Workforce Development
Unlocking Potential and Creating Opportunity Across Chicago
We believe every Chicago community is rich with talent and potential that is too often unrecognized and unrealized. When people have access to the right tools, support, and opportunities for learning and career growth, they can reach their full potential and build pathways to economic mobility.
That’s why we fund organizations that help individuals develop in-demand skills and confidence, connecting them to meaningful, well-paying jobs and long-term economic stability and prosperity.
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT
The Cara Collective
Cara means friend in Gaelic and captures the spirit Tom Owens envisioned when he founded the Cara Collective in 1991. He believed meaningful change begins with genuine connection and opportunity, and created an organization where those experiencing economic hardship could find support and a path toward security and prosperity.
Today, the Cara Collective is a leading workforce development organization dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers and secure quality employment. Through comprehensive training programs, including technology skills, interview preparation, and professional development, Cara provides its participants the tools, connections, and resources to find meaningful work and achieve long-term economic stability and mobility.
Since its founding, Cara has helped more than 17,000 individuals, facilitated over 10,800 job placements, and launched thousands on a path toward lasting economic security. The organization fills more than 600 transitional jobs annually, and its one-year, same-firm retention rates are 20 percent higher than the national average—a testament to its effectiveness and impact.