Virginia Ready
Virginia Ready is a Virginia statewide nonprofit that convenes credential-based training in IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades, paying scholars a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award upon completion and connecting them to a 37-partner employer network. Founded in 2020 and now sunsetting in Q4 FY25, it has served 6,300+ Virginians with $6.4M deployed.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersVirginia, El Salvador
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Virginia Ready does
Virginia Ready is a Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in May 2020 to address workforce disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on credential-based career pathways in IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades. The organization operates a statewide convening model rather than a direct training model: it partners with education providers (including CCWA) for credential delivery and with employer partners for placement, while awarding a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award to scholars upon program completion and offering VTOP Career Readiness Modules covering eight in-demand human skills. Over four years, Virginia Ready reports investing $6.4 million across 6,300+ scholars and assembling a network of 37 "Skills First" Allies, including Sentara Healthcare (66 scholars placed), SAIC (8 IT Service Desk Analysts hired with security clearance sponsorship), Genworth Financial, Bank of America, Northrop Grumman, and Dominion Energy.
The business model is donations-and-grants funded: contributions from business partners and grants are converted primarily into Credential Achievement Award distributions ($1,000 per completer) plus program operations, with go-to-market executed through employer engagement, partner summits, regional workforce councils, and a multi-channel digital presence (website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). The primary customer segments are Virginians seeking to upskill or reskill (scholars) and Virginia employers facing critical labor shortages in targeted industries. Governance is led by CEO Caren Merrick and Board Chair Tom McInerney (President and CEO of Genworth Financial), with a founding board that included then-Lt. Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin.
In June 2024, Virginia Ready announced a plan to sunset operations in Q4 FY25, designating five regional nonprofit recipients — Claude Moore Charitable Foundation (Northern), United Way of Southwest Virginia, Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (Mid-Central), United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg (Central), and United Way of South Hampton Roads (Tidewater) — to absorb remaining programmatic work and capital. The organization is therefore in operating-but-winding-down status, transitioning from an active convenor to a fund-distribution role.
Virginia Ready firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Virginia Ready
- Legal name
- Virginia Ready
- Website
- https://vaready.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Virginia Ready is a Virginia statewide nonprofit that convenes credential-based training in IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades, paying scholars a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award upon completion and connecting them to a 37-partner employer network. Founded in 2020 and now sunsetting in Q4 FY25, it has served 6,300+ Virginians with $6.4M deployed.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Virginia Ready industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ), Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)
Keywords
Where Virginia Ready is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Virginia
- HQ country
- El Salvador
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Virginia Ready business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Virginia Ready is a nonprofit organization that operates through donations and grants from business partners. The organization has invested $6.4 million in Virginians through support of business partners by awarding the $1,000 Credential Achievement Award upon program completion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | $1,000 Credential Achievement Award for program completion |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Virginia Ready product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Virginia Ready is a state-wide 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes credential-based learning opportunities for Virginians in IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades. It awards a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award to scholars upon program completion and connects credentialed workers with employer partners for family-sustaining employment. The organization also offers VTOP Career Readiness Modules covering eight in-demand skills such as critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Product overview
Virginia Ready is a statewide nonprofit offering credential-based workforce development programs focused on IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades industries. The organization provides the Credential Achievement Award ($1,000 upon program completion) and VTOP Career Readiness Modules covering eight in-demand skills. These programs work together to help Virginians gain real-world skills, earn industry credentials, and connect with employer partners for career opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Credential Achievement Award A $1,000 financial award provided to program scholars upon successful completion of credentialing programs in IT/Tech, Healthcare, or Skilled Trades industries, designed to incentivize completion of credential programs and connect scholars to employer partners.
- VTOP Career Readiness Modules Career readiness curriculum developed by business leaders covering eight in-demand skills: career and self development, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, communication, equity and inclusion, professionalism, and technology, offered to scholars to enhance employability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,300+ Virginians helped gain credentials and enhance career prospects
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Virginia Ready
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Virginia Ready technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Virginia Ready partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- 1901 Group (now Leidos)core1901 Group was among the founding business supporters of Virginia Ready, contributing to the initial employer network supporting workforce development initiatives in Virginia.
- Bank of AmericacoreBank of America was a founding business partner supporting Virginia Ready's workforce development mission in Virginia.
- BAE SystemscoreBAE Systems provided business support as a founding partner of Virginia Ready.
- Bon SecourscoreBon Secours was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready's workforce development initiatives.
- Booz Allen HamiltoncoreBooz Allen Hamilton was a founding business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- Sentara HealthcareflagshipVirginia's largest employer established partnership with Virginia Ready in fall 2020. Through Sentara's College of Health Sciences, they created a workforce pipeline through credentialing. Through this partnership, 66 scholars were placed into jobs with Sentara.
- SAICflagshipSAIC established hiring partnership with Virginia Ready to fill IT Service Desk Analyst positions requiring security clearance. Virginia Ready scholars completing CompTIA A+, Network+, or Security+ Credentials were hired and sponsored for security clearance. 8 scholars were employed through this partnership.
- Genworth FinancialflagshipGenworth Financial was a founding partner of Virginia Ready with CEO Thomas McInerney serving as Board Chair. Extended support for multiple years. Utilized customer service credential programs at CCWA.
- Northrop GrummancoreNorthrop Grumman was a founding business partner supporting Virginia Ready's workforce development mission.
- Dominion EnergycoreDominion Energy was a founding business partner of Virginia Ready.
- Carilion CliniccoreCarilion Clinic was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready's workforce development initiatives.
- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)coreHuntington Ingalls Industries (now HII) was a founding business partner of Virginia Ready.
- ManTechcoreManTech was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- MaximuscoreMaximus was a business partner supporting customer service credential programs at CCWA for large employer partners.
- CNSIcoreCNSI was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready's workforce development initiatives.
- CoStarcoreCoStar was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- EYcoreEY was a founding business partner of Virginia Ready.
- General DynamicscoreGeneral Dynamics was a founding business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- Harris WilliamscoreHarris Williams was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- PeratoncorePeraton was a business partner of Virginia Ready.
- PwCcorePwC was a founding business partner of Virginia Ready.
- StridecoreStride was a business partner supporting Virginia Ready.
- DeloittecoreDeloitte established partnership with Virginia Ready in November 2023. Deloitte shared expertise in human skills development by offering their Future of Work Institute to Scholars, allowing them to earn a microcredential.
- DragonFlicoreDragonFli established partnership with Virginia Ready to create apprenticeship opportunities for scholars entering the IT/Cybersecurity industry who needed experience to advance in their careers.
- Claude Moore Charitable Foundation / Claude Moore OpportunitiesflagshipNorthern Region Fund Recipient as of Q3 2024. Funds will be dedicated to the workforce highway design and implementation for the IT/Tech and skilled trades industries and continued development and dissemination of the Healthcare highway concept across the state.
- United Way of Southwest VirginiacoreSouthwest Region Fund Recipient as of Q3 2024. Funds will be used to support programmatic needs for the IGNITE and Career Commons initiatives for participants 16 years and older.
- The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham CountycoreMid-Central Region Fund Recipient as of Q3 2024. Funds will be restricted to support adult learners in their community pursuing post-secondary education in the form of credentials specific to the IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled trades industries.
- United Way of Greater Richmond & PetersburgcoreCentral Region Fund Recipient as of Q3 2024. Funds will be restricted to bolster the work of the Workforce Partnerships Team and Network2Work program needs.
- United Way of South Hampton RoadscoreTidewater Region Fund Recipient as of Q3 2024. Funds will be restricted to increase the percentage of individuals served who earn job relevant licenses, certificates, and/or credentials; increase wages; and provide direct support and services to individuals receiving job skills training.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Virginia Ready competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Apprenti: Apprenti is a nonprofit apprenticeship program focused on IT and technology occupations, partnering with employers to place apprentices into registered apprenticeships. Comparable to Virginia Ready's IT/Tech pathway, particularly the DragonFli apprenticeship partnership for IT/Cybersecurity scholars.
Direct peers
- Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a nonprofit that provides tuition-free technology training (CompTIA, AWS, cybersecurity) and connects graduates to employer partners. It is directly comparable to Virginia Ready's IT/Tech credentialing track and employer-hire pathway.
- Skills for Chicagoland's Future: Skills for Chicagoland's Future is a nonprofit workforce development organization that matches unemployed and underemployed residents with employer openings. It was explicitly referenced by Virginia Ready as a comparable model and keynote speaker at their 2022 Business Partner Summit, making it the closest direct peer.
- Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development nonprofit that provides young adults with training, credentials, and corporate internships in IT and business operations. It is comparable to Virginia Ready in mission (credentialing underserved populations for in-demand careers) and operating model (employer-aligned training leading to direct hire).
- Generation You Employed: Generation is a global nonprofit that delivers short-term, employer-aligned training programs in IT, healthcare, and skilled trades, with strong emphasis on job placement outcomes. Highly comparable to Virginia Ready's industry-tracks approach and employer-driven model.
- Capital Region Workforce Collaborative (CCWA): CCWA is the education provider that delivers credentialing programs (Electrical Level 1, customer service credentials) funded by Virginia Ready's Credential Achievement Award. Directly comparable as a credential-delivery partner.
- Hampton Roads Workforce Council: Hampton Roads Workforce Council is a Virginia-based workforce development organization explicitly named as a Virginia Ready partner in delivering the Sentara medical assistant pipeline. Directly comparable in mission and geographic overlap.
- NPower: NPower is a nonprofit that provides tech workforce development, certification training, and job placement services for military veterans and underserved young adults. Comparable to Virginia Ready in the IT credentialing and employer-hire model.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is a large established nonprofit network offering workforce development, credentialing, and job placement across many geographies. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same workforce-readiness category, though with retail-funding model and significantly larger scope.
Regional players
- CareerSource Virginia: CareerSource Virginia is the state's workforce development board network operating under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Comparable in workforce mission and Virginia geography, though federally funded and broader in scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Virginia Ready social profiles
Digital presenceVirginia Ready financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Virginia Ready leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Virginia Ready funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Virginia Ready M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Ready
What does Virginia Ready do?
Virginia Ready is a state-wide 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes credential-based learning opportunities for Virginians in IT/Tech, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades. It awards a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award to scholars upon program completion and connects credentialed workers with employer partners for family-sustaining employment. The organization also offers VTOP Career Readiness Modules covering eight in-demand skills such as critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Is Virginia Ready a public or private company?
Virginia Ready is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Virginia Ready founded?
Virginia Ready was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Virginia Ready based?
Virginia Ready is headquartered in Virginia, El Salvador, in the Latin America region.
How does Virginia Ready make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Virginia Ready's main competitors?
Apprenti is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Per Scholas, Skills for Chicagoland's Future, Year Up, Generation You Employed, Capital Region Workforce Collaborative (CCWA), Hampton Roads Workforce Council and NPower. Goodwill Industries International is listed as a broad incumbent. CareerSource Virginia is listed as a regional player.
Does Virginia Ready have an API?
No public API is recorded for Virginia Ready.
What industry is Virginia Ready in?
Virginia Ready's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAF, Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPACANAJ, Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.