With support from the $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund, Social Finance is managing an innovative investment program that aims to empower more than 20,000 learners to realize over $1 billion in aggregate wage gains over the next decade.
Supported by nonprofit training providers, learners upskill and earn Google Career Certificates—industry-recognized credentials that equip people with the job-ready skills needed to enter high-growth fields such as data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management, and user experience design. The program focuses on helping people access well-paying, in-demand jobs.
By increasing access to skills-based training and supportive services, Google, Social Finance, and our training providers are working to fill talent gaps across the country.
How It Works
Learners enroll with one of our training providers at no upfront cost and repay the loan with no interest only if they land a job earning a minimum amount, such as $40,000 a year. Benefits include:
Job-ready skills training
Through Google Career Certificates, learners develop skills designed to prepare them for high-growth fieldswith proven success—70% of certificate graduates report a positive career impact within six months of completion, such as a raise, promotion, or new job.1
Student-friendly financing
Learnersrepay via flat monthly payments for a set term, as long as their income remains above the minimum threshold. For example, learnerswho secure jobs earning $40,000 would pay approximately $100 a month. The program is designed so that learners who earn less than $40,000 do not have to repay. Repayment terms, such as minimum earnings amount and monthly payment amounts, will vary by training provider. Social Finance will reinvest repayments received back into the program for several years to enable future learners to benefit.
Wraparound support
Learners receive career and professional development services that may include coaching, interview prep, job placement support, as well as a zero-percent loanthat can be used to cover tuition costs orexpenses like rent transportation, childcare, and emergencies that may arise during training.
Get Started with Merit America
The Google Career Certificates Fund is proud to work with Merit America, a nonprofit that works with major employers to build new pathways to jobs in high-growth fields for people without college degrees. Apply today.
Get Started with San Diego Workforce Partnership
The Google Career Certificates Fund is proud to work with San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), a California-based workforce development nonprofit which offers the Google Career Certificates in a 15-month program where students also earn a core certificate from UC San Diego Extended Studies. The program is aimed at helping students launch their career in technology. Apply today.
We are proud to work with Social Finance, the recipient of our largest economic opportunity investment to date. They have met the challenge head-on, designing a first-of-its-kind loan fund to provide workforce training and support.
Hector Mujica
Former Head of Economic Opportunity, Americas, Google.org
Merit America’s IT Training Helped Bill Launch His Tech Career
Two years ago, Bill was working as a bank teller at a Wells Fargo branch near Raleigh, North Carolina. When he was looking for a path to increase his earning potential, a friend showed him a TikTok video about Merit America. Bill enrolled in Merit America’s three-month IT Support program with help from the Google Career Certificates Fund. Three months after the program ended, Bill landed at Apple as a technical service advisor, where he has been recognized for excellent performance and promoted to a new role in data systems. “This work is rewarding—it’s not just a job to pay the bills, it’s a career where I get up in the morning and I’m excited to go to work.”
With a Google Data Analytics Certificate, Laura Has Career Options and Room to Grow
Laura was working in an administrative role at a small tech company when she learned about Merit America on TikTok. Through an investment program supported by theGoogle Career Certificates Fund, Laura was able to enroll in training at no upfront cost and with minimal financial risk. “It sounded too good to be true, but it was truly the golden ticket for me. The ability to pay after earning a new job was my biggest deciding factor,” said Laura.
A Living Expense Loan Put Tori on the Path to a Tech Career
Tori was working as a security guard and professional DJ when she decided she wanted to change to a career in tech. Lacking the necessary certifications to secure a tech job, Tori learned about the short, free Per Scholas IT Support course, and enrolled. She benefitted from the Zero Percent Loan program, which helped her to cover living expenses while she focused on her training. “It gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet,” Tori reflected.
Additional qualified training providers will join the program over the course of this 10-year fund.
Ada Developers Academy is working directly with learners as a training provider of Social Finance.
MDRC is the independent nonprofit evaluator assessing the initiative’s outcomes for Social Finance.
Ascent Funding is the loan origination and servicing partner for all loans in the Google Career Certificates Fund.
AdeptID is implementing their AI talent matching solution into the IT infrastructures of Social Finance’s training providers to support learner job placement outcomes.
UnidosUS is serving as a referral partner for Social Finance’s training providers.
Website Notice and Disclosures
This Website displays information about the Google Career Certificates Fund. Social Finance, Inc., SF Advisers, LLC and their employees, subsidiaries and affiliates (including, but not limited to, any general partner or investment manager of any vehicle offering the interests described herein) (collectively, “Social Finance”) make no representations as to the completeness and accuracy of any information contained on this webpage. This webpage is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or investment product, nor should it be interpreted as a recommendation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. If and when an offering of any of the interests described herein is made, it will only be made pursuant to confidential offering document(s) or other governing documents of the entity issuing such interests, each of which will be furnished on a confidential basis only to qualified, “accredited investors,” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This webpage is not, and may not be relied on in any manner as, legal, tax or investment advice, and Social Finance makes no representation or warranty regarding the legality of any investment by a prospective investor under applicable securities or other laws.
Statements on this webpage are made as of the dates specified on this webpage and Social Finance has no obligation to update the information on this webpage, including any “forward-looking statements” (as described below).
Certain information contained on this webpage has been obtained from published and non-published sources. Such information has not been independently verified by Social Finance, and Social Finance does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of such information (or updating the webpage based on facts learned following its publication). The information contained on this webpage is subject to change without notice.
An investment in any interests described on this webpage would be subject to various risks, including the risk that the underlying funds will not achieve any strategy, objectives or other plans, including with respect to such funds’ impact objectives. If and when an offering of any of the interests described herein is made, potential investors should carefully review the confidential offering document(s) or other governing documents related thereto for a discussion of the risks involved in making an investment in such interests.
Any projected or targeted returns included on this webpage should not be regarded as a representation or guarantee that any investment strategy will reflect any particular performance or that it will achieve or is likely to achieve any particular result or that investors will be able to avoid losses, including total losses of their investment.
This webpage contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this presentation are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to analyses and other information, which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events or results or the actual policies, procedures and processes of the investment managers of the
underlying funds and the performance of the underlying funds may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements and no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements, nor should the inclusion of these statements be regarded as Social Finance’s representation that the proposed fund will achieve any strategy, objectives or other plans. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “will” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. However, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. For example, any projections or other estimates in this presentation, including estimates of returns or performance, are forward-looking statements.
Although Social Finance believes that the plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that are expected. There is no assurance that the results or developments Social Finance expects or anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will affect the investments in the way Social Finance expects.
The forward-looking statements included on this webpage are made only as of the date hereof. Social Finance undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Accordingly, investors and prospective investors should not rely on any projections or forward-looking statements in making any investment decision.
Loan Program Notice
The terms, conditions, and eligibility criteria for this loan program are subject to change without notice. Funding is limited and subject to availability at the time of application. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval or funding.
1. Google Internal Data, 2024.
Header photo courtesy of Google (Karrim Omer, Google Career Certificates Graduate, Data Analytics). All other photos courtesy of Merit America and Year Up United.
![A closeup of a Karrim smiling as he scrolls on his computer at his desk.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/082421_Karrim-e1637355946260-2-e1669760792647-1000x684.png")
![A woman with dreadlocks sitting at a desk with a laptop.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Merit-America-learner-500x334.png")
![Two men standing in front of a laptop.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Merit-America-learners-500x339.jpeg")
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![A person with glasses, a full beard, and dark hair, wearing a black collared shirt, is smiling with arms crossed against a plain white background.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Bill.png")
![Laura, a participant in Merit America's Google Career Certificates program, stands in front of a computer](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Untitled-design-2-1000x1000.png")
![Person wearing a light blue collared shirt with dark braids, smiling, and posed against a plain background.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tori-per-scholas.png")