tulsa community workadvance

What tulsa community workadvance does

Tulsa Community WorkAdvance is a nonprofit workforce development program operated under Madison Strategies Group, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The program provides free technical training, job placement assistance, and up to two years of career coaching to unemployed and underemployed residents within a 40-mile radius of Tulsa. Training is delivered through partnerships with established educational institutions — Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa Community College, Foundry College, and Goodwill Industries of Tulsa — and covers four occupational sectors: healthcare (CNA, Certified Medication Aide, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician), manufacturing (CNC Machinist with NIMS certification, Welding, Shipping/Receiving/Warehousing with OSHA 10), transportation (CDL B Driver with HazMat and Passenger endorsements), and professional services (QuickBooks-certified accounting, IT/Network Technician with CompTIA Network+ and Security+). All training is paired with a one-week career readiness module covering resume building, interview preparation, workplace communication, and wraparound support including transportation assistance, work clothing, tools, and financial coaching.

The business model is a sector-based, dual-customer model that simultaneously addresses job seeker needs (free training, placement, coaching) and employer needs (pre-screened, credentialed talent at no recruitment cost). Services are provided at no cost to participants; the organization is funded by federal, state, and local government grants alongside private foundation contributions from sources including George Kaiser Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Bank of America, Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Devon Energy, Tulsa Area United Way, and the City of Tulsa (via Community Development Block Grant). The model has been validated through a five-year randomized controlled trial conducted by MDRC, which documented a $4,125 per year wage premium and a +40% average earnings increase for participants relative to control group.

The organization reaches customers primarily through a network of 20+ community referral partners, including CAP Tulsa, Family & Children's Services, Tulsa Housing Authority, Tulsa Public Schools, and Center for Employment Opportunities, with secondary acquisition via weekly orientations at the downtown Tulsa office, website and blog content, and employer referrals from the 100+ employer partner network. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization's competitive differentiation rests on its ecosystem density, RCT-validated methodology, employer partner network, and post-placement career coaching model that supports retention and advancement.

Name

tulsa community workadvance

Legal name

Madison Strategies Group

Website

https://workadvance.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tulsa Community WorkAdvance is a 501(c)(3) workforce development program under Madison Strategies Group that provides free technical training, job placement, and up to two years of career coaching to unemployed and underemployed residents within 40 miles of Tulsa, serving healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and professional services sectors through a network of 100+ employer partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Educational Services (61)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Technical job training
• Career placement assistance
• Vocational training programs
• Career coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Funding: WorkAdvance is a nonprofit program of Madison Strategies Group, funded by federal, state, and local government grants as well as private foundation donations. All services are provided completely free to program participants. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tulsa Community WorkAdvance is a nonprofit workforce development program that provides free technical training, job placement assistance, and up to two years of career coaching to Tulsa-area residents. Training is delivered across four sectors — Healthcare (CNA, CMA, Phlebotomy, Medical Assistant), Manufacturing (CNC Machining, Welding, Shipping/Receiving), Transportation (CDL B), and Professional Services — through partner institutions such as Tulsa Tech, Tulsa Community College, Foundry College, and Goodwill Industries. The program operates a dual-customer model serving both job seekers and local employers.

Product overview

Tulsa Community WorkAdvance is a workforce development organization offering a comprehensive job training and career coaching platform. The program provides free vocational training across three main sectors: Healthcare (Certified Medication Aide, CNA, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician), Manufacturing (CNC Machinist, Welding, Shipping/Receiving/Warehousing), and Transportation (CDL B Driver). All training programs are paired with career readiness training, job placement services, and up to two years of ongoing career coaching. The WorkAdvance Model is a research-proven workforce development approach that connects job seekers with quality employment through nationally recognized credentials, employer partnerships, and personalized support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• WorkAdvance participants earn $4,125 more in wages per year compared to control group
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Tulsa Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary training partner delivering technical training programs including CNA, CMA, Phlebotomy, CNC Machining, Welding, and CDL-B Driver training. WorkAdvance refers participants and coordinates with Tulsa Tech for instruction.
• Tulsa Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing technical training pathways for WorkAdvance participants seeking industry-recognized credentials.
• CAP TulsamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization referring participants and providing wraparound support services for WorkAdvance customers.
• Center for Employment OpportunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing employment services and referring participants to WorkAdvance training programs.
• Family & Children's ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization referring participants and providing supportive services for WorkAdvance customers.
• Goodwill (Tulsa)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity and training partner providing workforce development services and training pathways for WorkAdvance participants.
• Tulsa Health DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting healthcare training pathways and referring participants to healthcare career programs.
• Foundry CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing training pathways for WorkAdvance participants.
• Madison Strategies GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization - WorkAdvance is a program of Madison Strategies Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps individuals achieve economic mobility through innovative employment, education, and financial empowerment strategies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit intermediary that designs, funds, and scales innovative workforce and education programs. Comparable as the type of organization that helps replicate evidence-based workforce models — adjacent to WorkAdvance's operating model but not a direct operator.

Direct peers

• Towards Employment: Cleveland-based nonprofit providing workforce training, coaching, and placement services to adults facing barriers to employment. Comparable as a regional, sector-focused workforce development nonprofit with wraparound support services.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Multi-city workforce development nonprofit providing job training, coaching, and placement to a broad adult population including immigrants and low-income residents. Comparable as a tuition-free, sector-driven workforce nonprofit with employer-aligned curricula.
• Project QUEST: San Antonio-based sectoral workforce development program that served as the sister site for the MDRC WorkAdvance RCT. Operates the same dual-customer, sector-based training-and-placement model validated in the same research study.
• Skills for Chicagoland's Future: Chicago-area nonprofit that connects unemployed and underemployed residents with training and employer-driven hiring. Comparable as a sector-based, employer-partnered workforce intermediary serving a single metropolitan market.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing free training and corporate internships in tech and business to young adults, with employer-driven sector models. Directly comparable as a workforce development nonprofit pairing technical training with employer partnerships and wraparound support.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit offering no-cost IT training and job placement support to adults from low-income communities. Directly comparable as a tuition-free workforce nonprofit providing credentialed technical training and employer-connected placement.
• Capital IDEA: Austin-based nonprofit providing free training and career coaching in healthcare, IT, and skilled trades with strong employer partnerships. Closely comparable as a regional, sector-based workforce development nonprofit with structured wraparound support.

Emerging players

• Generation: Global nonprofit offering free, short-duration workforce training programs in growth occupations, with employer partnerships and post-program placement support. Comparable in mission and sector-credentialing approach, though more tech/sustainability-focused than WorkAdvance.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit with substantial workforce development and training programs across many U.S. regions, including partnerships with employers and government. Comparable as a broad workforce development operator but at much larger scale and mission scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about tulsa community workadvance