Catalyze Birmingham launches major grant opportunity for local education non-profits

Catalyze Birmingham is an operation seeking to award grants to local organizations that focus on preparing young people for success in the workforce. It is the first regional grant program under the Catalyze Challenge, which has awarded $10 million in grant funding to organizations across the nation.

Keep reading to learn more about the Catalyze Challenge and how local non-profits can apply.

What is the Catalyze Challenge?

The national Catalyze Challenge has a mission to “catalyze” career development for young people, accelerating their path to succeeding in the career of their choice. The program has awarded $10 million to 40 non-profits across the country, such as Hack the Hood, a organization that provides free tech-skill building and social justice education to youth in the Oakland, California area.

Catalyze focuses on the Birmingham region

As the first community selected to host a regional version of the national Catalyze Challenge, Catalyze Birmingham seeks to find transformative learning opportunities for students, preparing them to succeed in the workforce as young adults in the Birmingham area.

“The Birmingham region is at the forefront of this work, where recent successes like the Good Jobs Challenge and other strong local initiatives have garnered national attention. We are excited that the Birmingham region will be our first regional partner.”

Michelle Cheang, Catalyze Executive Director

Catalyze Birmingham is seeking to award grants to local non-profits

Catalyze Birmingham has currently received commitments of more than $2 million, which will be awarded in two rounds to local organizations who specialize in innovative career-development. Applications are now open until November 3, 2023, with grant writing assistance provided to interested organizations.

According to their website, applicants should pitch early-stage ideas and not programs currently underway. Ideas should align with two main themes—encouraging career exploration and creating employer partnerships.

Visit Catalyze Birmingham to learn more or apply for a grant or reach out to catalyze@prosperbham.com with questions.

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