The Conrad Prebys Foundation has announced the 2025 Youth Workforce: Career Pathways grant opportunity to support workforce development for young adults in San Diego County. This initiative is driven by the foundation’s commitment to enhancing economic mobility and ensuring youth can access steady, livable wages. The program seeks to address workforce gaps in San Diego’s growing industries, including healthcare, creative workforce, environmental sectors, and trades/career technical education. The foundation acknowledges that many young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, face barriers to economic stability and career advancement. This grant is designed to support programs that provide high-quality internship and apprenticeship opportunities, job training, and certifications that lead to sustainable employment.
The grant will fund programs that directly serve young adults between the ages of 18 and 26, with a particular focus on "overburdened youth" and "opportunity youth"—young adults facing excessive personal challenges or who are currently unemployed, underemployed, or not in school. Successful applicants should provide access to career pathway programs that address barriers such as financial constraints, transportation, childcare, and mental health. Programs must also demonstrate strong partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored entities, and tribal organizations based in San Diego County. Organizations currently receiving workforce development funding from the foundation must have fewer than six months remaining on their existing grant to apply. The foundation will not fund planning grants, career exposure programs, unpaid internships or apprenticeships, workforce programs serving youth under 18, or career camps.
This grant provides two-year funding with awards up to $450,000 per grantee, totaling $6 million for the initiative. The foundation anticipates awarding between 13 and 15 grants. Funded programs must provide measurable outcomes, such as participant wage increases, job placement rates, and improved economic well-being. Apprenticeships should be full-time (32-40 hours per week) and include credentialing, while internships should last at least four to six months and have strong potential for long-term placement.
The application portal opens on February 5, 2025, and closes on March 28, 2025. During this period, office hours will be available for applicants from February 6 through March 27. Selected applicants will be invited to submit additional information and engage with the Prebys team between May 5 and May 20, 2025. Final award notifications will be issued on June 25, followed by contracting and payment processing in June and July.
For further inquiries regarding the initiative, eligibility, or application process, organizations can contact the Conrad Prebys Foundation at (619) 860-2100.
