FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through the Women’s Bureau and under the administration of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has released the FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program under Funding Opportunity Number FOA-WB-25-01. This funding opportunity is grounded in the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Act of 1992 and supported by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. Approximately $5,000,000 is available to fund 6 to 14 projects that provide technical assistance (TA) to employers and labor unions across the United States and its territories to recruit, train, and retain women in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). The WANTO program addresses the continued underrepresentation of women in high-wage, high-skill occupations, particularly within Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Women currently represent only about 15% of participants in RAPs, despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce. WANTO-funded initiatives aim to improve this statistic by supporting employers and labor unions in establishing or enhancing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs, providing orientation and workplace resources, and developing supportive networks to aid women’s retention in these occupations. Projects are expected to incorporate evidence-based strategies that align with federal apprenticeship guidance and leverage existing workforce development infrastructure when possible. Funding awards will range between $350,000 and $750,000 for each selected project, with a 24-month period of performance anticipated to begin on September 30, 2025. Grantees are allowed to allocate up to 15% of their grant budget toward supportive services such as childcare, transportation, and job-related gear to ensure women's participation in apprenticeship-related activities. All programs funded under this opportunity must uphold equal opportunity principles and may be required to participate in Department-led evaluations. This grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds; however, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate leveraged resources in their proposed budgets. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit community-based organizations (CBOs) as defined in Appendix B of the FOA. A CBO is described as a nonprofit entity with demonstrated experience in workforce development and training women for apprenticeable or nontraditional occupations. Applicants must provide a signed letter on organizational letterhead confirming their eligibility, including specific experience in training, employer engagement, and support services for women in A/NTO. Only one application may be submitted per organization, and current FY 2024 WANTO grantees are ineligible to apply for the FY 2025 round but may reapply in FY 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov no later than August 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The application package includes four components: the SF-424 form, a project budget (SF-424A and narrative), a 15-page project narrative, and required attachments, including the CBO eligibility letter and project abstract. Additional optional attachments, such as letters of commitment and indirect cost rate agreements, may enhance the application’s score but are not mandatory. The project narrative will be evaluated on factors such as statement of need, geographic diversity, expected outcomes, design, performance evaluation, organizational capacity, and budget justification. Applicants are strongly advised to register early in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and begin the Grants.gov submission process well before the deadline to account for technical issues. For technical questions about the FOA, applicants may contact the DOL Women’s Bureau at WB.OGM@dol.gov. The evaluation of applications includes both a technical merit review and a risk assessment of the applicant’s financial systems and performance history. Successful applicants will be notified prior to award execution, and unsuccessful applicants may request feedback.

Applicants are encouraged to begin early and ensure SAM registration is active before submission.