Vermont Works for Women

What Vermont Works for Women does

Vermont Works for Women (VWW) is a statewide Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 (originally as Northern New England Tradeswomen in St. Johnsbury) that promotes economic justice by advancing gender equity for women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals across the career lifecycle. The organization operates a portfolio of programs organized into three pillars: youth programs (Rosie's Girls Camp and Afterschool, Tech Center Programs/Career Challenge Day, LIFT, and the annual Women Can Do conference serving 450+ high school students in 2025); adult programs (the seven-week Trailblazers NCCER-aligned trades pre-apprenticeship with OSHA-10 certification, Employment & Career Services, the Build Your Skills online curriculum, the Career Mentor Network with 100+ volunteers, and contracted Justice-Involved Services at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility); and business services (the paid GEAR membership, sliding-scale Workshops & Consultation Services, and the Inclusive Hiring Toolkit).

The organization's technology stack includes a Build Your Skills online learning platform with self-paced video tutorials and quizzes, an email newsletter infrastructure (The Riveter), website-based event registration, LGL Forms-powered donation and membership forms, and a member-only Online Resource Library for GEAR members. Signature proprietary content includes the Power Skills social-emotional curriculum, the registered Rosie's Girls® trademark curriculum licensed to 20+ national sites, the NCCER-aligned Trailblazers curriculum, and the structured Inclusive Hiring Toolkit.

VWW's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue mix with eight identified streams: federal and state government grants (including a $398,019 U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau award), individual donations, multi-tier corporate sponsorships for flagship programs, GEAR annual membership fees ($75–$250 tiers), sliding-scale employer Workshops & Consultation Services, community fundraisers, Rosie's Girls® curriculum licensing royalties, and a long-running Vermont Department of Corrections managed services contract. Most direct-service programs are free to participants, with scholarships available for paid offerings. The organization operates with approximately 13 staff from a Winooski, Vermont headquarters with statewide program delivery across 10+ Vermont communities and national reach through licensed sites in Cleveland OH, Providence RI, and Richmond CA.

Name

Vermont Works for Women

Legal name

Vermont Works for Women

Website

https://vtworksforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vermont Works for Women is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that delivers youth career exploration, adult trades pre-apprenticeship, reentry support, and employer gender equity consulting programs to women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Gender equity programs
• Trades pre-apprenticeship
• Youth career exploration
• Nonprofit career training

Headquarters

HQ city

Winooski

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Federal and state grant funding, including a $398,019 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau to expand training programs and promote gender equity in semiconductor manufacturing and other Vermont industries.
2. Individual Donations: Individual contributions accepted online, by mail, by phone, and via stock donations; 501c3 nonprofit (EIN 22-2894557). Online donations processed via LGL Forms.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Multi-tiered corporate sponsorship packages for flagship programs including Women Can Do (Visionaries, Innovators, Collaborators, Builders, Designers tiers), Rosie's Girls, Trailblazers, and special events.
4. GEAR Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from businesses, nonprofits, and schools for the Gender Equity Advancement Roundtable (GEAR): Small $75, Medium $150, Large $250, unlocking four learning sessions and member benefits.
5. Workshops & Consultation Fees: Sliding-scale paid professional services for employers including Building Fair & Inclusive Teams Workshops, Recruitment & Retention Workshops, Employee Listening Sessions, Consultation Services (hourly), and a multi-component Workplace Culture Development Program.
6. Community Fundraisers: Third-party fundraisers hosted by individuals and businesses (e.g., Harpoon Brewery Women's Equality Day, Shop L'ivresse Bra Collection, Facebook Fundraisers via Give Lively, Shaw's GIVE BACK, Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good).
7. Rosie's Girls® Licensing: Licensing of the Rosie's Girls® curriculum to organizations across the country (e.g., Cleveland OH, Providence RI, Richmond CA), reaching 2,500+ girls across 20+ licensed sites.
8. State Corrections Contract: Contracted in-facility service provider for the Vermont Department of Corrections (since 2001) at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, providing career coaching, workshops, and transition support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vermont Works for Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free and low-cost workforce development programs, career exploration camps, pre-apprenticeship trades training, career coaching, mentorship, and reentry support for women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals across Vermont, complemented by paid B2B services for employers including the GEAR membership, gender equity workshops and consultation, and an Inclusive Hiring Toolkit. The organization funds these offerings through a mix of federal and state grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, membership fees, and licensing of its proprietary Rosie's Girls® curriculum to national partner sites.

Product overview

Vermont Works for Women (VWW) is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit (founded 1987) that operates a portfolio of programs, services, and resources — rather than a single unified software product — to promote economic justice by advancing gender equity and supporting women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals at every stage of their career journeys. The portfolio is organized around three pillars. (1) Youth Programs include Rosie's Girls Camp, Rosie's Girls Afterschool, Tech Center Programs (Career Challenge Day), Launching Inclusive Futures in Trades (LIFT), and the annual Women Can Do conference. (2) Adult Programs include the Trailblazers trades pre-apprenticeship, Employment & Career Services (with the "Build Your Skills" online curriculum), the Career Mentor Network, and Justice-Involved Services delivered at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. (3) Services for Businesses & Community Organizations include the Inclusive Hiring Toolkit, Workshops & Consultation Services, and the paid Gender Equity Advancement Roundtable (GEAR) membership. These offerings are tied together by VWW's cross-cutting Advocacy function and research outputs such as the bi-annual Vermont Women, Work, & Wages Data Report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rosie's Girls: Trades and STEM career exploration summer camp and afterschool program for middle school girls and gender-expansive youth.
• Trailblazers
• Women Can Do
• LIFT (Launching Inclusive Futures in Trades)
• GEAR (Gender Equity Advancement Roundtable)
• Career Mentor Network

Products and services

• Rosie's Girls Camp Week-long STEAM, trades, and career exploration summer day camp for middle school girls and gender-expansive youth in BUILD (woodworking), WELD (MIG welding and plasma cutting), and EXPLORE (low-tech, hand-tool) themes with a 4:1 camper-to-staff ratio and the signature "Power Skills" social-emotional curriculum.
• Rosie's Girls Afterschool Year-round adaptation of the Rosie's Girls summer camp providing middle school girls and gender-expansive youth with hands-on STEM and trades career exploration in an afterschool setting. VWW trains schools, CTEs, and community organizations to host and facilitate the program.
• Tech Center Programs (Career Challenge Day) Contracted program of career exploration events and gender equity training delivered at Vermont's career and technical education centers, including the signature Career Challenge Day hands-on event for middle school students and Inclusive Spaces staff/student trainings, aligned with Perkins V law.
• Launching Inclusive Futures in Trades (LIFT) Week-long summer program for high school girls and gender-expansive individuals providing hands-on exploration of skilled trades including carpentry, welding, electrical, and automotive, taught by female instructors working in those fields. Participants also engage with the VWW "Power Skills" social-emotional curriculum.
• Women Can Do Conference Annual, one-day statewide trades and STEM career exploration conference for high school girls and gender-expansive youth, hosted at the Vermont State University - Randolph campus, featuring an Action Expo with tools and equipment, a Resource Hall connecting students with employers and post-secondary support, and a resource fair. Drove participation of 450+ students in 2025.
• Trailblazers Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Free, seven-week pre-apprenticeship trades training program preparing women and gender-expansive individuals ages 18+ for careers in construction, the skilled trades, and renewable energy. Curriculum is based on NCCER standards, participants complete OSHA-10 safety training, and the program is a certified pre-apprenticeship through the Vermont Department of Labor.
• Employment & Career Services Free one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter support, mock interviews, networking, and self-paced "Build Your Skills" online curriculum for Vermont women and gender-expansive individuals ages 16+. Targeted at women in transition, including those with barriers to employment.
• Career Mentor Network Volunteer-based mentorship network connecting Vermont women and gender-expansive individuals ages 16+ with 100+ volunteer mentors across the state for career exploration, job search and application support, professional development, financial coaching, and small business/entrepreneurship mentoring.
• Justice-Involved Services Employment and transitional support services for women and gender-expansive individuals involved with the justice system, delivered through a Career Resource Center at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF). Includes career coaching, transition planning, job training referrals, group workshops, and post-release employment and reentry support. VWW has been a contracted service provider for the Vermont Department of Corrections since 2001.
• Inclusive Hiring Toolkit for Employers Downloadable resource toolkit plus 20-minute employer webinar providing strategies and templates for inclusive hiring, with a focus on supporting women with histories of justice involvement. Includes resources on inclusive job descriptions, Ban the Box application processes, trauma-responsive interviewing, selection criteria, onboarding, and continuous improvement of hiring practices.
• Workshops & Consultation Services Sliding-scale professional development services for employers, nonprofits, schools, and technical centers, including the "Building Fair & Inclusive Teams" workshop (3 hrs), "Recruitment & Retention for a Stronger Workforce" workshop (2 hrs), employee listening sessions/focus groups, consultation on employee resource groups, and a multi-component Workplace Culture Development Program.
• Gender Equity Advancement Roundtable (GEAR) Membership Paid annual membership program for businesses, nonprofits, schools, and advocates, offering four learning sessions per year with gender-equity experts, recognition on VWW's website, member spotlight, quarterly GEAR newsletter, and a member-only online resource library. Three membership tiers: Small $75, Medium $150, Large $250.
• Build Your Skills Online Learning Free, self-paced online curriculum and resource center featuring video tutorials with quizzes, online resource guides, and downloadable templates and reference materials to help Vermont women and gender-expansive individuals upskill along their career path.
• Vermont Women, Work, & Wages Data Report Bi-annual data report published jointly with the Vermont Women's Fund and the Vermont Commission on Women that dissects the gender wage gap in Vermont, with a focus on occupational segregation, parenthood, and educational attainment. Builds on the 2025 Spotlight Report and incorporates data from 2020-2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ girls have participated across 20+ licensed Rosie's Girls® sites nationally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Vermont Green Football Club (Vermont Green FC)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Vermont Green FC partnered with Vermont Works for Women for the club's inaugural women's soccer season under the 'More Green More Good' collaboration. Three women-owned businesses (BirdieBlue, Gametheory, Ursa Major) are inaugural partners pledging $50 per home goal to fund VWW's statewide programs supporting women and youth career development. Activation events scheduled for May 23 and June 22, 2026.
• BirdieBlueminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Women-owned business signed on as an inaugural partner in the 'More Green More Good' collaboration between Vermont Green FC and Vermont Works for Women, pledging $50 per home goal during the women's soccer season to fund VWW's statewide programs supporting women and youth career development.
• GametheoryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Women-owned business signed on as an inaugural partner in the 'More Green More Good' collaboration between Vermont Green FC and Vermont Works for Women, pledging $50 per home goal during the women's soccer season to fund VWW's statewide programs supporting women and youth career development.
• Ursa MajorminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Women-owned business signed on as an inaugural partner in the 'More Green More Good' collaboration between Vermont Green FC and Vermont Works for Women, pledging $50 per home goal during the women's soccer season to fund VWW's statewide programs supporting women and youth career development.
• University of Vermont (UVM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024UVM is a key collaborator on the $398,019 U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau grant to expand training programs and promote gender equity in Maine and Vermont industries, including semiconductor manufacturing. The collaboration creates pathways into high-demand industries for Vermont women over a two-year project window. UVM is also the institutional home of the Vermont Space Grant Consortium, a Women Can Do sponsor.
• GlobalFoundriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024GlobalFoundries is a federal grant collaborator creating pathways into semiconductor manufacturing for Vermont women as part of the $398,019 U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau grant. The partnership aims to address gender equity in Vermont's growing semiconductor sector and connect women to high-demand careers. GlobalFoundries is also a Women Can Do Collaborator-level sponsor.
• Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Works for Women has been a contracted in-facility service provider for the Vermont Department of Corrections since 2001, delivering programming at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF). Services include a Career Resource Center, weekly classes, financial wellness workshops, career coaching, transition planning, and post-release reentry support for the female population.
• Vermont Department of LaborflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vermont Department of Labor certifies Trailblazers as a pre-apprenticeship program through its apprenticeship division. VWW is a supporter/recipient relationship with the Department, and DOL is publicly listed as a Trailblazers program supporter.
• Alliance GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance Group (agusa.com) serves as the employer partner for the Trailblazers pre-apprenticeship program and is also a 2026 GEAR member. The partnership underwrites the on-the-job training and employer engagement component of Trailblazers cohorts.
• Vermont Women's FundflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder (2015) of the Change The Story initiative and co-publisher of the Vermont Women, Work, & Wages data reports alongside Vermont Works for Women and the Vermont Commission on Women. The 2026 Report Launch at Hula in Burlington is hosted in partnership.
• Vermont Commission on WomenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder (2015) of the Change The Story initiative and co-publisher of the Vermont Women, Work, & Wages data reports alongside Vermont Works for Women and the Vermont Women's Fund. Joint focus on gender equity policy, philanthropy, and programming in Vermont.
• Hula (Hula Lakeside)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHula in Burlington, VT serves as the venue partner for the 2026 Vermont Women, Work, & Wages Data Report Launch and No Country for Mothers film screening on July 14, 2026 (2 - 6 PM).
• Green Mountain Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Mountain Habitat for Humanity hosts Trailblazers community build projects (e.g., 23rd Trailblazers class worked at a Habitat for Humanity site, including roof repairs and picnic table builds) and is also a 2026 GEAR member.
• Friendly Inn (Cleveland, OH)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Rosie's Girls® program site in Cleveland, Ohio. Operates under VWW's licensing framework with the complete Rosie's Girls curriculum and program materials.
• Providence, RI Rosie's Girls site (Summer Learning Collaborative)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Rosie's Girls® site in Providence, RI, operating the summer camp under VWW's curriculum and licensing model.
• Rosie the Riveter Trust (Richmond, CA)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed Rosie's Girls® site in Richmond, CA, operating school and youth programs under VWW's curriculum and licensing model.
• Vermont Career and Technical Education Centers (CTEs)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership network across Vermont's career and technical education centers, including Burlington Technical Center, Green Mountain Technology & Career Center (GMTCC), Randolph Technical Career Center (RTCC), Center for Technology Essex, and HACTC. Programs include Career Challenge Day, Inclusive Spaces trainings, and Tech Center Programs aligned with Perkins V law.
• Women Can Do Sponsors (multi-tier corporate coalition)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-tier corporate sponsorship coalition (Visionaries: EastRise, TD Bank, Vermont Agency of Transportation; Innovators: J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, VELCO, Vermont Gas Systems; plus 15+ Collaborators, Builders, and Designers) underwriting the annual Women Can Do statewide career exploration conference.

Scale indicators9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Tradeswomen: Oregon-based nonprofit that trains, advocates for, and supports women entering the skilled trades — same direct peer model as VWW's Trailblazers program, with similar pre-apprenticeship and equity-advocacy offerings.
• Tradeswomen, Inc. Bay Area nonprofit that recruits, trains, and retains women in the building trades; runs pre-apprenticeship and advocacy programs that mirror VWW's Trailblazers and Women Can Do models.
• Chicago Women in Trades: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on women's equity in skilled trades and apprenticeship access; comparable pre-apprenticeship training, advocacy, and employer engagement offerings.
• Hard Hatted Women: Cleveland-based nonprofit providing trades training, career coaching, and employer services for women — a near-identical service mix to VWW including Cleveland-based Rosie's Girls® licensing.
• Nontraditional Employment Network (NENY): NYC-area nonprofit placing women in skilled trades and unionized construction careers; offers pre-apprenticeship and direct-placement services structurally analogous to VWW's Trailblazers and Employment & Career Services.
• Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) / NCWEA: National workforce development nonprofit that operates the National Center for Women's Equity in Apprenticeship; comparable mission of advancing women into nontraditional, high-wage careers and apprenticeship pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit operating girls' empowerment programs including STEM and trades-adjacent curricula; broader mission than VWW but overlapping youth-program philosophy and similar donor base.
• YWCA USA: Federated national women's empowerment nonprofit with workforce development and gender-equity programming across affiliates; comparable advocacy and employer-engagement footprint at much larger scale.
• National Girls Collaborative Project: National network connecting STEM programs for girls; an umbrella/adjacent organization that channels funding and best practices to member programs like VWW's Rosie's Girls.

Others

• JFF (Jobs for the Future): National workforce development nonprofit focused on equitable economic advancement; not a direct program operator but a potential funder, research partner, and policy ally for VWW-style pipeline programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vtworks4women
• Facebookfacebook.com/vtworksforwomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vtworksforwomen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Works for Women