Training Grounds

What Training Grounds does

Training Grounds Inc. (TGI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Tom Brown and headquartered at 2806 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 8. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of workforce development, youth leadership, violence prevention, and community engagement programs to socio-economically disadvantaged populations across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Prince George's County MD, Virginia, and North Carolina. Documented impact includes more than 1,800 job seekers trained with a 67% completion rate and 450+ industry certifications earned (OSHA 10, ServSafe, Flagger, CPR, Customer Service), nearly 5,000 young people served annually, over 90,000 residents engaged, and more than $18M in cumulative participant income generated.

TGI's service portfolio is organized around three pillars: Workforce Development (anchored by the Training Grounds to Work program, the Welcome Home Program for returning citizens powered by Prince George's County's RCAD, and the HomeCraft Innovation Lab/Makerspace), Youth Initiatives (Biz-N-Hoops basketball league, L.O.V.E. Youth Initiative, eSports for PEACE Gaming Lab), and Community Engagement (Live In Peace Forums, violence interruption, trauma-informed outreach). A newer product, My Career Coach, is described as an AI-powered career assistance platform. The 3Roots Home affordable housing project in Capitol Heights, MD — developed with Within Reach Development Collective and Heron Community Development — represents the organization's first direct move into housing development. The "TGI Framework" (Community Transformation Model) and "Love Management" trauma-informed care function constitute the organization's core proprietary methodologies.

The business model is nonprofit and multi-stream: government and public sector contracts (RCAD, Prince George's County), foundation and institutional grants, individual and corporate donations solicited via PayPal, ticketed event revenue (e.g., Tommy Davidson Experience at $55/ticket), and a nascent employer-funded training revenue stream. Programs are delivered free of charge to eligible participants through neighborhood-embedded sites including the Largo Innovation Campus, PGCC Skill Trades Center, and community locations in Wards 5, 7, and 8. Four program managers with a combined 100+ years of incarceration experience lead day-to-day operations, providing lived-experience credibility in serving reentry populations.

Name

Training Grounds

Legal name

Training Grounds Inc.

Website

https://traininggroundsdmv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Training Grounds Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers workforce development, youth leadership, violence prevention, and community engagement programs to socio-economically disadvantaged populations in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Youth development programs
• Community engagement services
• Returning citizen reentry
• Nonprofit job training

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government & Public Sector Contracts: TGI delivers customized workforce development, youth initiatives, and community engagement services to government agencies under contract. Programs such as the Welcome Home Program (powered by RCAD) serve returning citizens through publicly funded workforce initiatives.
2. Foundation & Nonprofit Grants: TGI operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization receiving grant funding from foundations and institutional donors to support program operations and community initiatives.
3. Individual & Corporate Donations: The organization solicits charitable donations via PayPal and other channels to support its mission of transforming lives and communities. Donors are engaged through newsletter and community events.
4. Event Revenue & Fundraising: TGI generates revenue through ticketed community events such as the Tommy Davidson Experience ($55/ticket) and annual gala celebrations. These events also serve fundraising purposes.
5. Training Program Fees (Employer-Paid): TGI provides workforce training programs to employers who partner with the organization to develop skilled talent pipelines, potentially on a fee-for-service basis for customized training delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Training Grounds Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free workforce development, youth development, and community engagement programs to job seekers, at-risk youth, and returning citizens in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Programming is funded through government contracts, grants, donations, and sponsorships, and includes job-readiness training, soft-skills coaching, and pathways to sustainable employment.

Product overview

Training Grounds Inc. (TGI) is a nonprofit organization offering a multi-faceted service portfolio organized around three core service areas: Workforce Development, Youth Initiatives, and Community Engagement. The organization operates as a unified platform with interconnected programs including My Career Coach (AI-powered career assistance), the HomeCraft Innovation Lab/Makerspace, and specialized initiatives like the 3Roots Home affordable housing project and Welcome Home Program for returning citizens. Key programs include the Training Grounds to Work Program, Biz-N-Hoops youth basketball league, Live In Peace Movement, and Love Management support services. The portfolio is designed to serve socio-economically disadvantaged communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area through comprehensive, customizable educational and strategic solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workforce Development Training Programs Free job-readiness, soft-skills, and occupational training programs for adult job seekers and returning citizens in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
• Youth Development Initiatives

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $18M in total participant income generated
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Within Reach Development CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025Within Reach Development Collective serves as the construction and project oversight partner for the 3Roots Home project — a 1,700 sq. ft. (event listing says 2,200 sq. ft.), 4-bed/3-bath (event listing says 3-bed/2.5-bath) affordable home in Capitol Heights, MD. This partnership integrates TGI's workforce development for returning citizens with affordable housing construction.
• Heron Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025Heron Community Development handles affordable housing financing and project support for the 3Roots Home. The partnership with TGI and Within Reach Development Collective creates a model for wealth-building, workforce development, and affordable home ownership in Prince George's County.
• InncuvatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023TGI holds a residency at the Inncuvate Innovation Studio at the Largo Innovation Campus, which supports the Workforce of the Future Initiative. Inncuvate provides purpose-built facilities and programs that attract talent and encourage innovation. TGI co-hosts forums and community events at the campus, including the Sustainable Energy & Construction Technology Forum.
• Last Mile NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023TGI joined the Last Mile Network as a strategic partner to establish a training hub for Prince George's County residents. The partnership feeds directly into employment opportunities for construction, IT, sustainable energy, and hospitality sectors supporting development projects including the Blue Line Corridor. Last Mile Network's Module housing innovation (accessory dwelling units) is integrated with TGI's workforce training.
• The Basketball GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2022TGI partners with The Basketball Group, a hybrid sports events firm, to co-host basketball combines that connect youth athletes with college scholarship opportunities and experiential learning (financial literacy, entrepreneurship, health & nutrition). The Home Court Elite combine (May 2022) engaged 100+ student-athletes from D.C. and Prince George's County and resulted in over $1M in scholarship offers from 10+ collegiate programs.
• Love Button Global Movement (Coldplay)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn partnership with Love Button Global Movement — the nonprofit organization of seven-time Grammy-winning band Coldplay — TGI hosted a community feeding event that served 300+ people at its Martin Luther King Jr. Ave site in Ward 8. The event combined community resources with music industry visibility.
• Expose. Experience. Elevate (E3) & HIS Church GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGI collaborated with E3 and HIS Church Global to co-host the Live In Peace Community Banquet (December 9), which drew 150+ community members and featured comedian Chris Paul, restaurant catering (Dionne's Good Food), a Blessing Corner (distributing coats, clothes, toys, gift cards), praise dance performances, and community leader awards.
• Prince George's County & Hope in ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Live in P.E.A.C.E Youth Symposium (February 2023) was sponsored by PG County and Hope in Action. Over 100 youth and parents attended the event at the Suitland Community Center for interactive sessions on mental health, financial literacy, artistic expression, and solutions to combat violence. The event generated 650+ community service hours for youth participants.
• Industrial BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerB. Doyle Mitchell, President of Industrial Bank, participated in the Blue Line Corridor Forum expressing interest in sustainable energy and workforce development opportunities in Prince George's County. The bank represents a financial sector partner with community development interests.
• Employers, Corporations & Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTGI's strategic partnerships with employers, corporations, government agencies, faith-based institutions, and community organizations have been central to its ability to impact lives. These collaborations expand TGI's reach, provide comprehensive support services, and create lasting change by connecting program graduates with employment opportunities and community resources.
• Returning Citizens Affairs Division (RCAD) — Prince George's CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCAD's Welcome Home Program is powered by TGI and represents a flagship workforce development initiative serving returning citizens who have been incarcerated for five or more years. TGI provides the training infrastructure, curriculum, and job placement services under this government partnership.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit focused specifically on reentry employment for formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable population focus and employer-partnership model to TGI's Welcome Home Program.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing technical and trades-based skills training and job placement for adults from underestimated communities. Comparable tuition-free, employer-aligned training model and outcomes measurement approach.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and career placement for young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. Comparable mission, similar employer-partnership model, and overlapping federal funding streams make it a direct comparable.
• STRIVE: National nonprofit providing workforce development and soft-skills training for individuals facing barriers to employment. Closely comparable methodology and target population, including returning citizens.
• Roca: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing workforce development and violence interruption services for high-risk young adults. Comparable integrated model combining behavioral intervention with job training for similar populations.
• The Last Mile: Nonprofit providing technology training and reentry employment for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable mission, and notably a strategic partner of TGI through the Last Mile Network.
• NPower: National nonprofit offering free technology and professional skills training to veterans and young adults from underserved communities. Comparable employer pipeline model and federal/state contracting approach.

Regional players

• Safer Foundation: Illinois-based nonprofit providing workforce reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals. Comparable returning-citizen focus but operates primarily in the Chicago region rather than the D.C. metro.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development operator serving returning citizens and barriered populations. Overlaps with TGI's mission at much greater scale, with established government contracts and training programs.

Others

• Annie E. Casey Foundation (Jobs Plus / JFF affiliates): Major national philanthropy and policy actor in workforce development for disadvantaged populations. While not a direct operator, it is a comparable funding and thought-leadership stakeholder in TGI's grant ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Training Grounds