The National Fund for Workforce Solutions knows the most effective solutions start with the people closest to the work. The Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative (BWFC) at Maryland Philanthropy Network is a powerful example of what’s possible when workforce solutions are rooted in community. During a recent visit, BWFC hosted the National Fund's Board of Directors and staff team for a day that showcased their deep relationships and bold worker-centered approach. From listening and learning to seeing workforce programs in action, it was clear how important deep community relationships are to the success of BWFC’s efforts to reshape the future of work in Baltimore.
Economic justice is often defined by policies, metrics, and outcomes—minimum wages, unemployment rates, wealth gaps. But what if true economic justice isn't just about better numbers?
Maryland Philanthropy Network's Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative is proud to announce new funding from JPMorganChase to support career pathways in Baltimore. The $2 million philanthropic capital aims to strengthen high-quality training programs and build effective public-private partnerships, helping Baltimoreans secure well-paid jobs in the growing energy and infrastructure sectors while leveraging JPMorganChase’s growing presence in the region to convene stakeholders and drive economic growth for all.
The path to a fulfilling and well-paying career in Baltimore may not run through a college.
The state of Maryland has recognized the potential for registered apprenticeships both to provide a path to better-paying careers that do not require college degrees and to help employers meet their needs for employees with specialized skills. In this latest Abell Foundation report, Linda Dworak of Maryland Philanthropy Network’s Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative offers an overview of apprenticeship and the current landscape in Maryland and Baltimore.
Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to welcome Elaine Carroll as Program Manager for the Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative! Working with the Director of the BWFC, Linda Dworak, Elaine will facilitate the formation and implementation of the new Baltimore Climate and Infrastructure Workforce Hub (The Hub).
On January 23 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announced plans to lease approximately 20,000 square feet of space at The Village at Mondawmin at Mond
On November 13th, Danista E. Hunte, President and CEO of Maryland Philanthropy Network, Linda Dworak, Director of the Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative (BWFC), and members of the BWFC attended the annoucement of the new Baltimore Workforce Hub at Carver Vocational High School in Baltimore. MPN’s BWFC will collaborate with the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, Baltimore City Schools, and the Baltimore DC Building Trades Council to coordinate the project.
The Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative recently signed onto a national statement on good jobs. The broadly shared, widely endorsed definition of what constitutes a good job was released by the Good Jobs Champions Group, convened by the Families and Workers Fund and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, in October 2022. Signed by over 100 leaders from business, labor, policy, philanthropy, academia, and workforce development it represents a historic step forward toward a future in which all work is valued; no one working full-time lives in or near poverty; companies and workers thrive alongside each other; and diverse talent is never overlooked.

