National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Shift Work Forward (formerly National Fund for Workforce Solutions) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes a national network of regional workforce leaders to dismantle systemic barriers, transform career navigation, and activate industry leaders, serving workers, employers, and communities across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Fund for Workforce Solutions does
Shift Work Forward, formerly the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that operates a nationally powered, locally driven workforce-equity platform. The organization convenes, coaches, and amplifies a dynamic network of regional workforce leaders who deliver programs addressing three focus areas: dismantling systemic barriers to workforce participation, transforming career navigation and training systems, and activating industry leaders to improve job quality and workplace equity. Its served audiences are workers facing racial and systemic barriers, employers seeking more equitable talent pipelines, the communities those workers belong to, and the regional workforce organizations that execute on the ground.
The organization's product surface is built around three program focus areas (Address Systemic Barriers, Transform Career Navigation & Training, Activate Industry Leaders), a coaching and training service line for network partners, an annual SHIFT Conference (with the 2026 edition scheduled for September 24-26), the State of Our Workforce Podcast, and research outputs such as the Breaking the Triple Bind report on the childcare industry. The technology stack is non-proprietary: there is no commercial platform, no disclosed API or SDK, and no AI/ML capabilities in evidence; delivery is content-, convening-, and partnership-driven rather than software-driven.
As a nonprofit, the organization does not operate a commercial revenue model. Funding flows are not disclosed in detail, but at least one corporate capital event is on record: a $2,000,000 contribution from Prudential Financial in 2020. The disclosed partnership with Ooredoo Kuwait (April 2026) extends the partner base beyond U.S. borders. Headcount is modest at 11-50 employees, and the March 2026 rebrand from National Fund for Workforce Solutions to Shift Work Forward reflects an effort to reposition the brand around a broader, more action-oriented workforce-systems mission.
National Fund for Workforce Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Fund for Workforce Solutions
- Legal name
- Shift Work Forward
- Website
- https://nationalfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shift Work Forward (formerly National Fund for Workforce Solutions) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes a national network of regional workforce leaders to dismantle systemic barriers, transform career navigation, and activate industry leaders, serving workers, employers, and communities across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Fund for Workforce Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
Keywords
Where National Fund for Workforce Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
National Fund for Workforce Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Marketing channels5 records
National Fund for Workforce Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Fund for Workforce Solutions (now operating as Shift Work Forward) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes, coaches, and amplifies a national network of regional workforce leaders to dismantle systemic barriers, transform career navigation and training, and activate industry leaders to improve job quality. Its core deliverables include coaching and training for network partners, the annual SHIFT Conference, the State of Our Workforce podcast, and research reports such as Breaking the Triple Bind on the childcare sector.
Product overview
Shift Work Forward (formerly National Fund for Workforce Solutions) is a nonprofit organization operating as a platform-and-network model. The core offering consists of a dynamic network of regional workforce leaders paired with three strategic focus areas: addressing systemic barriers, transforming career navigation and training, and activating industry leaders. The organization provides coaching and training services, produces research reports and podcasts, and hosts the annual SHIFT Conference. It functions as a nationally powered, locally driven organization that convenes, coaches, and amplifies effective workforce development practices to advance racial equity in workforce systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
National Fund for Workforce Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
National Fund for Workforce Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ooredoo KuwaitcoreStrategic partnership between National Fund for Workforce Solutions and Ooredoo Kuwait to support entrepreneurs. This partnership aims to leverage the expertise of both organizations to foster entrepreneurial development and workforce opportunity expansion.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
National Fund for Workforce Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jobs for the Future: National nonprofit driving workforce development, education, and economic mobility initiatives across the US — directly comparable in mission, network-based operating model, and equity-centered framing.
- National Skills Coalition: National policy and advocacy organization focused on skills training and workforce development for all workers, especially those left out of economic prosperity — directly comparable in mission and systems-change approach.
- Opportunity@Work: Nonprofit focused on expanding access to career opportunity for workers without bachelor's degrees, using a similar equity-centered framing of workforce systems — closely comparable in mission and target population.
- Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit providing training and pathways to corporate careers for young adults from underserved communities — comparable in target population and employer-engagement model, though more program-direct-delivery focused.
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career pathways to individuals from underrepresented communities — comparable in equity-centered workforce training mission.
- Corporation for a Skilled Workforce: National nonprofit advancing workforce systems change through research, policy, and practice — directly comparable in the systems-strengthening lens applied to workforce development.
- EMPath (Economic Mobility Pathways): Nonprofit focused on breaking cycles of poverty through coaching, career navigation, and economic mobility research — comparable in coaching/training service model and equity-centered mission.
- MDRC: Social policy research organization evaluating programs that promote economic mobility, including workforce development — comparable as a research-and-evidence partner in the workforce systems space.
Broad incumbents
- National Urban League: Large historic civil rights and social services organization with significant workforce development programming — comparable in equity-centered mission but operates at a much broader scale across multiple service areas.
- Aspen Institute (Economic Opportunities Program): National policy and leadership organization whose Economic Opportunities Program advances workforce systems change — comparable in policy and convening role, though housed within a much broader think tank.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Fund for Workforce Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceNational Fund for Workforce Solutions compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
National Fund for Workforce Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Fund for Workforce Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
National Fund for Workforce Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Fund for Workforce Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Fund for Workforce Solutions
What does National Fund for Workforce Solutions do?
National Fund for Workforce Solutions (now operating as Shift Work Forward) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes, coaches, and amplifies a national network of regional workforce leaders to dismantle systemic barriers, transform career navigation and training, and activate industry leaders to improve job quality. Its core deliverables include coaching and training for network partners, the annual SHIFT Conference, the State of Our Workforce podcast, and research reports such as Breaking the Triple Bind on the childcare sector.
Is National Fund for Workforce Solutions a public or private company?
National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Fund for Workforce Solutions founded?
National Fund for Workforce Solutions was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Fund for Workforce Solutions based?
National Fund for Workforce Solutions is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
Who are National Fund for Workforce Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, Opportunity@Work, Year Up, Per Scholas, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, EMPath (Economic Mobility Pathways) and MDRC. Broad incumbents are National Urban League and Aspen Institute (Economic Opportunities Program).
Does National Fund for Workforce Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
What industry is National Fund for Workforce Solutions in?
National Fund for Workforce Solutions's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAKAE, Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAB, Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8600.