At the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF), we believe that people closest to a problem are best positioned to solve it. Merit America has been doing exactly that for working adults who have the potential to succeed in a labor market that hasn’t always made it easy to prove their value.
And now Fast Company has recognized Merit America as one of the country’s most innovative education companies.
Merit America offers professional development, job placement support such as resume assistance and interview prep, and technical skills training to Americans looking to advance in their careers. As Fast Company explains, since 2018, the nonprofit has helped nearly 20,000 low-wage workers reskill and find new career opportunities. Wage gains for these Americans total more than $1.4 billion. On average, salaries increase from $27,800 to $48,500 within at least three months of completing a program with Merit America.
Merit America consistently adds new career tracks to its list of education offerings. It also is developing an online college dedicated to working adults that will help bridge the gap between traditional higher education and workforce training programs.
“Merit America’s model is built around the agency of learners, equipping people to build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to pursue opportunity for themselves,” said CKF’s Brennan Brown. “That makes Merit a strong example of the kind of bottom-up solution we want to spotlight: one that empowers people to realize their potential.”
Read Brown’s 2024 interview with Merit America’s Kevin Hatcher, learn more about Merit America at this link.