Forward Careers

What Forward Careers does

Forward Careers, Inc. is a Waukesha, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 1990 (originally as Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development, Inc.) that delivers employment and training services across Southeast Wisconsin. The organization serves two end-markets through parallel service lines: individuals seeking employment or career advancement (including adults, dislocated workers, youth ages 14-24, foster youth, justice-involved individuals, and healthcare career seekers) and businesses/employers seeking talent acquisition and workforce development support. Headquartered at 2607 N Grandview Blvd in Waukesha, with additional offices in Grafton (Ozaukee County) and West Bend (Washington County), the organization operates as a partner in the American Job Center network and administers multiple branded programs including WIOA Adult & Dislocated Workers, WIOA employMEnt NOW!, NEXT (Nursing. Equitable. Expansion. Training.), CNA Training, QUEST Childcare Training, CARE (Childcare Advancement Readiness Employment), CAREER LIFT, Windows to Work (re-entry), Independent Living, Worker Advancement Initiative, Summer Employment Program, and Work 'n Wheels.

The technology stack is built on integration with established state and national workforce platforms — Job Center of Wisconsin (job postings/candidate search), Handshake (student/alumni employment database), WisConomy (labor market data), WisConnect (internship matching), and Wisconsin Fast Forward (training grants), along with federal programs like Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Fidelity Bonding — rather than on proprietary software. Distribution combines three physical offices, community- and event-driven outreach (regional job fairs, employer engagement), digital channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email newsletters), and partnerships with training providers (Moraine Park Technical College, 4C – For Children, Employ Milwaukee) and funders (United Way, West Bend Community Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Washington County).

Revenue mechanics are those of a federally and foundation-funded nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise. The organization is funded primarily through WIOA-administered federal grants, U.S. Department of Labor competitive grants (including a $15M QUEST award in 2024 and a $2.48M NEXT nursing expansion award in 2023), state workforce development funding, and foundation grants. Services are free to eligible individuals. Business services are largely free (job postings, job fairs, talent matching), with cost-sharing on training programs (incumbent worker training reimbursements of 25%-75% of cost depending on employer size and outcomes; OJT wage reimbursements averaging $4,500 per hire). Audited revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Forward Careers

Legal name

Forward Careers, Inc.

Website

https://forwardcareers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forward Careers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization serving Southeast Wisconsin since 1990, delivering no-cost employment, training, and re-employment services to job seekers across multiple target populations (adults, youth, foster youth, justice-involved, healthcare career seekers) and connecting employers with talent via WIOA, DOL, and foundation-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job training programs
• Career services
• Business hiring solutions
• Occupational skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukesha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Forward Careers operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through federal workforce development programs including WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), Department of Labor grants, and state workforce development funding. The organization receives funding to administer employment and training services for individuals and businesses.
2. Foundation Grants: Forward Careers receives grant funding from local foundations including United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, West Bend Community Foundation, and Greater Milwaukee Foundation to fund specific workforce development programs such as NEXT, CARE, CAREER LIFT, and CNA training initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forward Careers is a nonprofit workforce development organization providing job training, career planning, and talent-matching services in Southeast Wisconsin. It operates two main service lines: Business Services (free job postings, talent matching, on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, rapid response) and Career Services (WIOA programs, healthcare training, youth programs, justice-involved re-entry, foster youth support, and specialized pathways including CNA, NEXT nursing, QUEST and CARE early childhood education).

Product overview

Forward Careers is a nonprofit job training organization offering a comprehensive suite of workforce development services in Southeast Wisconsin. The organization operates a platform of interconnected programs spanning two main categories: Business Services (Hiring, Training, Retaining, Rapid Response) and Career Services for individuals. Career Services include targeted programs for specific populations: Independent Living for foster youth ages 18-21, QUEST and CARE for early childhood education careers, WIOA Adult & Dislocated Workers, NEXT for nursing/healthcare careers, CNA Training, WIOA employMEnt NOW! for youth ages 14-24, Windows to Work for justice-involved individuals, Work 'n Wheels auto loan program, Worker Advancement Initiative (WAI) for internships/OJT, and the Summer Employment Program. Newer additions include the CAREER LIFT program (2025) for underserved populations. The organization connects job seekers with employers through multiple digital platforms including Job Center of Wisconsin, Handshake, WisConnect, and Wisconsin Fast Forward training grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARE (Childcare Advancement Readiness Employment): A structured work experience combined with professional training in Early Childhood Development for West Bend area residents.
• NEXT (Nursing. Equitable. Expansion. Training.)
• QUEST
• CAREER LIFT

Products and services

• Independent Living Program

Quantifiable outcome

• On average, employers receive up to $4,500 in wage reimbursement for each new hire through on-the-job training programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Employ MilwaukeesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Forward Careers hosts the BankWork$ program, offered by Employ Milwaukee, which expanded to Waukesha County as an eight-week no-cost training program for banking careers.
• American Job Center NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForward Careers is a partner in the American Job Center network, a strategic alliance of organizations, education institutions, and public agencies working together to serve businesses, individuals, and the economy.
• Moraine Park Technical CollegesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTraining provider for the CARE program, delivering occupational skills training in early childhood development alongside 4C - For Children.
• 4C – For ChildrensecondaryTechnology or IntegrationTraining provider for the CARE program, delivering occupational skills training in early childhood development alongside Moraine Park Technical College.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Employ Milwaukee: WIOA Title I workforce development board serving Milwaukee County — Forward Careers' closest geographic peer operating under the same federal funding framework with overlapping employer network across Southeast Wisconsin.
• Eckerd Workforce Solutions: National nonprofit workforce services provider serving disconnected youth, re-entry populations, and low-income adults — comparable program model, target populations, and federal workforce funding relationships.
• Equus Workforce Solutions: Private-sector workforce services operator (formerly ResCare Workforce Services) running WIOA programs across multiple states — comparable service mix in career counseling, training, and employer matching under the same federal funding.
• Goodwill Industries of Southeast Wisconsin: Regional Goodwill nonprofit offering employment placement, job training, and re-entry services for individuals with barriers to employment — directly comparable mission, customer base, and funding model in the same geography.
• Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin: Wisconsin WIOA workforce development board serving a multi-county region with comparable career services, employer engagement, and youth/adult programs — same state regulatory framework and federal funding streams.

Broad incumbents

• CareerSource Florida: Statewide network of WIOA workforce development boards in Florida providing essentially the same suite of career services, employer engagement, and training programs — comparable business model at much larger geographic scale.
• BrightSpring Health Services (formerly ResCare): Large diversified provider of home and community health, pharmacy, and workforce services including the legacy ResCare workforce division — broader portfolio than Forward Careers but historically adjacent competitive overlap in placement services.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit operator of workforce development, job training, and re-entry programs — operates at national scale with comparable mission-driven employment services but a much broader footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forwardcareers
• Facebookfacebook.com/forwardcareers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forward-careers
• Instagraminstagram.com/forward_careers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Forward Careers