Learners Benefit When Grantmakers Work with and Learn from Native-Led Organizations

About Workforce Matters

Workforce Matters is a national network of grantmakers working to strengthen workforce development philanthropy that empowers individuals to reach their career goals. This community of leaders is diverse in their viewpoints, regions, and populations, but all share a commitment to moving forward investments that build and support equitable access to quality postsecondary education, workforce training, and employment for young people and adults.

Workforce Matters provides learning opportunities about new workforce research, practice, and policy developments; facilitates learning networks to build connections between funders; and supports peer networking and sharing among national, regional, and community funders. Through their Fund for Workforce Equity (the Fund), Workforce Matters also coordinates pooled investment opportunities that support organizations working to strengthen equitable workforce programming. Grantees of the Fund are particularly focused on improving outcomes for workers and learners most impacted by racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in workforce policy and programs.

About ‘Workforce Development Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities Initiative’

In May 2023, Ascendium made a three-year investment in Workforce Matters, contributing to the launch of a new learning and funding initiative. The goals of this pooled fund initiative are to strengthen Native American and Alaska Native-led workforce-focused organizations and their advocacy, and work with stakeholders, like funders, policymakers, and researchers, to more effectively support Native learners and communities.

For funders to partner effectively with Native-led organizations, it is critical for them to understand the history and context of workforce development from Native perspectives and to be open to new and diverse ideas and practices. The importance of preserving the cultures, languages, and ways of life of Native nations is core to workforce development efforts in those communities. Native values have been and must continue to be the foundation of all workforce-related services provided to Native learners. Ascendium’s support for Workforce Matters is providing opportunities for funders and policymakers to better understand the importance of Native-led workforce development.