Madison Strategies Group

What Madison Strategies Group does

Madison Strategies Group (MSG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 2010 in New York City under the name derived from Madison Avenue, MSG relocated its headquarters to Tulsa in November 2018 after opening its initial Tulsa office and launching the WorkAdvance program in 2011. The organization's stated mission is to build and strengthen the talent and skills of job seekers by investing in creative solutions and partnerships that bridge the skills gap between Tulsa residents and employers in high-demand industries.

MSG operates an integrated portfolio of eight sub-branded programs targeting distinct participant populations: Tulsa Community WorkAdvance (TCW) is the sector-focused flagship offering free technical training, job placement, and career coaching in transportation, manufacturing, aerospace, welding, CNC machining, and commercial driving; Retrain Tulsa addresses adult upskilling; NextUp serves disconnected youth aged 18-24; Due North targets underserved North Tulsa residents in Districts 1 and 3; Career Connection supports parents and caregivers including newborn mothers in partnership with ConnectFirst and the Tulsa Health Department; JobsFirst serves residents of the River West and 36N neighborhoods via Tulsa Housing Authority; and FLEX HiSET provides free high school equivalency preparation. Core technology is the WorkAdvance model, an evidence-based sector-focused training approach validated by MDRC research demonstrating higher job satisfaction and career advancement outcomes for participants.

MSG operates as a grant-funded nonprofit with no revenue from program fees; all services are provided free of charge to participants. Funding is diversified across federal grants (Social Innovation Fund, HUD, HPOG, SNAP E&T), state grants (Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Oklahoma DHS), foundation grants (George Kaiser Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Tulsa Community Foundation, Common Bond Foundation), corporate philanthropy (Walmart Foundation), and individual donations. The organization claims 92 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to serve customers. Cumulative impact metrics include 4,500+ individuals served, 2,200+ enrolled in technical training, 2,080+ placed in jobs, 400+ employer partners engaged, and a 30% average income increase for participants. Operations are led by President and CEO Karen Pennington with Rachel Griffin as Data & Strategic Operations Director and Steve Tumpkin as Community Initiatives Managing Director, supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Paul Maness.

Name

Madison Strategies Group

Legal name

Madison Strategies Group

Website

https://madisonstrategies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Madison Strategies Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma delivering free technical training, job placement, and career coaching across eight programs serving low-income residents, disconnected youth, and underserved neighborhoods in partnership with 400+ employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job training programs
• Career coaching services
• Technical skills training
• Employment placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: Individual and corporate donations with 92 cents of every dollar going directly to serve customers
2. Government Grants: Federal, state, and local government funding including Social Innovation Fund, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, HUD grants, and Oklahoma Department of Human Services SNAP E&T
3. Foundation Support: Funding from foundations including George Kaiser Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Madison Strategies Group provides free, sector-focused workforce development services to underserved Tulsa-area residents, including technical skills training (welding, CNC machining, diesel mechanics, commercial driving, aerospace manufacturing), full-time job placement, and career advancement coaching. All services are delivered at no cost to participants and funded through philanthropic donations, government grants, and foundation support.

Product overview

Madison Strategies Group is a nonprofit workforce development organization offering a portfolio of complementary programs designed to address different population segments and workforce needs in the Tulsa region. The core program is Tulsa Community WorkAdvance (TCW), a sector-focused initiative providing free technical training, job placement, and career coaching. Supporting programs include Retrain Tulsa (upskilling for new opportunities), NextUp (disconnected youth 18-24), Due North (North Tulsa residents), Career Connection (parents and caregivers), JobsFirst (CHOICE Neighborhood residents), and the FLEX HiSET Program (high school equivalency). Programs offer free training in industries including transportation, manufacturing, aerospace, welding, CNC machining, healthcare, and commercial driving. All programs feature wraparound support including career coaching and employer connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tulsa Community WorkAdvance (TCW): Sector-focused workforce development initiative providing free technical training, full-time job placement, and career advancement coaching for Tulsa-area residents.
• Retrain Tulsa
• NextUp
• Due North
• Career Connection
• JobsFirst
• FLEX HiSET

Products and services

• Tulsa Community WorkAdvance (TCW) A sector-focused workforce development initiative providing free technical training, full-time job placement, and career advancement coaching to underserved Tulsa-area residents, connecting job seekers with employers in transportation, manufacturing, and aerospace industries.
• Retrain Tulsa A workforce upskilling program that helps Tulsa-area residents access career services and technical training opportunities to launch new careers, while helping businesses find qualified workers.
• NextUp A program helping 18- to 24-year-olds connect with job placement, career training, college advancement, GED preparation, and continued career advisement and employment support.
• Due North A collaborative initiative connecting underserved North Tulsa residents in Districts 1 and 3 with comprehensive workforce services including career readiness training, skills workshops, and technical training.
• Career Connection A program providing parents and caregivers with resources, training, and guidance for career success, available to newborn mothers and household members in partnership with ConnectFirst and Tulsa Health Department.
• JobsFirst A workforce development initiative serving residents of the River West and 36N neighborhoods, providing career readiness training, coaching, job placement services, and workshop opportunities in partnership with Tulsa Housing Authority and City of Tulsa.
• FLEX HiSET Program A free community-driven High School Equivalency preparation program delivered in partnership with Tulsa Dream Center and Northside Neighbors, designed to help Tulsa adults earn their HiSET credential and transition to career pathways.
• Free Welding Training Cohort A free hands-on welding training cohort delivered in partnership with Tulsa Tech covering GMAW, FCAW, and laser welding techniques, including wraparound support with supplies, equipment, and individualized career coaching.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,500+ individuals served, 2,200+ enrolled in technical training, 2,080+ placed in jobs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Tulsa TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary education partner providing welding training, CNC machining, and aerospace structures training. Offers full scholarships to program participants. Jointly delivers technical training cohorts including the free welding training program launched in July.
• CAP TulsacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for healthcare training programs. Combined TCW and CAP Tulsa offerings provide no-cost healthcare training to Tulsa residents. Featured in Pacific Standard Magazine for breaking cycle of poverty.
• Tulsa Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing supervisory development courses, college advancement pathways, and technical training opportunities for program participants.
• Central TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing commercial drivers license training. Offers full scholarships to TCW participants for CDL Class A and Class B training.
• Tulsa Dream CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for FLEX HiSET high school equivalency program, helping adults earn credentials and transition to workforce training.
• Northside NeighborscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for FLEX HiSET high school equivalency program, providing accessible pathway for North Tulsa residents.
• ConnectFirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Career Connection program providing resources and training for parents and caregivers in partnership with Tulsa Health Department.
• Tulsa Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for JobsFirst program serving residents of River West and 36N neighborhoods with career readiness training and job placement.
• M&M ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner successfully hiring TCW graduates as CNC machinists. CEO Kenneth Statton has been strong partner since program inception.
• Melton TruckingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner offering paid internships to TCW scholarship recipients. Vice President Angie Buchanan impressed with customized technical and life-skills training.
• Hoffmeier TruckingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner that hired graduate Jela Anderson-Mims full-time after completing training program.
• McElroy ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner that hired TCW graduate Melissa Sweet as manufacturing technician after she completed the program.
• MDRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan education and social policy research organization conducting rigorous evaluation of WorkAdvance model effectiveness across national sites.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and job placement for low-income young adults, with a similar sector-focused training and employer-partnership model that closely mirrors MSG's WorkAdvance approach.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit delivering tuition-free technical skills training (IT, software, cybersecurity) to adults from underserved communities with employer partnerships, paralleling MSG's free technical training and direct placement model.
• Project QUEST: San Antonio-based nonprofit providing sectoral workforce training (healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing) with rigorous evaluation evidence, comparable to MSG in mission, training sectors, and outcome measurement rigor.
• STRIVE: National nonprofit offering workforce development, technical training, and job placement for underserved populations with employer partnerships - comparable in operating model and target population.
• Capital IDEA: Texas-based nonprofit providing tuition-free training in high-demand skilled trades and degree programs with wraparound support, sharing MSG's no-cost training and career coaching approach.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Workforce development nonprofit offering training, career coaching, and job placement services to diverse populations including low-income and immigrant job seekers, comparable in service breadth and target segments.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Established nonprofit network operating workforce development programs across the U.S., offering overlapping services but at far greater scale and scope than MSG's regional focus.

Regional players

• Workforce Tulsa: Local American Job Center and workforce development board serving the Tulsa region; operates in the same geography as MSG with overlapping referral relationships and employer network.

Others

• Tulsa Tech: Oklahoma's largest technology center providing career and technical education; MSG's primary training delivery partner for welding, CNC, and aerospace programs, making it both a peer in training services and an enabler of MSG's model.
• MDRC: Nonpartisan social policy research organization that conducted the rigorous evaluation of WorkAdvance; not a direct peer in service delivery but a closely related evidence-generation partner whose validation underpins MSG's reputation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madison-strategies-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Madison Strategies Group