New Funding Opportunity for Organizations Serving Youth and Young Adults through Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) Initiative

Published sep. 10, 2015

Jobs for the Future is proud to be an implementation partner, along with Jobs for America’s Graduates and evaluator MDRC, in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s new Learn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative for youth and young adults. Funded in part by a $7.5 million grant from the Social Innovation Fund, the five-year initiative aims to increase employment and educational opportunities for young people ages 14–25, particularly those who have been involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Foundation is now accepting letters of intent for the new initiative until October 5, 2015. 

Through LEAP, the Foundation will provide grants and technical assistance to up to 12 nonprofits throughout the nation to help young people succeed in school and at work, using two evidence-based models. Jobs for the Future’s Back on Track model provides a range of academic enrichment and other support programs to help young people complete high school and build paths to careers by earning a postsecondary degree or credential. The Jobs for America’s Graduates model helps youth build professional skills, gain full-time employment, and enter postsecondary education. 
 
Find out more about the initiative and the application process, and review the request for proposals, at www.aecf.org/leap. If you have suggestions or comments, please reach out to the Foundation at leap@aecf.org.