What Building Talent Foundation does

Building Talent Foundation (BTF) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 by the 20 leading U.S. residential construction companies organized under the Leading Builders of America. Its mission is to address the persistent skilled-trades labor shortage by advancing education, training, and career progression for young people and underrepresented groups in residential construction. BTF operates a three-pillar model — Building Talent Pipeline (school engagement and CTE partnerships), Building Talent Connections (employer-job seeker matching), and Building Talent Engagement (upskilling and retention) — delivered through a national field team of Engagement Managers deployed in approximately 20 U.S. markets including Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Austin, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Charlotte, Raleigh, Denver, South Florida, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, and Knoxville.

The core product is JobsToBuild.com, a free web-based career platform offering 30 construction career pathways, unlimited employer job postings, vetted candidate profiles, and connections to local training programs. The platform is free to both employers and job seekers and currently connects employers with over 20,000 qualified job seekers. BTF supplements the platform with field services (career events, hiring fairs, school visits, project-based mentoring, Earn & Learn upskilling programs) and proprietary research (Blueprint for Upskilling the Homebuilding Workforce, Homebuilding Workforce Engagement Study, Women Breaking Barriers).

BTF is funded through social investments, grants, and donations from its 20 founding homebuilder partners plus social investors (Simpson Strong-Tie: $900K over 2024-2026; Resideo Technologies: $300K annually through 2027) and foundations (Lennar Foundation). Revenue is not generated through direct platform fees; instead the organization operates as a sector-funded industry utility. Its strategic distribution moat was materially expanded in June 2025 through a partnership with Hyphen Solutions that grants no-cost premium JobsToBuild access to 615 Builders and 18,000+ Suppliers responsible for approximately one in three new U.S. homes.

Name

Building Talent Foundation

Legal name

Building Talent Foundation

Website

https://buildingtf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Building Talent Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 by the 20 leading U.S. homebuilders to address the residential construction skilled-trades labor shortage, operating the free JobsToBuild.com career platform (20,000+ job seekers) and field-based programs across 20 U.S. markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Workforce Development

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Services & Job Placement Platforms (Jobs, Recruiting, Employer Networks) (EDAFAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Construction job platform
• Skilled trades training
• Career exploration
• Talent pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Investment / Donations: BTF is funded through social investments and grants from founding partners (residential construction companies), social investors (industry companies like Resideo, Simpson Strong-Tie), and foundations (Lennar Foundation). Donations support program operations, career events, training initiatives, and platform maintenance.
2. Employer Hiring Services (Free to Employers): BTF's JobsToBuild platform is provided free of charge to employers seeking to hire construction talent. BTF monetizes through engagement with employer partners who support its mission rather than through direct platform fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Building Talent Foundation operates JobsToBuild.com, a free online career platform that connects job seekers with employers in the residential construction industry, supported by a deployed field team of Engagement Managers who organize career events, run hiring fairs, deliver coaching, and link employers with local training programs. The organization complements the platform with workforce development programs (Building Talent Pipeline, Building Talent Connections, and Building Talent Engagement) and proprietary industry research such as the Blueprint for Upskilling study.

Product overview

Building Talent Foundation operates as a workforce development organization with its core product being the JobsToBuild online career platform, complemented by a suite of research publications and program offerings. The organization addresses the acute and persistent talent shortage across residential construction through three strategic pillars: Building Talent Pipeline (engaging young people in schools to encourage interest in construction careers through project-based mentoring), Building Talent Connections (connecting employers with job seekers via the JobsToBuild platform and Engagement Directors), and Building Talent Engagement (supporting workforce development through the Earn & Learn upskilling program and professional development initiatives). The organization also produces research publications including the Blueprint for Upskilling Study, Homebuilding Workforce Engagement Study, and Women Breaking Barriers guide. The flagship JobsToBuild platform is a free job board serving employers and job seekers in the residential construction industry, featuring career exploration resources covering 30 career pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JobsToBuild: Online career platform connecting job seekers with career opportunities in the construction industry, offering job listings, career coaching, and training programs.

Products and services

• JobsToBuild Platform A free web-based career platform and job board connecting job seekers with employers in residential construction, featuring career exploration across 30 pathways, unlimited employer job postings, vetted candidate profiles, and direct connections between employers and skilled workers (carpenters, electricians, HVAC technicians, painters, general laborers).
• Engagement Directors/Managers Program BTF's field-based Engagement Directors and Managers build relationships with training programs and job candidate sources, coordinate career events, provide career coaching, soft-skills training, job search assistance, and post-hire support to candidates in 20 U.S. markets.
• Project-based Mentoring in Schools A program in which builders and trade partners adopt groups of students and engage them in build-it-yourself projects while discussing career opportunities in residential construction, with BTF providing mentoring materials and volunteer orientation.
• Earn & Learn Program An upskilling program in which sector-wide partnerships adopt occupational role descriptions and career pathway standards, and trades engage in defined upskilling programs for workers delivered through community college partners.
• Blueprint for Upskilling the Homebuilding Workforce Study A mixed-method research study identifying high-value technical skills in homebuilding trade categories and emerging technical skills for implementing new building technologies, with strategic upskilling recommendations for educators, employers, trade associations, and workforce development organizations.
• Homebuilding Workforce Engagement Study A joint study by BTF and the Oxford Centre for Employee Engagement examining employee engagement in the homebuilding industry and its role in retention among frontline workers at residential construction jobsites.
• Women Breaking Barriers Research Guide A research guide exploring barriers women face when pursuing skilled trades careers and providing recommendations for recruiting, training, and retaining women in the residential construction trades.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15.7% female placement rate in 2023 (vs. 4.3% national average for women in Construction and Extraction occupations)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Polymeric Exterior Products Association (PEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025BTF and PEPA are partnering to connect employers with job seekers interested in polymeric exterior products installation and residential construction careers through JobsToBuild, local career awareness events, hiring events, and training pathways.
• Hyphen SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2025BTF and Hyphen Solutions announced a strategic partnership in June 2025 to address the workforce shortage in residential construction. Hyphen's network of 615 Builders and 18,000+ Suppliers gains no-cost premium access to BTF's JobsToBuild platform, enabling them to connect with over 20,000 qualified job seekers across the U.S. This partnership supports the construction of 1 in 3 new homes in America.
• Hearth & Home TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF and Hearth & Home Technologies announced a strategic collaboration in November 2024 to promote career pathways in fireplace installation. Hearth & Home Technologies sponsors a career exploration page on JobsToBuild dedicated to fireplace installation, providing training resources, safety protocols, and advancement opportunities to job seekers. The partnership aims to address the shortage of fireplace installers while helping job seekers pursue meaningful careers in skilled trades.
• Malco ToolsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBTF and Malco Tools announced a strategic collaboration in March 2024 to tackle the critical shortage of skilled workers in construction. Joint career events are planned in Orlando, Dallas, and San Diego where Malco volunteers engage students in product demonstrations and career exploration. Malco and BTF also work to attract new talent into the industry with a focus on connecting youth and individuals from underrepresented groups with training and employment opportunities through JobsToBuild.
• Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF and FSHCC announced a strategic collaboration in October 2024 to promote careers in construction with Hispanic businesses in Florida. The partnership was brokered by Lennar and aims to support the growth of Hispanic construction companies with a new source of qualified skilled workers. In Florida, approximately 59% of the construction workforce is Hispanic, making this partnership strategically important for the state's homebuilding industry.
• Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF and GOBA deepened their strategic collaboration in October 2024 to address the talent shortage in Central Florida's residential construction industry. GOBA is an active member of the GOBA Workforce Development Committee, engaging members in BTF Career Events, and providing volunteers as classroom speakers and role models for students in local schools. The partnership supports the region's homebuilding industry through joint initiatives to strengthen the talent pipeline.
• Housing First MinnesotamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF and Housing First Minnesota joined forces in January 2024 to tackle Minnesota's construction workforce challenges. This partnership opened BTF's 20th market in Minneapolis-St. Paul, with an Engagement Manager dedicated to the area. BTF promotes construction careers at job fairs, guides high school students toward construction careers, and connects Housing First Minnesota members to qualified candidates through JobsToBuild. The partnership is supported by funding from the Lennar Foundation and Housing First Minnesota.
• North State Building Industry Foundation (NSBIF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBIF has been working to address the construction talent shortage since 2007 and enjoys tremendous support and respect from builders, employers, schools, and training programs in Northern California. NSBIF is partnering with BTF to help establish relationships with key partners and expand BTF's presence in California.
• California Homebuilding Foundation (CHF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHF is the leading statewide nonprofit in California focused on guiding students to careers in homebuilding, distributing scholarships, conducting industry research, and providing hands-on construction training through the Donald Chaiken Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA). CHF impacts over 6,000 students annually in 50 California high schools.
• Home Builders Institute (HBI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBI provides training and education programs for the construction trades. BTF partners with HBI to facilitate connections between HBI-trained candidates and employer partners, amplifying recruiting capabilities for employers like American Builders Supply.
• Painting Contractors Association (PCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCA supports over 300,000 painting contractors in North America. BTF partnered with PCA on a pilot training and hiring event in San Antonio where PCA provided video learning content, and PCA produced a video of the event to promote the pilot program in other markets.
• Sherwin-Williams (HomeWork Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSherwin-Williams supported a BTF training and hiring event with curriculum and trainers from its HomeWork program (trained nearly 8,000 students since 2004), real-world painting curriculum, tools, equipment, and painting supplies donated to each student for immediate job readiness.
• San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAHA provides housing assistance to more than 57,000 low-income residents in San Antonio. BTF partnered with SAHA to recruit residents for a pilot training and hiring event in professional painting, providing the classroom facility and apartments for hands-on practice. BTF has placed 26 SAHA participants into new jobs through five prior hiring events.
• Florida Masonry Apprentice & Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF partners with the Florida Masonry Apprentice & Education Foundation on initiatives to help returning citizens find employment in residential construction.
• Leading Builders of America (LBA) — 20 Founding MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTF was founded in 2019 by the 20 leading residential construction companies in the U.S. (Ashton Woods, Beazer Homes, Brookfield Residential, David Weekley Homes, D.R. Horton, Drees Homes, K. Hovnanian, KB Home, Lennar, LGI Homes, M/I Homes, Meritage Homes, Perry Homes, Pulte Homes, Richmond American, Shea Homes, Stanley Martin Homes, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, Tri Pointe Homes, Woodside Homes). These companies provide founding investment, program support, board leadership, and trade partner connections.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Home Builders Institute: National nonprofit training and education provider for the building industry, operated by NAHB. Directly comparable as a residential construction–focused workforce development organization delivering trade training, pre-apprenticeship, and certification programs; BTF explicitly partners with HBI to connect its graduates to employers.
• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students preparing for careers in skilled trades, including construction. BTF partners with SkillsUSA chapters and operates in the same talent-pipeline niche for young people entering the trades.
• ConstructReach: Workforce development nonprofit focused on increasing minority and underrepresented participation in construction trades. Comparable to BTF in mission (DEI outcomes in construction hiring) and approach (career events, school engagement, employer connections).
• Helmets to Hardhats: Nonprofit that connects military veterans with skilled training and career opportunities in the construction industry. Operates in the same construction-workforce-development space as BTF with a narrower target population (veterans vs. general youth/career-changers).

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): The largest U.S. trade association representing the homebuilding industry. NAHB's Home Builders Institute is a BTF partner, and NAHB convenes the leading builders (overlapping with BTF's founding coalition) — making it a broader industry umbrella over BTF's workforce niche.
• Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit providing young adults from underrepresented backgrounds with training, internships, and corporate placements. Operates in adjacent workforce-development territory but serves broader industries beyond construction.

Emerging players

• mikeroweWORKS Foundation: Nonprofit promoting skilled trades careers through scholarships, public awareness campaigns, and PR. Comparable as a mission-driven advocate for trades careers but operates via PR/marketing rather than BTF's employer-matching platform model.
• Apprenti Pillar Project / TradesFutures: Nonprofit promoting construction and skilled trades careers to youth, parents, and career changers through industry coalition. Operates in adjacent advocacy and career-awareness territory without BTF's employer-matching platform depth.

Regional players

• California Homebuilding Foundation (CHF): Statewide California nonprofit guiding students to homebuilding careers, distributing scholarships, and providing hands-on construction training through the Donald Chaiken BITA Academy serving 6,000+ students. BTF partners with CHF to expand in California, making it a regional peer with overlapping mission.
• North State Building Industry Foundation (NSBIF): Northern California nonprofit focused on construction talent shortage since 2007. BTF explicitly partners with NSBIF for California market expansion; comparable mission and approach but limited to a specific region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/webuildtalent
• Facebookfacebook.com/buildingtalentfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buildingtalentfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/webuildtalent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Building Talent Foundation