The William Penn Foundation Gifts $690,000 to Support Skills Initiative Alumni Retention and Advancement

We’re delighted to share that the William Penn Foundation has awarded University City District and The Skills Initiative $690,000 over 36 months to support our Alumni Retention and Advancement Project. The funds will be used to positively impact alumni of The Skills Initiative seeking to retain jobs and advance their careers, specifically in the healthcare and life science fields.  

The award will help remove barriers to job retention and advancement for high-quality talent by addressing three key friction points after candidates receive job offers. 120 alumni will receive stipends for 2-10 weeks between job placement and the first paycheck; 60 participants will connect to high-quality, affordable housing through our Alumni Affordable Housing Pilot; and 180 alumni will receive 12 months of career coaching as they start healthcare careers with Penn Medicine.   

The latest grant from the William Penn Foundation pushes its total investment in our work at University City District to over $4.5 million since 2000. Support from the William Penn Foundation has helped fund projects ranging from placemaking initiatives, including The Porch at 30th Street Station and Trolley Portal Gardens, to expanding our Green City Works landscaping crew’s efforts to beautify local parks, and prior support to fuel our workforce partnership with the Navy Yard.  

Read more about the 101 grants totaling $45 million from the William Penn Foundation by clicking here.