Per Scholas is thrilled to be featured in The New York Times, celebrating our continued impact fostering economic mobility, preparing skilled individuals across the country for thriving tech careers. The New York Times Communities Fund supports local, national and global nonprofits that help people improve their circumstances and lead more enriching lives through the power of education, and as one of this year’s recipients, we’re honored to uplift our shared mission of the power of education.

The New York Times Communities Fund is helping to shape the lives of thousands of learners across the country – learners including Ismal Fofana. After a life-altering accident in 2019 left him unable to continue his career in restaurant management, Ismail faced the daunting task of starting over while supporting his young daughter. Though he had a lifelong interest in technology, he lacked a formal degree and feared a tech career was out of reach.

Everything changed when he discovered Per Scholas, a nonprofit providing rigorous technical training, all at no cost to learners. Through their 15-week coding program, Ismail received not only the technical instruction needed to master software engineering from scratch but also the professional mentorship to navigate the industry. Today, Ismail is thriving as a full-time Software Engineer at Accenture, a role that has empowered him to achieve financial stability and build a long-term career. As Ismail puts it, “Talent is everywhere in this world, but opportunity is not,” and Per Scholas provided the bridge to that career opportunity.

For 30 years, Per Scholas has offered no-cost, comprehensive tech training that has transformed lives and careers across the nation. Founded in the South Bronx in 1995, Per Scholas has expanded to 25 cities, with remote and satellite options, and trained more than 30,000 technologists. Our organization works closely with tech employers to ensure that alumni possess in-demand skills upon graduation, and offers professional development training and job attainment support for learners, as well as continued career growth opportunities through our Career Accelerator upskilling program. 

“Receiving support from The New York Times Communities Fund for the third consecutive year is a profound honor that directly affirms the impact of our work,” said Per Scholas CEO Plinio Ayala. “This vital partnership allows us to maintain our no-cost model, ensuring that skilled technologists from communities across the country can access the tech training they need to launch life-changing careers, and our feature in The New York Times further amplifies our combined impact.”

Per Scholas’ commitment to providing high-quality training at no cost to our learners is made possible through dedicated donor support. We are especially honored to announce that 2025 marks our third consecutive year being awarded a grant from The New York Times Communities Fund! This vital and sustained partnership is a testament to our shared mission, ensuring access remains available for all our learners and alumni – learners with stories like Ismail’s. We are immensely grateful to partner with and be featured in The New York Times, advancing our work to build skilled tech talent pipelines.

Read the full New York Times feature here.

We are thrilled to announce that Per Scholas was featured in a recent opinion article in The New York Times, “Sound investments in education yield big returns.”

The article highlights seven evidence-based charities partnered with The New York Times Communities Fund to invest in education across various life stages. Per Scholas was recognized for its crucial work in adult education and workforce development, and this marks our third year selected as a beneficiary.

The New York Times specifically highlighted Per Scholas’ commitment to offering robust, no-cost training programs for tech careers, including IT and cybersecurity. 

We are honored to be included among these impactful organizations working to make quality educational opportunities accessible to all.

Read the full opinion article and learn more about the campaign here!

Arizona’s booming tech sector is creating new opportunities — and Per Scholas Phoenix is helping local residents seize them. Featured by AZFamily, the nonprofit’s no-cost technology training programs are opening doors for learners like Marty Perkins, who turned to Per Scholas after facing homelessness and unemployment.

Through 16 weeks of hands-on instruction in high-demand fields like IT, cybersecurity, and data center operations, Per Scholas equips learners with industry-recognized certifications and the skills to launch sustainable tech careers. “We can be that bridge,” said Managing Director Sharise Erby. “Tech is underrepresented by women, people of color, and veterans, and we’re working to change that.”

Per Scholas Phoenix celebrated a recent class with a 100% graduation rate, each graduate earning an IT certification. For Perkins, the experience has been life-changing: “I’ve always wanted an opportunity like this my whole life… I’m proud to say I got the break I’ve been searching for.”

Learn more about volunteer opportunities, donations, and upcoming courses at PerScholas.org/Phoenix.

Forbes recently featured the powerful impact of Per Scholas’ partnership with TEKsystems, showcasing how together we’ve built a thriving, work-ready talent pipeline over the past decade. What began as a shared commitment to look beyond traditional hiring practices has grown into a national collaboration that prioritizes skills, potential, and continuous learning. 

Since 2015, TEKsystems and Per Scholas have co-designed rigorous, hands-on training programs in 12 U.S. cities, preparing individuals for in-demand technology roles and launching more than 1,500 careers. This partnership not only helps TEKsystems meet customer needs with job-ready talent but also expands access to life-changing tech careers for individuals historically excluded from the industry. As Forbes highlights, the results are clear: when employers invest in human potential, entire communities benefit.

Read the full feature here.

As the conversation around workforce development grows louder, one challenge continues to surface: while many training programs offer no-cost or low-cost courses, far fewer address the full cost of being a learner, including basic living expenses. A recent article from Workshift titled “Want to Close the Skills Gap? Cover Living Expenses, Not Just Tuition” explores this critical gap and highlights how to improve outcomes for learners and employers alike.

Per Scholas, a national nonprofit that provides no-cost technology training to communities across the nation, is doing just that. They’re working to remove financial barriers beyond tuition. In partnership with Social Finance, Per Scholas launched an innovative Zero Percent Loan initiative, offering learners interest-free loans to help cover living costs during their training. This effort reflects a broader understanding that economic stability is foundational to educational success and long-term career growth.

The results of this approach are compelling. As outlined in Per Scholas’ Whitepaper, The Zero Percent Loan: Transforming Workforce Access, the training supports learners with critical resources at a crucial time, helping learners focus on their courses without sacrificing basic needs. This whitepaper details how even modest support for rent, food, and transportation can dramatically increase retention and job placement rates.

One shining example of the impact is Tori Haynes, an alumna of Per Scholas Baltimore. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her work as a security guard and professional DJ, Tori pivoted toward a new future in tech. After being encouraged by a Per Scholas alum during a job interview, she enrolled in the IT Support training. While the no-cost nature of the course was appealing, it was the $3,000 Zero Percent Loan that made it truly viable.

“When I found out I got the loan, it was such a relief,” Tori shared. “It allowed me to concentrate fully on my studies and gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet.” Tori went on to land a role as an IT Support Specialist at MCB Real Estate, describing the program as “life-changing.”

Per Scholas’ partnership with Social Finance is a forward-thinking model of what workforce development must become—one that acknowledges the financial reality of adult learners and works to eliminate it as a barrier to success.

As we look to close the skills gap in a meaningful, inclusive way, solutions like the Zero Percent Loan serve as proof that it’s not just about no-cost tuition—it’s about full support for the learner.

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.

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.

We’re honored to be featured in a recent article highlighting an innovative pilot program designed to support workforce training alumni through text-based coaching. The initiative, led by Empower Work and funded by the Truist and GitLab Foundations, is exploring how real-time guidance can help graduates navigate career challenges and improve job retention.

As part of this partnership, Per Scholas is reinforcing our commitment to alumni success by investing in upskilling programs in high-demand fields like cloud computing, network management, and project management. This recognition underscores the importance of ongoing support for our graduates as they build thriving careers in tech.

We’re excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative and look forward to seeing its impact on workforce training nationwide. Want to learn more? Read the full story to see how Per Scholas and other leading organizations are working together to create lasting career success for graduates!

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.