Policy & Funder Center
A scalable economic-mobility model for public systems and philanthropy
IWOWS was designed for national funders, policymakers, public agencies, workforce boards, schools, employers, and community development leaders seeking a practical model that moves beyond service delivery into measurable economic mobility.
Policy priorities IWOWS supports
One model, aligned to many public goals
- Welfare-to-work transition
- Workforce development
- Registered apprenticeship
- Career & technical education
- Youth opportunity
- Economic mobility
- Digital equity & AI readiness
- Reentry employment
- Green workforce development
- Entrepreneurship
- Cooperative development
- Community wealth-building
Why fund IWOWS
Five reasons it earns the investment
It's a systems model
Integrates education, work, support, entrepreneurship, and ownership rather than funding disconnected programs.
It produces measurable outcomes
Tracks credentials, paid work hours, wages earned, job placement, benefit transition, and businesses launched.
It serves multiple populations
Youth, adults, public assistance recipients, ALICE households, returning citizens, entrepreneurs, employers, and communities.
It can be replicated
Implemented through local chapters, school and workforce partnerships, employer networks, and community cooperatives.
It builds local capacity
Doesn't only deliver services — it builds institutions, enterprises, platforms, talent pipelines, and ownership.
Local demonstration, national scale
Local demonstration. National replication.
The model runs first as a New Jersey demonstration, then replicates through local chapters — each measured against the same mobility-outcome dashboard.
Measurable mobility outcomes
Investment opportunities
Where your funding goes
Targeted funds let partners support the parts of the pathway that match their mission.
National Demonstration Fund
Support replication of the IWOWS model across multiple communities.
Paid Work-Based Learning Fund
Fund wages and supervision for participants earning while learning.
Public Assistance Transition Fund
Benefits navigation, financial coaching, and safe transition planning.
Youth Career Pathway Fund
Ideal CTE Academy, youth work-based learning, and career-connected education.
Adult Workforce Mobility Fund
Workforce training, credentials, apprenticeships, and job placement.
AI & Digital Equity Fund
Community AI labs, devices, software access, and future-of-work training.
Request a national funder or policy briefing
Let's walk through the model, the outcomes, and a path to scale
We'll tailor a briefing to your priorities — welfare-to-work, apprenticeship, youth opportunity, reentry, digital equity, or community wealth-building.