic Opportunity Fund is a philanthropic funding initiative led by GitLab Foundation in partnership with the Families and Workers Fund. GitLab Foundation is a private foundation focused on increasing economic opportunity and long-term earnings for workers, while the Families and Workers Fund is a collaborative pooled fund supported by multiple funders to advance equitable economic systems. This initiative is part of a multiyear partnership designed to respond to structural changes in the United States labor market, particularly the growing demand for skilled trades driven by infrastructure modernization, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing. The primary purpose of the fund is to convert current economic transformation into sustained income gains for workers by supporting employer-side innovations. Rather than focusing solely on training programs, the fund emphasizes workplace practices and job design that improve retention, advancement, and long-term earnings. It aims to address a critical gap where many workforce development programs fail to produce lasting employment outcomes due to insufficient attention to employer practices that support workers after hiring. Funding is provided through flexible grants of up to five hundred thousand dollars per award, with a performance period of one to two years. The total funding available for this round is four million dollars. Grant funds are intended to support initiatives that partner directly with employers, unions, and industry organizations to strengthen work-based learning models, improve job quality, and create durable career pathways. Allowable uses include developing structured career progression systems, improving supervisory practices, implementing employer-financed education, and providing workplace supports such as predictable scheduling or childcare assistance. The fund prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate a path to sustaining these practices beyond the grant period through mechanisms such as employer investment, public funding, or collective bargaining agreements. No cost sharing or matching requirement is specified. Eligibility is limited to United States-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and fiscally sponsored entities. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply if they partner with a qualified nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Applications must include a formal partnership with an employer, union, association, or industry group, and proposals without such partnerships will not advance. Partnerships are expected to include elements such as hiring commitments, curriculum co-design, employer-recognized credentials, or co-investment. Individuals, international organizations, and entities without appropriate nonprofit sponsorship are not eligible. The application process begins with the submission of a concept note outlining how the proposed initiative will connect workers to high-quality jobs in growing sectors. Concept notes are accepted through August 12, 2026. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application in September 2026. Final review and selection occur through November 2026, with award announcements expected in early December. Applications are evaluated based on their potential to increase lifetime earnings for participants, with a strong emphasis on achieving at least one hundred dollars in increased earnings for every dollar invested by the foundation. Evaluation criteria focus on the strength of employer partnerships, the quality and feasibility of proposed workplace practice changes, and the likelihood of durable impact beyond the grant period. Applicants are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes related to retention, advancement, and earnings growth. While specific application components are not fully detailed, the concept note and full application stages imply narrative descriptions, partnership documentation, and outcome projections. For inquiries, applicants may contact the funder via the provided email address. This funding opportunity does not explicitly state recurrence, though it is structured in rounds, indicating potential future cycles depending on funding availability and program continuation.

Emphasize employer partnerships measurable earnings impact and sustainability beyond grant funding; demonstrate strong ROI of at least 100 to 1; include clear retention and advancement strategies