Real people. Real results.
Every number SKILLED Nation puts on the board started as a person with a goal and a gap between where they were and where they wanted to be. A single mom in Georgia who wanted to become a surgical tech. A young man in Detroit who knew cars better than anyone in his neighborhood but could not afford the certification to prove it. A veteran in Texas ready to put his skills to work in the energy sector but lacking the credentials to get hired.
We exist for people like this.
Since 2021 we have funded more thousands of scholarships across all 50 states, partnering with some of America's most respected companies and foundations to make skills training accessible to the people who need it most. Our scholars come from every background, every state, and every walk of life. What they share is ambition and the willingness to work for something better.
The outcomes speak for themselves. More than 90+% of SKILLED Nation scholars complete their training. Of those, 90+% find employment. The median income increase within two years of training is more than $40,000. Half of our recipients come from households earning under $25,000 per year.
This is investment in people, in communities, and in an economy that runs on skilled work.
Amanda Lang
Industrial Electrician Scholar through Norfolk Southern
My family was full of men who were in the trades. I will be the first female in my family to be in the trades. It's a very big day for females in this career path and I'm blessed to be a part of that.
Austin Osborn
Welding Scholar through Ford Philanthropy
My parents have always taught me to work hard and pushed me to be the best that I can be, even while I watched them struggle and saw my mother battle cancer twice and continue to work through it all. When I found welding, they believed in me enough to buy me a welder, and since then I have pushed myself every day, practiced day in and day out, and turned it into something I truly love.
Sudarshan
Construction Management Scholar through Home Depot Path to Pro
Construction isn't just a career. It's how I restore what was lost. Not just for me, but for others who need a safe place to stand. This scholarship won't just support a student. It will fuel a future builder. Someone who knows what it means to start with nothing and still rise.
Teresa Lee
Carpentry Scholar through Home Depot Women in Construction
After losing my father, I made the decision to take a risk, leave my career, and pursue something new. What began as an exhausting but exciting experience building a tiny home has led me to rediscover a passion for carpentry. Through volunteering and education, I've found joy in the process, confidence in my abilities, and a new path forward doing work that is both challenging and rewarding.
Zachary R
Manufacturing Automation Engineering Technology Scholar through Ford Philanthropy
I'd like to thank the Ford Philanthropy Scholarship for awarding me the scholarship. It's an incredible resource. It's going to help me immensely and I just can't recommend other students enough to go out and look for these resources to help us and become the best we can be at what we want to do.