We spend trillions of dollars on public and private workforce training each year in the U.S. Despite all our spending, we’re not making enough progress. Workers are struggling to find education and employment opportunities that lead to in-demand jobs, and businesses don’t have the skilled talent they require. We need effective, sustainable innovations to finance training that will help people land good jobs and find economic mobility.
Pay It Forward Funds are place-based workforce funds that more sustainably invest in worker upskilling. They amplify the impact of public and philanthropic dollars by recycling funds to ‘pay it forward’ for future learners. Our Career Impact Bond financing equips learners to land good-paying jobs and businesses to invest in and retain diverse, skilled talent.
Nursing student at Hudson County Community College, a training provider in the New Jersey Pay It Forward Program. Photo courtesy of Charles Sykes/AP Images for Johnson & Johnson.
Governor Murphy visits Hudson County Community College to announce the Pay It Forward Program with Social Finance CEO Tracy Palandjian, HESAA Executive Director David Socolow, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, and Hudson County Community College Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Darryl Jones(Edwin J. Torres/NJ Governor’s Office).
New Jersey Pay It Forward Program
$14.8M
Revolving workforce fund to upskill residents and fill critical job openings
Colorado Pay It Forward Fund
$8M+
Revolving workforce fund to upskill residents and fill critical job openings
United Way Miami Workforce Project
Pay It Forward Fund pilot focused on veterans, people of color, and single female heads of household in Miami-Dade County, Florida
With ‘Pay It Forward,’ New Jersey isn't just entering this national discussion [on the impact of student loans on American families]—we're bringing a real, live, tangible example of what the future can look like.
Governor Phil Murphy
State of New Jersey
We believe that the Pay It Forward model, a workforce development program based on the individual’s ability to repay, is an innovative solution to allow those in the program to thrive and help others in the community.
Governor Murphy, NJ CEO Council, & Social Finance Launch New Jersey Pay It Forward Program to Prepare Students for Good-Paying Jobs in Health Care, IT, and Clean Energy
Office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Social Finance
![Hudson County Community College students standing to receive their diplomas.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/52292744098_f95bc0514a_o-scaled-e1667932685649-500x500.jpg")
![A student celebrates graduation from CrossPurpose, a training provider in the Colorado Pay It Forward Fund.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/333565795_1738281673257527_5923421843105689519_n-e1685992320347-500x500.jpeg")
![Woman working on her laptop while her young daughter draws next to her.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AdobeStock_415310835-1-scaled-e1653575328948-1-1-500x500.jpg")
