{"id":7287,"date":"2022-12-08T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=7287"},"modified":"2022-12-08T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:00:00","slug":"salesforce-workforce-development-grants-december-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/news\/stories\/salesforce-workforce-development-grants-december-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Salesforce Gives $5M to Create More Career Opportunities in Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At World Tour NYC<\/a>, Salesforce announced $5 million in workforce development grants to seven organizations that widen opportunity and create pathways for people with nontraditional backgrounds to build successful careers in technology. This brings Salesforce\u2019s total philanthropic investment<\/a> in workforce development to $39 million to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too many people from underserved communities are systematically excluded from careers in technology \u2013 and that gap only widens during times of economic uncertainty. We\u2019re committed to breaking down barriers and supporting programs that open the doors of opportunity for people of all backgrounds.<\/span><\/p>Ebony Beckwith, Chief Business Officer and CEO of the Salesforce Foundation<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s announcement includes $2.5 million to help expand the work of Next Chapter<\/a>, a nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals and works to break down the stigma surrounding people with a criminal record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Next Chapter’s mission is to build equitable workplaces that empower anyone with the opportunity to thrive,” said Kenyatta Leal, Executive Director, Next Chapter. “Salesforce’s investment unlocks more pathways for the next generation of apprentices and graduates to get a fair shot with a great employer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding will also support organizations working to advance economic opportunities for marginalized communities across the United States and UK, including refugees, asylum seekers, and underserved youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Widening access to opportunity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today talent is everywhere \u2014 but opportunity is not. Only about 7% of people have college degrees<\/a> and many from underserved communities lack access to the education and networking opportunities needed to secure jobs in technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, as organizations evolve to keep pace with customer demand, the need for skilled digital talent<\/a> is spiking. Companies can play a critical role in educating and reskilling workers to succeed in today\u2019s digital economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n