top of page

Funding for returning citizens with disabilities to improve employment outcomes


Signature Employment Grants from the Kessler Foundation

Grant Concept Deadline: February 18, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. ET

StartFragment

Grant Concept Acceptance Notification: April 2, 2018

Invited Full Proposal Deadline: June 15, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. ET

Grant Approval: December 7, 2018

What We Fund:

Signature Employment Grants are awarded nationally to fund new pilot initiatives, demonstration projects, or social ventures that lead to the generation of new ideas to solve the high unemployment and underemployment of individuals with disabilities. Preference is given for interventions that overcome specific employment barriers related to long-term dependence on public assistance or advance competitive employment in a cost-effective manner. Signature Grants are not intended to fund project expansions or bring proven projects to new communities, unless there is a significant scale, scope, or replicable component. Innovation lies at the core of all Signature Employment Grants. We define innovation as a new idea or process that will improve systems to increase employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Innovation can often improve systems already in place. Innovation requires careful analysis of the needs of individuals served: identifying the idea, program, service, or workflow necessary to promote employment. It may require deliberate application of information, imagination, and initiation for generating new ideas that can serve as a catalyst for creating better solutions to obtain and maintain employment. These ideas may be original or may use existing solutions or technologies in a new way. Kessler Foundation does not fund any purely research-based projects.

Interest Areas 2018 For 2018 Kessler Foundation has a special interest in transportation projects that focus on innovative solutions to help people with disabilities (PWD) seek, obtain, or retain employment. In addition, we are interested in innovative projects that improve employment opportunities and provide jobs for PWD that have been formerly incarcerated or encountered the criminal justice system. However, all submitted innovative grant concepts on various topic are eligible for funding.

For more information and to apply, click here!

StartFragment

EndFragment

EndFragment

bottom of page