Using an Investment Approach to Grantmaking

Summary

This report explores the challenges, similarities and differences among local and national investors in workforce development initiatives. As part of the Casey Foundation’s Jobs Initiative, these lessons for funders explore ideas and practices that lead to better results for low-income job seekers in several highlighted communities – from Denver to St. Louis. 

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Background
• Part One: The National Investor
• Part Two: The Local Investors
• Part Three: Investor Issues
• Part Four: Some Implications of The Investment Approach
• Moving Beyond Programs – What Participant StoriesTell Us

Key Takeaway

Getting to Results

Successful workforce development investments have, through trial and error, found ways to tackle and transcend challenges of retention and advancement, employer engagement and entrenched politics, capacity building and ongoing funding, and monitoring and evaluation.