Letters should include: 

• description and outcomes of programming;
• requested budget and planned use of funds;
• specific description of employer commitments/engagement;
• and assurance of compliance with federal anti-discrimination law. 

• Submission Deadline: March 6, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
• Eligibility: Must be a nonprofit operating in Rhode Island (including public/private higher education institutions).
• Compliance: All recipients must adhere to all applicable laws, including anti-discrimination laws, and undergo a compliance and assurance review.

Through a letter of interest invitation, Brown is launching a grantmaking process for interested organizations and providers of workforce development programming. For the current funding cycle, a central focus will be on workforce development programs that strengthen the health care sector in Rhode Island. Additional areas for potential grant awards include education (including early childhood education and K-12-related workforce roles), advanced manufacturing, building and construction trades, other occupations that support jobs throughout the Rhode Island economy (transportation, childcare, etc.).

Rhode Island is home to many essential nonprofit organizations that contribute to workforce readiness, economic stability and upward mobility. Through this initiative, Brown seeks to invest in established workforce development programs that clearly connect:

• Training and skill development: Programs that provide high-quality, industry-informed training aligned with the current and emerging needs of Rhode Island employers. This includes initiatives that combine technical instruction with work-based learning, hands-on experience and essential supports that enable participants to successfully complete training.
• Credentialing and career pathways: Efforts that help participants earn industry-recognized credentials, certifications or academic credit that lead to clearly defined and accessible career pathways. Programs should demonstrate how participants can advance from entry-level roles into higher-skilled, higher-wage positions through stackable credentials, ongoing education, employer-aligned progression and other avenues.
• Employment placement: Programs that maintain strong partnerships with employers to facilitate job matching, hiring and retention.
• Wage and income growth: Programs that show a clear connection between participation and increased earnings over time. This includes initiatives that track wage progression, promote advancement into higher-paying roles, and support long-term economic mobility for individuals and families across Rhode Island.

Preference will be given to programs that:

• Demonstrate strong capacity and proven effectiveness: Programs should show a clear track record of successful implementation, including evidence of participant completion, credential attainment, job placement and retention outcomes.
• Secure employer hiring commitments: Preference will be given to initiatives that have formal, documented commitments from employers to interview, hire or provide paid work-based learning opportunities for program participants. Strong proposals will demonstrate how employers are actively engaged in program design and long-term workforce planning.
• Leverage additional funding sources: Programs should demonstrate the ability to attract and align other public, private or philanthropic funding to complement Brown’s investment. This includes braided or matched funding strategies that enhance program sustainability, scale and overall impact beyond the grant period.
• Coordinate with multiple partners: Priority will be given to programs that show an awareness of the workforce development ecosystem in Rhode Island and work in coordination with community-based organizations, educational institutions, workforce boards and industry stakeholders.

Programs should demonstrate strong alignment between training and labor market demand, with a clear connection to sustainable employment outcomes.

Eligibility is limited to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations operating in Rhode Island, including the state’s public and private higher education institutions.

Grants will not be awarded to:

• State or municipal government agencies
• K–12 schools or school districts
• For-profit businesses

However, any of the above entities may collaborate with eligible applicants as part of their proposed programs.

No. Programs or projects operated or undertaken by faculty, staff or students of Brown University will not be funded through this initiative.

Yes. All funded organizations must:

• Commit to complying with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and civil rights in all of its programs, activities, services and operations.
• Participate in a compliance and assurance review as a condition of award.

The process will occur in four phases, on the following timeline for the next funding cycle:

1. Letters of Interest
   Eligible organizations must submit letters of interest outlining alignment with priorities by March 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
2. Review & Invitation
   Letters of interest will be reviewed through May 2026. In late May, following the review of letters of interest, select programs will be invited to submit full proposals.
3. Request for Proposals (RFP)
   Invited organizations will be required to submit detailed proposals in mid-July, 2026.
4. Awards & Implementation
   Following proposal reviews, selected applicants will be notified of awards in November 2026. Funding will be released in January 2027.

This call is inviting letters for two types of funding to be issued through the RFP.

• Anchor Grants of up to $1.5 million are intended to expand established and successful workforce development programs to provide services to more people. Funding will be awarded over a two or three-year grant term, based on recipient applications. Brown anticipates awarding two to three Anchor Grants in each annual funding cycle.
• Innovation Grants of up to $200,000 will support innovative, proven or promising workforce development programming. Funding will be awarded over a one-year grant term. Brown anticipates awarding two to three Innovation Grants per cycle.

Information submitted should include:

• Organization name, address, applicant representative name, email and phone number;
• Organization legal status and size;
• Organization operating budget;
• Location of programming (where programming is being offered);
• Description of intended activities:
  • Length of time this programming has been running;
  • Description of programming, sector or occupation focus, population served, employer commitments, existing program evaluation/outcomes data (up to 750 words);
  • Requested budget (total with major line items, including planned use of funds, and any supplemental funds planned (up to 200 words);
  • Anticipated metrics of impact and outcomes related to this programming (Successful applicants are those who will be able to work with Brown University to measure program impact, including number of participants served, number of retained/successful completions, work destination, wage and income growth, and other impact evaluation metrics as requested.) (up to 200 words);
  • Weblinks to existing programming or other website materials (optional); and
• Supporting documentation:
  • A copy of your most recent Form-990, if applicable, or a copy of your most recent financial statements for public higher education institutions.
  • Employer commitment letters, if available.
• Attestation of Assurance of Compliance

Letters of interest must be submitted through the designated digital application platform, InfoReady.

For an overview of our application portal, InfoReady, or technical support, please see this help page. If you have additional questions, please contact us at workforce-investments@brown.edu.

All supporting documents need to be in PDF format.

Questions regarding eligibility, the letter of interest process, or the application platform should be directed to workforce-investments@brown.edu.