South Central Workforce Development Council
ActiveCommunity Improvement
About South Central Workforce Development Council
South Central Workforce plays a pivotal role in the economic vitality of Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima counties. We deliver accessible, high-quality training and placement services for workers and businesses, promote common planning and shared resources, and invest in strategic initiatives to strengthen the regional economy and expand opportunity.
Focus Areas
Workforce developmentJob training and educationBusiness services and employer engagementApprenticeship and incumbent worker trainingRapid-response for layoffs and closuresLabor market information
Who They Fund
jobseekers / unemployed adultslow-income working parentsparents of young children needing childcare
Funding Style
direct service / program funding
About South Central Workforce Development Council
South Central Workforce Development Council’s grantmaking is anchored by a single, recurring employer and worker training relationship: People for People in Yakima received the organization’s three largest recent awards, including $7,726,720 in 2025, $6,979,570 in 2024, and $6,390,055 in 2023 for employment and training. That pattern shows a funder that works at a large operational scale and returns to the same regional partner across multiple years. The council’s overall activity is tied to workforce development in South Central Washington, with awards that also support child care and rapid-response services. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025, annual grants given were $21,995,587, and total assets were $4,735,372. The organization funds programs and service providers rather than individuals, and its giving is local. Recent grantees include Spokane Area WDC in Spokane for child care support and Yakima County Development Association in Yakima for child care support, showing that the council’s workforce mission extends beyond direct training into the supports that help people stay employed and move into work.
What South Central Workforce Development Council Funds
Workforce training is the council’s core grantmaking area. People for People in Yakima received multi-million-dollar employment and training awards over three consecutive years, which points to sustained support for job placement and training services rather than one-time project funding. Child care appears as a related employment support. The council awarded Spokane Area WDC $428,779 for child care support and Yakima County Development Association $179,246 for the same purpose, linking child care to labor-force participation. The council also funds employer-side capacity. Baldoz Professional Services in Yakima received three separate employment and training awards from 2023 through 2025, including $40,900, $39,969, and $39,643, indicating repeat support for a local service provider. Rapid-response work is another part of the portfolio through programs tied to layoffs and business closures in South Central Washington and Yakima County.
How South Central Workforce Development Council Gives
Grant sizes vary widely. The typical grant size sits at $39,806 at the 25th percentile, $143,316 at the median, and $3,409,417 at the 75th percentile, which reflects a mix of smaller local awards and very large operating grants. The recent record also shows repeat support over multiple years for the same recipients, especially in workforce services. The organization is a workforce development council rather than a family foundation, funds programs and service providers, and does not fund individuals. Its active grant programs include both unsolicited opportunities and processes that are not open to unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$13M
Total Assets
$6.3M
Total Revenue
$15.4M
Total Expenses
$15.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $40K and $3.4M, with a median of $143K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$143K
75th Percentile
$3.4M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in WA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Amy Martinez
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for South Central Workforce Development Council?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime