Center for Workforce Inclusion

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.

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

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

• Workforce development services
• Older worker employment
• Job training programs
• Digital skills certification
• Apprenticeship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• U.S. Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 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 ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWI 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 AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Senior Environmental Employment Program (SEE), placing older workers in environmental positions.
• National Skills CoalitionsupportingOthersResearch 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+ EmployerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/workforceincl
• Facebookfacebook.com/CWIWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cwiworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Center for Workforce Inclusion