Non-profit

Skills for America’s Future

Website:

skillsforamericasfuture.org

Location:

Chicago, IL

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Type:

Job connection program

Formation:

2011

CEO:

Bridget Altenburg

Project of:

Skills for Chicagoland’s Future

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Skills for America’s Future is an organization that connects jobseekers to employers. 1 2 It is a project of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 3

Skills for Chicagoland’s Future was founded in 2011 and has connections with Chicago-based Democratic Party-affiliated politicians including Obama Administration Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. 4 5

Organization

Skills for America’s Future is operated by Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, a jobs program focused on the Chicago region. According to the Aspen Institute’s website, “Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, a long-time partner of the Aspen Institute, has assumed the Skills for America’s Future brand.”  3

Skills for America’s Future operates branches in Chicago, Rhode Island, and Phoenix, with future expansion sites planned. 6

Partners working with Skills for America’s Future include Forbes, Stand Together, and WorkingNation. 7

Activities

Skills for America’s Future promotes hiring practices and focuses on “serving underinvested communities.” The organization connects jobseekers with companies which are hiring directly through its network of partners. 7 Business partners include Walgreens and Discover Card. 8

Funding

In 2023, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future (which houses Skills for America’s Future) reported $12,476,804 in revenues and $8,825,429 in expenses, with $7,548,520 in total assets and 68 employees. 9

In 2024, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future received a $355,382 grant from the Albertsons Companies Foundation for “Cancer Prevention and Treatment.” In 2022, the Charles Koch Foundation donated $250,000 for “General Operating Support.” In 2023, the JP Morgan Chase Foundation donated $200,000 in “support of creating economic mobility and career pathways.” 9

In 2019, the Osa Foundation donated $20,000 to Skills for Chicagoland’s Future. 10

People

Bridget Altenburg is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Skills for America’s Future, as of January 2025. 11

Penny Pritzker, an American billionaire heiress and member of the prominent Pritzker family, helped launch Skills for Chicagoland’s Future and is the Founding Board Chair. She later served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Barack Obama. 12 Pritzker is trustee of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, which she founded with her husband Bryan Traubert. 13 Previously she was a Board Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, executive chairman of the Board of TransUnion, and a past Board Member of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Marmon Group, and LaSalle Bank Corporation. 14

References

  1. “About Us.” Skills for Americas Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforamericasfuture.org/about-us#model.
  2. “Workforce.” Pritzker Traubert Foundation. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.ptfound.org/workforce.
  3.  “Skills for America’s Future.” The Aspen Institute, April 13, 2023. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/economic-opportunities-program/skills-for-americas-future/
  4. “Penny Pritzker.” U.S. Department of Commerce, November 27, 2024. https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/penny-pritzker#:~:text=In%202012%2C%20she%20also%20helped,the%20Chicago%20Board%20of%20Education.
  5. “Emanuel, Skills for Chicagolands, Announce New Initiative.” Lawndale News, December 21, 2017. http://www.lawndalenews.com/2017/12/emanuel-skills-for-chicagolands-announce-new-initiative/
  6. “Affiliate Sites.” Skills for America’s Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforamericasfuture.org/affiliate-sites.
  7. “Mission Vision.” Skills for America’s Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforamericasfuture.org/about-us#missionvision.
  8. “Partner with US.” Skills for America’s Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforamericasfuture.org/rfp
  9. “Skills for Chicagoland’s Future (SCF).” Cause IQ. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/skills-for-chicagolands-future,451287418/.
  10. “Osa Foundation.” Grantmakers. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/721589724-osa-foundation.
  11. “Leadership Team.” Skills for America’s Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforamericasfuture.org/about-us#leadershipteam.
  12. “Board.” Skills for Chicagoland’s Future. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.skillsforchicagolandsfuture.com/about-us#board.
  13.  “Our History.” Pritzker Traubert Foundation. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.ptfound.org/our-history.
  14. “Penny Pritzker.” Pritzker Traubert Foundation. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.ptfound.org/team/penny-pritzker.
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Skills for America’s Future


Chicago, IL