Oregon Tradeswomen

What Oregon Tradeswomen does

Oregon Tradeswomen is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 by four tradeswomen to address economic self-sufficiency and skilled workforce shortages by preparing women and gender minorities for careers in construction, manufacturing, mechanical, and utility trades. The organization's core program is the 192-hour Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC), a state-certified apprenticeship-readiness offering (Pathways to Success) that is free to qualifying adult job seekers and covers field trips, hands-on work, guest speakers, and trades-specific training. Programs are funded through a diversified mix of public grants (Portland Clean Energy Fund, Worksystems, U.S. Department of Labor, Prosper Portland, Metro), individual and corporate donations, Workforce Partner Program sponsorships with Silver and Bronze tiers, event sponsorships (Build With Us! gala, annual Career Fair, Tradesworker Leadership Institute), and affiliate giving (Dovetail Workwear, Fred Meyer Community Rewards).

Oregon Tradeswomen operates as a hybrid community-led, event-driven organization that distributes services directly through in-person training at its Portland headquarters (16790 NE Mason St, Suite 100) and partner locations, supplemented by an online Job Board marketplace serving Oregon and Washington. Employer relationships are formalized through the Workforce Partner Program, which grants Silver/Bronze tier recognition and pipeline access to construction firms and unions (including Skanska, McKinstry, Energy Trust of Oregon, NECA IBEW Local 48, JE Dunn Construction, Mortenson, and Pence/Kelly Concrete). Secondary products include RISE Up Oregon (a respectful-workplace consulting and training service licensed from ANEW for contractors), the annual Career Fair at Portland Expo Center (31-year track record, 106 exhibitors and 2,250+ students in 2026), and the Tradesworker Leadership Institute (annual professional development conference).

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its competitive position rests on 35+ years of brand equity, state certification of its apprenticeship-readiness curriculum by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, a dense two-sided network of employers, unions, training programs, and government funders, and authentic representation through skilled female instructors and staff. Headquarters is in Portland, Oregon, with a secondary training facility at the Sheet Metal Institute for TLI events. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors under IRS Tax ID #31-1655001, with no parent company or private equity involvement identified.

Name

Oregon Tradeswomen

Legal name

Oregon Tradeswomen

Website

https://oregontradeswomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oregon Tradeswomen is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that prepares women and gender minorities for skilled construction trades through a free 192-hour apprenticeship-readiness program, an employer job board, and annual career events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Pre-Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), 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

Occupational Safety, OSHA & Workplace Compliance Training (EDAOAMAK), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• Workforce development training
• Pre-apprenticeship programs
• Skilled trades education
• Construction trades training
• Respectful workplace training

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations provide funding for training programs. The Builders monthly giving program offers recurring donations with exclusive updates and thank-you gifts. Donations are tax-deductible under 501(c)(3) status.
2. Workforce Partner Program: Annual sponsorship from employers in the construction industry. Silver and Bronze tier partnerships provide recognition and access to skilled workforce pipeline.
3. Event Sponsorships: Build With Us! annual gala and Career Fair events generate sponsorship revenue from employers, unions, and training programs seeking visibility.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from Portland Clean Energy Fund, Prosper Portland, Metro, Worksystems, U.S. Department of Labor, and other government entities supports the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class program.
5. Third-party Giving Programs: Affiliate partnerships including Fred Meyer Community Rewards and Dovetail Workwear (10% of sales donated) provide additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Oregon Tradeswomen delivers free state-certified pre-apprenticeship training and workforce development services that prepare women and gender minorities for careers in skilled construction, manufacturing, mechanical, and utility trades. Its core product is the 192-hour Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC), complemented by employer-facing programs including RISE Up Oregon respectful workplace training, a Job Board, an annual Career Fair, the Tradesworker Leadership Institute, and the Workforce Partner Program.

Product overview

Oregon Tradeswomen offers a comprehensive suite of workforce development programs focused on preparing individuals for careers in skilled construction trades. The core offerings include the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC), a 192-hour pre-apprenticeship training program; RISE Up Oregon, a respectful workplace training program; the annual Career Fair connecting job-seekers with employers; a Job Board listing trade employment opportunities; the Tradesworker Leadership Institute for professional development; and monthly Social Hours for networking. The Workforce Partner Program enables employers to support and recruit from the talent pipeline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pathways to Success: State-certified apprenticeship-readiness program helping individuals prepare for careers in skilled construction trades
• RISE Up Oregon
• Tradesworker Leadership Institute
• Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC)
• Build With Us!
• Oregon Tradeswomen's Career Fair

Products and services

• Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,250 students and chaperones attended the 2026 Career Fair
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Energy Trust of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Workforce Partner providing funding and support for workforce development initiatives. Recognized for promoting women in the trades and supporting diversity in the construction industry.
• McKinstrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Workforce Partner - construction company committed to equity and workforce development. Provides financial support and engagement with Oregon Tradeswomen programs.
• NECA IBEW Oregon Columbia Local 48coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Workforce Partner - electrical industry union representing skilled electrical workers. Supports diversity and professional development for tradeswomen.
• SkanskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze Workforce Partner. Actively hires Oregon Tradeswomen graduates for Field Engineer positions. Provides testimonial endorsement of program quality.
• JE Dunn ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze Workforce Partner and Build With Us! sponsor. Construction company supporting diversity and women in trades.
• Pence/Kelly ConcretecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze Workforce Partner and event sponsor. Concrete construction company committed to empowering women in skilled trades.
• MortensoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver sponsor at Build With Us! event and Bronze sponsor at Career Fair. Large construction firm supporting workforce diversity initiatives.
• Portland Expo CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the 2026 Career Fair. Located at 2025 N Expo Road, Portland OR 97217. Accessible via TriMet MAX Yellow Line.
• Constructing HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-apprenticeship partner offering information sessions at Career Fair. Another Portland-based program helping individuals enter construction trades.
• Portland YouthBuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-apprenticeship partner offering information sessions at Career Fair. Nonprofit providing education and vocational training for young people.
• ANEWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of RISE Up bystander-intervention and harassment prevention training program. Oregon Tradeswomen is the Oregon affiliate provider.
• Dovetail WorkwearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partner where customers can save $10 on first purchase and Oregon Tradeswomen receives 10% of all sales.
• Fred MeyerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Rewards Program partner allowing shoppers to support Oregon Tradeswomen at no cost through Fred Meyer's loyalty program.
• Sheet Metal InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of Tradesworker Leadership Institute. Venue host and financial supporter of professional development event.
• DannerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFootwear company hosting TLI after-party at their Factory Store. Provides product demos and special shopping deals for attendees.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Constructing Hope: Portland-based pre-apprenticeship program training low-income individuals for construction careers; named partner of Oregon Tradeswomen at the Career Fair and serves overlapping cohorts and employers in the same regional market.
• Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT): Chicago-based 501(c)(3) that provides pre-apprenticeship training, supportive services, and job placement for women entering skilled construction trades. The most directly comparable peer in mission, program design, and funding model to Oregon Tradeswomen in another major metro.
• Washington Women in Trades: Pacific Northwest peer serving Washington state with workforce development and pre-apprenticeship for women in the trades; shares geographic adjacency, employer ecosystem, and mission alignment with Oregon Tradeswomen.
• Nontraditional Employment Network (NEN): New York City nonprofit preparing women and men for careers in skilled construction trades and union apprenticeships. Closely mirrors Oregon Tradeswomen's TACC-style pre-apprenticeship plus job placement model, albeit on a larger scale.
• Women in NonTraditional Employment Roles (INTER): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing pre-apprenticeship training and supportive services to women seeking careers in construction and other nontraditional fields. Comparable mission, multi-trade curriculum, and placement-driven model.
• ANEW (Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment): Pacific Northwest workforce training nonprofit and developer of the RISE Up respectful workplace curriculum that Oregon Tradeswomen delivers; highly comparable in mission, geography, and apprenticeship-readiness programming.
• Milwaukee Women in Trades: Wisconsin nonprofit preparing women for careers in skilled trades through pre-apprenticeship training and direct employer pathways; structurally similar nonprofit model operating in a different regional market.

Others

• CareerSafe OSHA Training: National OSHA 10/30 and workplace safety training provider for construction and general industry; comparable safety/compliance training content to OTW's RISE Up program, but commercial rather than nonprofit and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Portland YouthBuilders: Portland-based education and vocational training program for young adults that also runs a construction trades pre-apprenticeship; named Oregon Tradeswomen partner and a partial-overlap peer serving some of the same low-income youth pipeline.
• Helmets to Hardhats: National nonprofit placing veterans into skilled construction apprenticeship programs; comparable apprenticeship-placement mission but focused on veterans rather than women, and operating nationwide rather than regionally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ORTradeswomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/OregonTradeswomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oregon-tradeswomen
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ORTradeswomen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Oregon Tradeswomen