Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator (United States)

With one in ten young people in the US not in school or work, the Global Business Coalition – supported by Dell Technologies and Deloitte – has created this national network to ensure that by 2030, all young Americans will have the skills they need to get a job. To date, this program has invested in 28 nonprofits in 22 U.S. states to positively impact more than 200,000 young people.

What is it?

• The accelerator runs from January to December 2025, during which time successful participants will:
  • Join a network of nationwide participants convening regularly for networking sessions and workshops
  • Access corporate pro-bono support such as donations of tech, opportunities for volunteer skills placements, training and consulting services
  • Receive opportunities to pitch for funding as well as stipends to attend regional and national conferences to build your network

Why join a network?

• The Global Business Coalition for Education is creating the largest network of youth-serving organizations in the U.S. working together to tackle the youth skills and employment crisis.
• Following participation in the accelerator program, organizations and their leaders remain part of the network. Alumnus participants have access to ongoing networking and peer-to-peer support opportunities.

What are the standards?

• GBC-Education’s State of US Cities and Youth Skills Report is the foundation for the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator. In the report, they identify ten standards for a skills-friendly city. These standards can be used by youth-serving organizations working to prepare young people to enter the workforce. Read about these standards below.
  • Direct engagement with young people.
    • Youth are engaged and involved in efforts related to their future, especially in closing the skills and employment gaps.
  • A focus on underserved youth.
    • There is a commitment to identifying, monitoring, and targeting underserved youth with opportunities for skills and employment.
  • Inclusive and equitable, quality education systems. Local education systems are equitable, accessible, and sufficiently resourced.
    • Local education systems are equitable, accessible, and sufficiently resourced.
  • Pathways from education to employment.
    • Clear pathways exist in the city at the high school and post-secondary level.
  • Curriculum adapted to future workforce skills.
    • The curriculum has an explicit focus on 4IR skills (workforce readiness, soft skills, technical skills, entrepreneurship and resilience).
  • Employer engagement in building opportunity pipelines.
    • Employers proactively engage with public policy officials, school systems, and government agencies to build pathways from education to employment.
  • Meaningful and equitable employment.
    • Employment is meaningful, pays a livable wage, and respects the dignity and contributions of young people.
  • Youth-focused funding partnerships.
    • From public to private, local funding and philanthropy reflect the city’s priority on youth futures through programs, subsidies, incentives, and scholarships.
  • Supportive ecosystem.
    • The design of public services and policies creates an ecosystem of support for young people on the pathway from education to employment, including transportation, health care, mental health services, childcare, and quality food.
  • Dedicated platform for opportunity dissemination and matchmaking.
    • The city has a central clearing house, platform, or other mechanisms for making information about skills training, employment, and other opportunities available to youth.

Who can apply?

• Registered 501 (c) (3) organizations can apply by completing the form to explain how their organization empowers young people and helps them pursue employability opportunities. Applicants will need to explain how participating in the accelerator program can help scale up their impact and provide documentation about their organizations good standing.

For more information, visit Global Business Coalition for Education.