The foundation concentrates on expanding employer‑driven youth apprenticeship and work‑based learning models, chiefly funding organizations that operate or replicate the CareerWise apprenticeship program. Grants support partnerships between employers, K‑12 districts, and community colleges—focused both on building CareerWise sites in Colorado (rural Western Slope) and scaling the model in other U.S. cities. Funding tends to target program implementation and partnership development rather than broad, general philanthropy.
Concentrated portfolio: a small number of mid‑to‑large grants, often repeated to the same organizations; majority of funding goes to a few core program partners focused on program expansion and replication rather than one‑off small grants.
Notable grantees: CAREERWISE NEW YORK, CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY - EMPLOY, CAREERWISE DC - CITY WORKS DC, COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE, MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Careerwise Colorado’s largest recent grants have gone to Careerwise New York, including $388,259 in 2024 and $294,369 in 2025, which signals a funder focused on extending the CareerWise youth apprenticeship model beyond Colorado. The foundation backs employer-linked work-based learning partnerships that connect employers, K-12 districts, and community colleges, with support aimed at program implementation and site development rather than broad discretionary giving. Recent grants also show repeated support for Careerwise Elkhart County - Employ and Careerwise DC - City Works DC, indicating sustained investment in replication efforts in multiple U.S. markets. In Colorado, the foundation continues to fund the model’s local infrastructure through organizations such as Colorado Mountain College, Denver Public Schools, Mesa County Valley School District, and the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Comm. The pattern is less about isolated project grants and more about building and operating apprenticeship pathways in places where the CareerWise model is being launched, expanded, or maintained.
A central theme is site replication of the CareerWise apprenticeship model. Careerwise Colorado gave $388,259 in 2024 and $294,369 in 2025 to Careerwise New York for that work, showing a major commitment to scaling the program in a large metro market. It also backed Careerwise Elkhart County - Employ with $141,235 in 2024 and $110,581 in 2025, and Careerwise DC - City Works DC with $134,020 in 2024 and $88,154 in 2025. Another clear focus is postsecondary partnership building: Colorado Mountain College received $172,023 in 2025 and $60,725 in 2024, linking the foundation’s youth apprenticeship model with community-college pathways. In Colorado’s K-12 and regional pathway work, the foundation supported Denver Public Schools, Mesa County Valley School District, and the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Comm for career-related programming and local coordination.
Careerwise Colorado’s recent grant sizes cluster around a median of $99,368, with a lower quartile of $54,794 and an upper quartile of $148,932. The foundation gives regionally, and its recent awards show repeat support to several organizations across 2024 and 2025 rather than one-off giving only. It is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The pattern suggests operating and partnership support tied to replication and implementation of apprenticeship sites, with some recipients appearing in consecutive years.
$1.6M
$12.8M
$6.6M
$9.2M
Most grants fall between $55K and $149K, with a median of $99K.
25th Percentile
$55K
Median
$99K
75th Percentile
$149K
About 50% of grants go to recipients in IN.
NOEL GINSBURG
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Grants are concentrated in the United States, with all 12 recent awards going to U.S. recipients. Colorado remains an important giving location, including Denver, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, and Mesa County. Outside Colorado, the foundation gives in New York, Indiana, and Washington, DC. Indiana is the top state by grant count, reflecting repeated support for Elkhart County through Indianapolis-based grantees, while Colorado recipients account for 50% of grants in the foundation’s HQ state.
The foundation primarily funds employer-driven youth apprenticeship and work-based learning models. Recent grants support CareerWise site replication, partnership development with employers and schools, and implementation work in places such as New York, Elkhart County, and Washington, DC.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Careerwise New York, Careerwise Elkhart County - Employ, Careerwise DC - City Works DC, Colorado Mountain College, and Mesa County Valley School District. That pattern points to ongoing support rather than isolated grants.
The typical grant size is $54,794 at the 25th percentile, $99,368 at the median, and $148,932 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller local grants to larger site-building grants.
The foundation gives regionally, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Colorado receives half of the grants, while Indiana is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Denver, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, New York, Indianapolis, and Washington, DC.
Noel Ginsburg is listed as the foundation’s leadership contact.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAREERWISE NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $294,369 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $172,023 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY - EMPLOY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $110,581 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| CAREERWISE DC - CITY WORKS DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $88,154 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS | DENVER, CO | $64,342 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $37,000 | 2025 | SEE PART IV |
| CAREERWISE NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $388,259 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
| CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY - EMPLOY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $141,235 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
| CAREERWISE DC - CITY WORKS DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $134,020 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
| COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $60,725 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
| MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $37,000 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
| GRAND JUNCTION AREA CHAMBER OF COMM | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $24,645 | 2024 | SEE PART IV |
CAREERWISE NEW YORK
$294,369SEE PART IV
COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$172,023SEE PART IV
CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY - EMPLOY
$110,581SEE PART IV
CAREERWISE DC - CITY WORKS DC
$88,154SEE PART IV
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$64,342SEE PART IV
MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$37,000SEE PART IV
CAREERWISE NEW YORK
SEE PART IV
CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY - EMPLOY
$141,235SEE PART IV
CAREERWISE DC - CITY WORKS DC
$134,020SEE PART IV
COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$60,725SEE PART IV
MESA COUNTY VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$37,000SEE PART IV
GRAND JUNCTION AREA CHAMBER OF COMM
$24,645SEE PART IV