Constructing Hope

What Constructing Hope does

Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2007 by Patricia Daniels that delivers free construction pre-apprenticeship training to underserved populations, primarily low-income adults, formerly incarcerated individuals, BIPOC adults, and youth. Its core offerings are a free 10-week Adult Construction Training Program held at its Northeast Portland Workforce Training Center (405 NE Church St.) and a free 3- to 5-week Summer Youth Program, supplemented by wraparound services including expungement assistance, driver's license restoration, childcare support, industry certifications, and placement into union apprenticeship and contractor roles. There is no proprietary technology; the "product" is instructor-led curriculum originally co-developed with Hoffman Construction, delivered on-site with capacity for up to 160 students annually following a 2022 facility expansion.

The organization is funded almost entirely through grants and donations rather than participant fees: primary revenue streams are pass-through federal workforce dollars via Worksystems (U.S. Department of Labor), municipal and regional grants from the City of Portland, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), Multnomah County, Metro, Port of Portland, Prosper Portland, TriMet, Washington County, and USDA, plus corporate and foundation grants (M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, DEWALT Grow the Trades, PGE Drive Change Fund) and individual philanthropy (notably a $100,000 gift from Dave Dahl of Dave's Killer Bread in early 2020). Direct employer relationships with Hoffman Construction, Raimore Construction, LDC, Dyna Electric, and union apprenticeship programs serve as the placement funnel that converts graduates into journeyman-level construction careers (documented graduate wages of $37-$50+/hour).

Constructing Hope operates exclusively in Oregon, with a single training facility and a small staff led through 2025 by founder/executive director Patricia Daniels (18-year tenure) and deputy director Noah Koné, who was named as her successor following her May 2025 retirement announcement. The organization's GTM is community-led: referrals flow from workforce development agencies, community organizations, OAME, Build Oregon's pre-apprenticeship guide, and word-of-mouth from graduates, with awareness amplified through earned media, podcast appearances, social channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn), and a quarterly Construction Corner newsletter. Strategic positioning has shifted from purely general construction training toward green/clean-energy workforce pathways, evidenced by PCEF funding, PGE-funded EV fleet and charger buildout, and Koné's prior role as Green Workforce Partnerships Manager.

Name

Constructing Hope

Legal name

Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Website

https://constructinghope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Constructing Hope is a Portland, Oregon nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides free 10-week construction pre-apprenticeship training and wraparound support services to low-income adults, formerly incarcerated individuals, BIPOC adults, and youth, placing graduates into union and contractor roles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Construction pre-apprenticeship training
• Workforce development programs
• Construction skills training
• Youth trades education
• Reentry employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue source from government grants including City of Portland, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, Worksystems (U.S. Department of Labor), Multnomah County, Metro, Port of Portland, Prosper Portland, TriMet, Washington County, and USDA programs. Also receives PGE Drive Change Fund grants for sustainable transportation initiatives.
2. Private Donations: Individual donations including a $100,000 donation from Dave Dahl (Dave's Killer Bread founder) in 2020. M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust funding. DEWALT Grow the Trades Grant recipient.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Constructing Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides free construction pre-apprenticeship training programs to underserved populations in Portland, Oregon. It operates a 10-week Adult Construction Training Program for low-income individuals and formerly incarcerated persons, and a 3-week Summer Youth Program introducing young people to construction careers, both including wraparound support services such as expungement assistance, driver's license restoration, and childcare support.

Product overview

Constructing Hope offers a unified workforce development program focused on construction pre-apprenticeship training. The core offerings consist of the Adult Construction Training Program (a 10-week intensive training) and the Summer Youth Program (a 3-week youth program), supplemented by transportation services using electric vehicles to support participant access. Together, these programs provide skills training, life skills education, job placement assistance, and career advancement support for underserved communities including people of color, formerly incarcerated individuals, and low-income adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Construction Training Program Free, 10-week construction pre-apprenticeship training program for low-income individuals and those who are formerly incarcerated, providing skills training, industry certifications, job placement, and wraparound support services such as expungement assistance and driver's license restoration.
• Summer Youth Program Free, 3-week construction awareness and skills program for youth providing exposure to trade careers, mentorship, and career pathway awareness as an alternative to traditional college routes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 individuals served since 2007
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Home Builders FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing trainees with real-world on-site experience through Safe Rest Village project constructing and remodeling nonprofit homeless shelter facilities. HBF works within the home building industry and offered Constructing Hope trainees hands-on construction experience.
• Hoffman ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegral partner from program's early days critical in developing curriculum and teaching hands-on training. Provided financial support through monetary and in-kind contributions. Several Hoffman executives served as Board Chairs.
• Raimore ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-owned construction company (80 employees) that was one of the first to send instructors into training classes and committed to hiring CH graduates. Honored with Contractors Award at 15th Anniversary.
• Lampkin ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Ray Lampkin, one of first African American contractors in the area. Created the Ray Lampkin Scholarship Award presented to graduating African American male with potential to become a contractor.
• OAME (Oregon Association of Minority Contractors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 1987 to promote entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities. Key hub for minority contractors in Oregon and SW Washington, established many black-owned construction businesses.
• Build OregonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed Constructing Hope in pre-apprenticeship programs guide, providing visibility to prospective students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JobTrain: Menlo Park, CA-based nonprofit offering free vocational training including construction trades for low-income adults. Comparable model of tuition-free training, wraparound support, and job placement assistance for underserved populations.
• Oregon Tradeswomen: Portland-based nonprofit providing pre-apprenticeship construction training for women and gender-nonconforming individuals. Directly comparable mission, geographic market, training model, and underserved population focus.
• Helmets to Hardhats: National nonprofit placing military veterans into construction apprenticeships and careers. Comparable pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship placement model targeting an underserved transition population into union construction trades.
• ANEW (Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment for Women): Tukwila, WA-based nonprofit offering pre-apprenticeship construction training for women and underrepresented populations. Highly comparable Pacific Northwest workforce development model serving similar justice-impacted and low-income populations.
• Urban League of Portland: Portland-based nonprofit providing workforce development, education, and wraparound services for BIPOC and underserved populations. Comparable community-led workforce model, geographic market, and target populations including people of color seeking economic advancement.
• Northwest College of Construction: Portland-based construction trades school offering apprenticeship-related training. Directly comparable Portland-area construction training market and trade-focused curriculum, though operating as a tuition-based institution rather than a free nonprofit program.
• Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC+RAINS): Portland-based nonprofit providing workforce development, education, and wraparound support for underserved adults including formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable mission, location, and holistic services model.
• Hope Builders: Orange County, CA-based nonprofit offering free construction and trades pre-apprenticeship training to opportunity youth and underserved populations. Closely comparable program design, target population, and apprenticeship-to-journey pathway model.

Broad incumbents

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training and job placement for underserved adults. Comparable nonprofit workforce development model and funder relationships (corporate, government) though focused on tech rather than construction trades.

Emerging players

• Home Builders Foundation: Portland-based nonprofit affiliated with the home building industry that partners with Constructing Hope to provide hands-on training experience. Operates in adjacent workforce development space focused on residential construction skills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/constructinghope
• Xx.com/constructhope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Constructing Hope