In 2017, the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions (FCS) launched the Pathways to Careers Fund to support and learn from effective partnerships between community-based organizations (CBOs) and employers focused on opportunity youth, and explore the potential for scaling such collaborations. Previous rounds of the Fund have documented how effective partnerships between training providers and employers can address these challenges – across five cities, including New Orleans – from among the over 30 communities in the Opportunity Youth Forum network.

This open solicitation for a new round of the Fund invites proposals for projects of up to $100,000 to create, accelerate and expand innovative careers pathways for opportunity youth in New Orleans and improve job placement, retention and advancement and job quality.

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit training providers such as CBOs, community college programs, workforce system organizations, or adult education programs, or non-profit technical assistance and capacity building organizations working with employers of opportunity youth. Eligible applicants may include partnerships among such groups but must include at least one employer partnership.

Responses are due March 31, 2022. Three to five awards will be announced in April for 18-month grants running June 2022 – November 2023.

Download the Request for Proposals for details and application instructions.

An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 15th from 2:30 – 3:30 PM CT. Register here.