Center for Workforce Inclusion
Center for Workforce Inclusion (CWI Works) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1962 that delivers workforce development, digital skills certification, and employer-matching services exclusively for underserved U.S. adults aged 50 and older, primarily funded by a $45.4M U.S. Department of Labor SCSEP grant and a 200-partner network across 35 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersSilver Spring, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Center for Workforce Inclusion does
Center for Workforce Inclusion, operating as CWI Works, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1962 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, with an additional office in Michigan and 101–250 employees. It is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to workforce development for underserved adults aged 50 and older, and it has cumulatively trained or placed nearly 489,000 clients through apprenticeship-style programs. Its primary customer segments are job seekers aged 50+ (including veterans, rural workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals) and employers with workforce shortages across financial services, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and other sectors.
The core service portfolio is anchored by the federally-funded Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), supported by a $45.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The organization supplements SCSEP with the Digital Certification Program (DCP) — a data-driven curriculum providing equipment (laptops and 12-month prepaid hotspots), weekly instruction, and certifications in computer basics, Microsoft Windows, and the Microsoft Office Suite, delivered with one-on-one Digital Navigator support. Employer-facing products include ReadyBlueprint by CWI Works, a talent-matching offering that builds a custom Skills Blueprint per employer and prepares older workers against those requirements. Additional programs include the USDA Forest Service Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (FS-ACES) Program, the EPA Senior Environmental Employment Program (SEE), and the Experienced Services Programs (ESP), with CWI Labs serving as the innovation arm developing new apprenticeship pathways.
The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: roughly 90% of SCSEP program support comes from a single federal grant, with the remaining 10% covered by non-federal match from CWI and its network. Services are delivered at no cost to job seekers through a national network of 200 local training and employer partners across 35 states and territories, and through a dedicated SCSEP web portal. Revenue diversification efforts center on ReadyBlueprint (employer-pays or co-funded talent matching) and additional federal agency partnerships (USDA, EPA), but the U.S. Department of Labor remains the dominant counterparty.
Center for Workforce Inclusion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center for Workforce Inclusion
- Legal name
- CWI Works, Inc.
- Website
- https://centerforworkforceinclusion.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Center for Workforce Inclusion (CWI Works) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1962 that delivers workforce development, digital skills certification, and employer-matching services exclusively for underserved U.S. adults aged 50 and older, primarily funded by a $45.4M U.S. Department of Labor SCSEP grant and a 200-partner network across 35 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center for Workforce Inclusion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Employment Services (5613), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Center for Workforce Inclusion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Silver Spring
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Center for Workforce Inclusion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Federal Government Grants: Primary revenue stream from federally-funded workforce development programs. The SCSEP program is funded by a $45.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, which provides 90% of program support.
- Non-Federal Match: CWI and its SCSEP network provide the remaining 10% of funding through non-federal match of $4.5 million.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Center for Workforce Inclusion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Center for Workforce Inclusion (operating as CWI Works) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides workforce development, job training, and employment placement services exclusively for adults aged 50 and older. Its portfolio includes the federally-funded Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the Digital Certification Program (DCP) for technology skills, the ReadyBlueprint employer talent matching solution, and conservation/environmental employment programs (FS-ACES, EPA-SEE), delivered through a network of 200+ local training and employer partners across 35 U.S. states and territories.
Product overview
CWI Works operates as a workforce development organization offering multiple interconnected programs for adults 50+. The portfolio includes the federally-funded SCSEP program as the flagship offering, supplemented by the Digital Certification Program (DCP) for technology skills training, and ReadyBlueprint for employer-driven talent solutions. Additional programs include the FS-ACES Program (Forest Service conservation work), EPA-SEE (environmental employment), and ESP (Experienced Services Programs). CWI Labs serves as the innovation division that administers DCP and develops new workforce solutions. Together, these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem addressing job training, placement, and career services for older Americans across 35 states and territories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ReadyBlueprint by CWI Works: A program connecting employers with trained, dependable older workers by building a Skills Blueprint unique to hiring needs, then identifying and preparing older workers for those roles.
- SCSEP
- Digital Certification Program (DCP)
- CWI Labs
- ESP
- FS-ACES Program
Products and services
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) The only federally-funded employment and training program specifically targeted to older Americans, enabling participants to learn and earn while working in community service assignments at local employers. Funded by a $45.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (90% of program support), with CWI and its network providing a 10% non-federal match of $4.5 million.
- Digital Certification Program (DCP) A data-driven solution that equips unemployed older Americans with in-demand digital skills, equipment (laptop and 12-month prepaid hotspot), and certifications in computer basics, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and a career pathway Capstone Practicum Project. Includes one-on-one Digital Navigator coaching support.
- ReadyBlueprint by CWI Works An employer-focused hiring solution that builds a Skills Blueprint unique to each employer's hiring needs, then identifies and prepares older workers to step into those roles. Employers make all hiring decisions with no obligations.
- Forest Service Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (FS-ACES) Program Offers individuals 55 and older temporary paid assignments providing technical services for conservation-related programs on National Forest Service land. Administered by CWI as one of two national nonprofit organizations selected by the Forest Service.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Senior Environmental Employment Program (EPA-SEE) A program that places older workers in environmental conservation roles supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's conservation-related programs and authorities.
- Experienced Services Programs (ESP) Workforce development programs providing employment and training opportunities for experienced older workers.
- CWI Labs The innovation arm of CWI that administers the Digital Certification Program (DCP) and develops new apprenticeship pathways and workforce solutions for older workers.
Companies that use Center for Workforce Inclusion
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Center for Workforce Inclusion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Center for Workforce Inclusion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- U.S. Department of LaborcorePrimary federal funding partner for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The Department of Labor provides a $45.4 million grant which funds 90% of the SCSEP program. CWI provides the remaining 10% through non-federal match of $4.5 million.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest ServicecoreCWI administers the Forest Service Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (FS-ACES) Program as one of two national nonprofit organizations selected by the Forest Service. The program offers individuals 55+ temporary paid assignments providing technical services for conservation-related programs on National Forest Service land.
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycorePartner for the Senior Environmental Employment Program (SEE), placing older workers in environmental positions.
- National Skills CoalitionsupportingResearch partner providing data on digital skills requirements - cited research showing 92% of jobs now require digital skills and workers with digital skills earn 23% more on average.
- 5,000+ EmployerscoreNetwork of employer partners across industries including financial services, hospitality, office administration, social services, health care, transportation and manufacturing who hire CWI-trained workers.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Center for Workforce Inclusion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free IT and digital skills training and employer placement for underserved adults, with intensive technology certification programs closely analogous to CWI's Digital Certification Program (DCP).
- Mature Workers (Mature Services): Nonprofit social enterprise focused on employment for adults 50+, operating SCSEP and community service programs in select states; closest direct peer by demographic focus and program mix.
- AARP Foundation: Large national nonprofit focused on older Americans, with workforce development programs (e.g., Senior Community Service Employment, BACK TO WORK 50+) targeting the same 50+ job-seeker cohort CWI serves.
- Senior Service America: National nonprofit that co-administers the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) alongside CWI Works, serving the same 55+ unemployed population with the same federal funding model and apprenticeship-style training approach.
- National Able Network: Workforce development nonprofit providing training, employment placement, and digital skills programs for older adults and other underserved populations, including SCSEP administration in select states — directly comparable mission and population.
- SER National (SER-Jobs for Progress): National workforce development nonprofit providing job training, employment placement, and digital skills for underserved communities including older Hispanic adults — comparable apprenticeship-style training and federal workforce program delivery.
- Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Workforce development nonprofit providing job training, digital skills, and career placement for underserved populations including older workers, immigrants, and people with disabilities — directly comparable mission and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development provider with broad mission across disabilities, youth, veterans, and older workers; offers training, placement, and digital skills via local Goodwill agencies, overlapping with CWI's mission but at much larger scale.
- National Urban League: Historic civil rights and workforce development organization with local affiliates providing job training, digital literacy, and employment placement across urban populations, including older workers — comparable workforce development mission at much larger scale.
- Year Up: Large workforce development nonprofit providing skills training, apprenticeships, and corporate employer placements for young adults; comparable employer-driven talent matching model and apprenticeship-style training methodology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Center for Workforce Inclusion social profiles
Digital presenceCenter for Workforce Inclusion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center for Workforce Inclusion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Center for Workforce Inclusion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Center for Workforce Inclusion 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 Center for Workforce Inclusion
What does Center for Workforce Inclusion do?
Center for Workforce Inclusion (operating as CWI Works) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides workforce development, job training, and employment placement services exclusively for adults aged 50 and older. Its portfolio includes the federally-funded Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the Digital Certification Program (DCP) for technology skills, the ReadyBlueprint employer talent matching solution, and conservation/environmental employment programs (FS-ACES, EPA-SEE), delivered through a network of 200+ local training and employer partners across 35 U.S. states and territories.
Is Center for Workforce Inclusion a public or private company?
Center for Workforce Inclusion is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Center for Workforce Inclusion founded?
Center for Workforce Inclusion was founded in 1962. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Center for Workforce Inclusion based?
Center for Workforce Inclusion is headquartered in Silver Spring, United States, in the North America region.
How does Center for Workforce Inclusion make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Federal Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are non-Federal Match.
Who are Center for Workforce Inclusion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Per Scholas, Mature Workers (Mature Services), AARP Foundation, Senior Service America, National Able Network, SER National (SER-Jobs for Progress) and Jewish Vocational Service (JVS). Broad incumbents are Goodwill Industries International, National Urban League and Year Up.
Does Center for Workforce Inclusion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center for Workforce Inclusion.
What industry is Center for Workforce Inclusion in?
Center for Workforce Inclusion's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAB, Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAJ, Employment & Job Readiness Support Services. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.