We are honored to be featured in Cisco’s recent blog post, “Opening Doors to Cybersecurity Careers with Splunk and Per Scholas,” which highlights our collaborative efforts with Splunk to expand access to cybersecurity education and career opportunities.

The article underscores our joint mission to bridge the cybersecurity talent gap by providing rigorous, no-cost technology training to adult learners from low- to moderate-income households across the U.S. Through our partnership, we offer hands-on experience with industry-standard tools like Splunk, enabling learners to earn certifications such as the Splunk Core Certified User. This equips them with the skills needed to pursue careers as cybersecurity analysts, junior desktop technicians, and tech support engineers.

Our collaboration with Splunk began in 2018, focusing on delivering free software, training, and support to overlooked talent pools in New York City. In 2021, Splunk provided unrestricted grant funding to aid in our swift expansion, allowing us to reach more learners nationwide.

This feature by Cisco not only recognizes the impact of our partnership with Splunk but also emphasizes the importance of accessible cybersecurity education in today’s digital landscape. We remain committed to empowering individuals with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the tech industry.

Read the full feature here.

Funding the Future: How Strategic Investment Expands Access to Tech Training

Technology is essential for business operations and growth, but possessing the right tools alone isn’t sufficient. While companies can adopt cloud platforms or AI solutions, finding skilled professionals to manage and innovate with them is the real challenge. As the tech industry evolves, a significant opportunity gap excludes many from life-changing careers.

Access to quality tech training remains limited across the nation. Addressing this issue requires more than just good intentions or temporary programs; it demands long-term investments in training models that emphasize tangible outcomes. At Per Scholas, we believe the future hinges on more than merely teaching technical skills. Our programs focus on economic mobility, assisting learners in launching careers, and helping employers build stronger teams.

Per Scholas CFO Pam Kingpetcharat works closely with business partners and supporters who help fund our mission of providing no-cost tech training. Pam ensures that every dollar invested translates into tangible outcomes for our learners and the communities we have campuses. Per Scholas drives sustainable growth in the talent pipeline while helping to close the tech opportunity gap. This success is largely due to how Pam maximizes the impact of each funding partnership.

The Role of Financial Leadership in Expanding Access

“Every dollar invested is a chance to promote systemic change — if used wisely,” Pam says. Ensuring that partner investments help Per Scholas achieve its goals is no simple task. How Pam and the finance team tackle this challenge exemplifies the critical role of financial leadership in broadening access to tech training.

Pam uses a data-driven approach to decision-making that involves carefully analyzing potential growth areas and assessing the long-term sustainability of new programs. To ensure every investment and expansion initiative is aligned with the Per Scholas mission, Pam and her team focus on delivering measurable impact.

“We prioritize investments that generate financial returns and create lasting social impact,” Pam said. “We are committed to showing that scalable, outcomes-driven training models are a smart investment in the future of our communities.”

Strategic Partnerships That Drive ROI

Building effective corporate partnerships is essential for transforming investments into meaningful impact. As Pam says, “We seek partners who align with our long-term vision for workforce mobility, equity, and innovation.”

Keeping this in mind, the ideal Per Scholas partner meets criteria that extend beyond financial literacy. They share our commitment to broadening Per Scholas’ reach and serving a significant number of learners. We seek organizations dedicated to closing the opportunity gap and developing a resilient tech workforce.

A prime example is Amazon, a Per Scholas partner since 2013. The online retailer and cloud computing giant made more than a financial investment. Amazon has been a partner from the start, when they collaborated on launching one of our foundational programs, AWS re/Start Cloud Fundamentals.

Amazon’s generous support has provided tech training to nearly 700 learners in various fields, including IT Support, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Support. Evidence of their strategic partnership with Per Scholas, driving ROI, is demonstrated by Amazon hiring over 200 alumni from 16 campuses.

Investments in Innovation and Scaling With Impact

While funding our no-cost tuition programs is essential, we also recognize that scaling our impact is critical for closing the opportunity gap. Investments in infrastructure allow Per Scholas campuses to become state-of-the-art learning environments. Upgrading our technology ensures that learners have access to and can practice using the tools and resources they need to succeed.

When evaluating scaling opportunities, Pam considers long-term sustainability and impact. Investments prioritizing our ability to serve more learners while upholding the quality and effectiveness of our programs take precedence. This might involve opening a new facility in Kansas City or celebrating our first in-person cohort in Los Angeles. It could also entail developing new talent pipelines through our apprenticeship programs.

The numbers show the actual impact of innovation investments. According to our 2024 Annual Report, every $1 invested in Per Scholas results in $8 of economic return to the communities we serve.

A Call to Collaborative Investment

At Per Scholas, we believe the opportunity gap in tech presents an immense challenge that calls for a collaborative response. Mission-aligned funding and shared goals are essential for driving systemic change. We invite current and future partners to join us at this crucial moment. It’s a chance to be both an investor and a co-creator of economic mobility.

Together, we can bridge the gap and build a tech workforce that reflects our resilient learners. Per Scholas would be delighted to hear from you if you want to explore scalable, high-impact opportunities that align with your organization’s goals and values. Contact our partnership team today to help fund a future where everyone has equal access to tech training.

We’re proud to be featured in McKinsey & Company’s New at McKinsey blog, which highlights how our organization is leading the way in helping learners not only gain technical skills, but also master essential soft skills for career success. The article showcases the incredible impact of our work and how McKinsey’s support helped us enhance our training programs, making them even more effective and responsive to the needs of employers and learners alike.

Read the full feature here: Tech nonprofit excels at soft skills: How McKinsey helped Per Scholas deliver on its mission

Sage, the global leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) is deepening its commitment to Atlanta, GA, through a multiyear commitment to support four local Atlanta nonprofits, including Per Scholas Atlanta, as part of its expanded community investment strategy. Through a three-year partnership with Sage Foundation, Per Scholas Atlanta will train 18 adult learners annually in high-demand fields like IT support, cybersecurity, and software engineering. This support builds on Sage’s existing engagement with Per Scholas and reflects the company’s dedication to advancing digital inclusion, workforce development, and economic mobility in Atlanta.

Sherri Sims, Managing Director of Per Scholas Atlanta said, “Sage has been a valued partner for many years, supporting our learners through mock interviews and field trips. This financial commitment further amplifies their impact—every dollar invested strengthens the workforce and delivers lasting economic growth for the Atlanta community.”

Read the Press Release.

Per Scholas Houston proudly collaborated with Ion Houston to bring together industry leaders from J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and our President & CEO for the event, TECHnique: The Unique Perspectives of Leaders in the Tech Ecosystem.

This event offered a unique opportunity to explore the perspectives shaping today’s tech workforce. Panelists discussed challenges and opportunities in technology development, industry needs, tech training opportunities available within the Houston community, and valuable insights into how these organizations collaborate to strengthen the tech ecosystem.

Panelists included Plinio Ayala, Peter Beard, Rob Schapiro, and Karthigeyan Kuppan. Their expertise and the insights they shared tackled key challenges and opportunities shaping today’s tech workforce.

Per Scholas is thrilled to have graduated our first cohort of the Comcast Grows to Code program this December. The course was created and implemented by Comcast, a long-time partner of Per Scholas, and is now implemented in partnership with Per Scholas. Grows to Code transforms field technicians into software engineers through rigorous tech training by Per Scholas instructors. 

The 15-week, full-time course provides comprehensive technical training tailored to Comcast’s needs, offering employees a direct pathway to Software Engineer 1 positions. The curriculum covers essential programming skills including HTML, CSS, Java, and SQL. Participants receive intensive instruction from experienced Per Scholas teachers, culminating in practical projects like building microservice applications for real-world scenarios 

The program’s success lies in its unique approach to developing internal talent. Participants bring valuable frontline experience to their new roles, creating tools and solutions with deep understanding of customer needs. 

Brittany Walcott, a recent graduate of the Comcast-Per Scholas’s Grows to Code program’s first cohort, exemplifies the program’s transformative impact. After seven years as a Comcast retail sales representative and overcoming significant health challenges, Brittany embraced the opportunity to pursue her tech dreams through Grows to Code. Brittany thrived in the program,  and is now applying her newly acquired skills in a 6-month apprenticeship with Comcast where she is continuing her learning journey in tech. 

“This truly feels like a dream come true,” shares Brittany. “I’m just so grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to work with Comcast and become part of the Per Scholas family with such a great support system.”

Brittany is passionate about the power of education and opportunity, and encourages others to apply to programs like this to change their lives. “Per Scholas is touching communities that would not have these opportunities otherwise,” Brittany reflects. “They are truly life-changing, literally changing lives with just the power of knowledge.” 

Through Grows to Code, Per Scholas continues its mission of increasing diversity in tech while creating pathways to sustainable, high-paying careers.

Per Scholas North Carolina was featured on a news segment on “Positively Charlotte.” Per Scholas North Carolina Managing Director Michael Terrell joined alum Shana Franks on the program to discuss our no-cost training and recent $1 million grant from The BlackRock Foundation.

Watch the full segment here.

Per Scholas is proud to highlight MDRC’s recent brief, Navigating Job Search Challenges, which examines the job search experiences of our IT Support graduates. The study reaffirms the strong, lasting earnings impact of our tech training while also identifying challenges some graduates face in securing jobs aligned with their skills—particularly during a weaker labor market.

Through our partnership with MDRC, we are using these insights to refine our job search support, ensuring our alumni have the resources needed to succeed. Read the full brief here.

We are thrilled to announce that Per Scholas North Carolina has received a $1 million, two-year grant from The BlackRock Foundation to support workforce development and economic recovery efforts across the state. This transformative funding will help us expand our programs into western North Carolina, bridging the state’s tech workforce gap and providing job training in rural communities.

Through our partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, we will offer bootcamp-style IT training designed to equip individuals with the skills needed for remote, high-paying tech jobs. With North Carolina’s tech industry experiencing significant growth—an 18% increase in job postings over the past year—this initiative is critical in ensuring that rural communities have access to these emerging opportunities.

This support comes at a crucial time as Western North Carolina continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene, which displaced thousands and led to widespread job loss. By offering accessible, no-cost training, we are helping residents transition into sustainable tech careers, fostering long-term economic stability in the region.

Over the next two years, this grant will allow us to provide 13-week IT training to 530 students, with a goal of reaching 2,000 North Carolinians by 2029. Our first IT Support cohort will begin on February 24, and applications are now open on our website.

Since launching in North Carolina in 2020, Per Scholas has remained committed to creating economic mobility through technology training. With the continued support of partners like The BlackRock Foundation, we are strengthening our impact and helping to shape the future of North Carolina’s workforce.