Apprenticeships for America

What Apprenticeships for America does

Apprenticeships for America (AFA) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization founded in 2022 that pursues a multi-pronged strategy of research and policy analysis, federal and state advocacy, and a curated membership network to expand registered apprenticeship in the United States. AFA's stated mission is to grow the number of Americans earning and learning as apprentices from approximately 700,000 to over 4 million by 2035, with priority sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services, public safety, education, and manufacturing. The organization supports a coalition of intermediaries, schools, business leaders, labor representatives, and researchers, and it partners with organizations such as IBM (on the Business-led Apprenticeship Solutions Team), the American Institutes for Research, Arnold Ventures, C-BEN, Reach University, and the National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree on policy design, including Pay-for-Performance funding systems, model state legislation, and annual convenings such as the Apprenticeship Summit.

AFA's product surface consists of a ToucanTech-powered community and membership website hosting its resource library (guides, policy briefs, webinar recaps), an electronic newsletter (E-Digest), events and webinars including the annual Apprenticeship Summit, and a public-facing consulting network that curates independent apprenticeship experts (e.g., The Workforce Lab, Public Consulting Group, JobForward, S/C Marketing, Apprenticeship Carolina) for organizations seeking implementation support. There are no standalone software products, APIs, or AI-enabled modules; AFA's technical footprint is a content/community platform rather than a buildable technology stack.

AFA generates revenue through individual, organizational, and patron membership fees (annual billing, pricing not publicly disclosed), grants from funders such as Arnold Ventures, donations, and referral economics tied to its consulting network — though none of these streams are publicly itemized. The organization is led by Executive Director John Colborn with a lean staff of seven (Senior VP Zach Boren, VP Harry Leech, plus Research, Operations, Partnership, and Research Affiliate roles), governed by a board that includes recognized apprenticeship scholar Robert Lerman and industry operators, and headquartered at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, South Building, Suite 900, Washington, DC.

Name

Apprenticeships for America

Legal name

Apprenticeships for America

Website

https://apprenticeshipsforamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Apprenticeships for America is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 2022 that uses research, federal and state advocacy, and a curated membership network to grow registered apprenticeship in the United States toward a goal of 4 million apprentices by 2035, serving intermediaries, employers, policymakers, and workforce development professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Advocacy

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), Workforce, Employability & Youth Skills Partnerships (EDADALAI)

Keywords

• Registered apprenticeship advocacy
• Workforce development policy
• Apprenticeship consulting network
• Pay-for-performance funding
• Nonprofit membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AFA generates revenue through individual and organizational membership fees, offering Individual Membership, Organizational Membership, and Patron Membership options.
2. Consulting Services: AFA curates a network of experts in the apprenticeship field who can support organizations and individuals to start and scale apprenticeship programs, connecting them with consultants for implementation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Apprenticeships for America is a nonprofit organization that conducts research, advocates for policy change, and mobilizes a membership network of intermediaries, employers, educators, labor representatives, and researchers to expand registered apprenticeship programs in the United States. Its core deliverables include advocacy at the federal and state levels, a curated consulting network of apprenticeship experts, a library of publications and policy resources, and an annual Summit plus webinars. The organization is funded primarily through membership fees (Individual, Organizational, and Patron tiers) with supplementary grants and donations.

Product overview

Apprenticeships for America operates primarily as an advocacy and membership organization rather than a software product company. Its digital presence consists of a community and membership website powered by ToucanTech, which provides access to resources, publications, advocacy materials, and an online member community. Key programmatic offerings include the AFA Consulting Network (a curated directory of apprenticeship experts), AFA Resources and Publications (research, policy briefs, and guides), Federal and Congressional Advocacy (legislative engagement and testimony), State Advocacy (supporting states with Pay-for-Performance apprenticeship systems), AFA Events and Webinars (including the annual Apprenticeship Summit), and the AFA E-Digest newsletter. There are no standalone software products, APIs, or AI-enabled digital product modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFA Consulting Network: A curated list of experts in the apprenticeship field who can support organizations and individuals to start and scale apprenticeship programs.

Products and services

• AFA Membership Program Tiered membership program (Individual, Organizational, and Patron) providing organizations, employers, intermediaries, educators, and individuals with access to AFA's resources, advocacy, publications, events, and online member community.
• AFA Consulting Network A curated directory of vetted apprenticeship experts covering program design, implementation, compliance, funding strategies, and employer engagement, connecting organizations and individuals with consultants to start or scale registered apprenticeship programs.
• AFA Resources and Publications Library of research publications, policy briefs, guides, webinar recaps, and advocacy resources covering apprenticeship expansion, Pay-for-Performance funding, Workforce Pell implementation, and federal legislative analysis, available to members and the public.
• Federal and Congressional Advocacy Federal policy engagement program providing congressional testimony, legislative analysis, executive order analysis, and collaboration with federal agencies to advance apprenticeship legislation and funding.
• State Advocacy (Pay-for-Performance Apprenticeship Funding) State-level advocacy initiative that supports states in designing and implementing outcome-based Pay-for-Performance apprenticeship funding systems, including model legislation and peer learning across states.
• AFA Events and Webinars (including Annual Apprenticeship Summit) Events program including the annual Apprenticeship Summit (e.g., 2026 Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC) and periodic webinars covering topics such as tribal colleges, state apprenticeship systems, higher education integration, and veterans apprenticeship programs.
• AFA Newsletter (E-Digest) Regular electronic newsletter (E-Digest) providing updates on upcoming events, federal and state apprenticeship funding announcements, industry-specific programs, and policy developments for members and subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Goal to grow apprentices from 700,000 to 4 million by 2035
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFA partnered with IBM to convene the Business-led Apprenticeship Solutions Team (BLAST), a group of leading apprenticeship employers that developed recommendations to scale registered apprenticeship in the United States.
• American Institutes for ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFA with the American Institutes for Research is leading a national initiative to help states design and implement Pay-for-Performance apprenticeship funding systems that reward outcomes and create sustainable financing for apprenticeship growth.
• JobForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFA working with the White House on Apprenticeships, along with members JobForward and Apprenticely, with apprenticeship leaders meeting near the White House to discuss expanding employer-led apprenticeship programs.
• ApprentiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFA working with the White House on Apprenticeships, with apprenticeship leaders meeting to discuss expanding employer-led apprenticeship programs and strengthening America's workforce pipeline.
• North Carolina State University AI AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApprenti (an AFA member) partnered with NC State AI Academy to launch the first nationwide Registered Apprenticeship program for AI Associates, designed for full-time working adults with virtual instruction, mentorship, and project-based learning.
• C-BEN (Careerwise)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC-BEN co-hosts the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit and partners with AFA on CBExchange pre-conference programming for building and scaling apprenticeships.
• National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAD is a national non-profit center dedicated to advancing the Apprenticeship Degree across the United States, partnering with employers, state agencies, and institutions of higher education. Co-hosts apprenticeship events with AFA.
• Reach UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReach University partners on apprenticeship degree programs and co-hosts CBExchange pre-conference with AFA on building and scaling apprenticeships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Skills Coalition: National nonprofit advocacy and policy organization focused on equitable skills training and workforce policy. Directly comparable to AFA as a DC-based policy advocate mobilizing a network of state and intermediary partners around workforce system reform.
• CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy): National policy organization advancing policies and programs for low-income people, with deep workforce development and apprenticeship advocacy. Comparable to AFA in policy/research/advocacy orientation and DC presence.
• Opportunity@Work: National nonprofit focused on expanding access to good jobs through skills-based hiring and training pathways, including apprenticeship-adjacent models. Directly comparable to AFA as a DC-rooted policy advocate and network builder targeting employer demand for skilled talent.
• Corporation for a Skilled Workforce: National nonprofit working on employer engagement, sector partnerships, and apprenticeship/work-based learning expansion. Comparable to AFA for its intermediary-network and employer-engagement model.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): Large national nonprofit driving workforce and education transformation, with active work on registered apprenticeship and employer-led training. Comparable to AFA in mission (expanding apprenticeship and work-based learning pathways) but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Regional players

• Apprenticeship Carolina: State-level registered apprenticeship intermediary (division of SC Technical College System) developing youth and adult apprenticeship programs across South Carolina. Comparable to AFA's mission but operating as a state delivery intermediary rather than a national advocate.

Broad incumbents

• Code.org: National nonprofit advocating for expanded computer science education and related workforce pathways, including apprenticeship-adjacent models. Comparable to AFA as a high-profile advocacy nonprofit with state and federal policy engagement and a broad network.
• New America: Large DC-based think tank with programs covering education, workforce, and economic mobility — including apprenticeship-related policy work. Overlaps AFA in policy and research, but operates at much broader scope.
• Markle Foundation (Rework America): Foundation operating the Rework America Alliance focused on skills-based hiring and worker upskilling at national scale. Comparable to AFA in policy/advocacy for apprenticeship-adjacent workforce models, but with substantially larger resources.

Emerging players

• Apprenti: National registered apprenticeship intermediary operating in multiple states, including a high-profile AI Apprenticeship partnership with NC State. Comparable to AFA as an AFA member organization focused on scaling employer-led apprenticeship, but operationally delivery-focused rather than policy-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apprenticeships-for-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Apprenticeships for America