Dorcas Workforce Development Cohort Model

Many low-income families in our community are trapped in low-wage jobs and unable to access the wrap-around services and financial support necessary to pursue retraining for living-wage careers. Each year, over 2,000 families turn to Dorcas Ministries for crisis financial and food assistance, driven by rising rent and food costs that outpace their income. In 2023 alone, Dorcas provided $2.7 million in basic living expense support to prevent families from losing their homes and communities. The cycle of despair is evidenced by the 66% return rate of families who come to Dorcas for help. Breaking this cycle requires a level of wrap-around support and financial aid that is nearly non-existent in our community. Without support, the cost of retraining, due to lost wages while in school and added childcare and transportation expenses, makes returning to school an unattainable dream for most struggling families, leaving them stuck in a perpetual state of crisis.  

Dorcas Ministries removes barriers to retraining for living-wage jobs through a comprehensive approach that combines financial assistance, professional guidance, and peer support during one of the most stressful life events: career change. Participants attend local college job training programs on scholarship and receive cash stipends from Dorcas. These stipends allow them to reduce work hours to accommodate their training schedules while covering lost income and additional childcare costs.  Personalized guidance from Dorcas case managers and career coaches is also critical. Participants are connected to community and career readiness resources and receive encouragement to stay focused and motivated. The cohort model adds a layer of peer support, as participants come together for regular meals and professional development, creating a supportive network. Participants also take advantage of a strong partnership the program has with our local workforce board. They have access to industry specific job fairs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training opportunities. The outcomes speak volumes with strong completion rates of 87%, compared to the community college average of 50% and low returns for crisis services of 18% compared to the average of 66%. We are truly breaking cycles of despair and helping our neighbors thrive!  

Dorcas Ministries’ Workforce Development Cohort Program serves a highly underserved population, focusing on individuals who are low-income, unemployed, or underemployed and at high risk of homelessness. This target population includes over 60% BIPOC individuals and 87% women, all of whom face systemic barriers to economic mobility. These participants often lack the financial resources, professional guidance, and personal network necessary to navigate a career change to living-wage jobs, leaving them stuck in cycles of crisis and poverty.  Landing a living wage job is transformational for participants. It means that they are free from the ever-present fear of becoming homeless and displaced from their community. Stable and full employment allows them the dignity of engaging fully in the lives of their children and their community. It means that they can sleep at night, knowing that their lights will be on in the morning and their children will have food in their lunchboxes. This program breaks the cycle of poverty and creates lasting financial stability.  

Our team is uniquely equipped to remove economic barriers to workforce development in our community. For 56 years, we’ve been dedicated to serving low-income individuals, with over 2,200 families relying on us each year. The majority of those we serve are BIPOC, including 20% Hispanic and a growing number of refugees from war-torn countries. These refugees are often referred to us by county human services agencies, recognizing our strong reputation for compassionate, relational services that help connect newcomers to our community. Our program design is grounded in the voices and needs of those we serve. We actively seek feedback through many layers, from anecdotal input to routine surveys and listening sessions. This approach ensures our programs align with the real challenges faced by our community, lifting their voices and shaping solutions that make a meaningful impact. We understand that overcoming barriers to economic mobility requires more than training—it takes holistic support. That's why we offer bilingual services, a diverse staff who reflect the community, and programs designed to meet people where they are. Our work is made possible by the extraordinary support of our community. Local donors provide 100% of our food pantry stock, and over 100 volunteers join our program staff of 12 to serve as career coaches, intake specialists, and event hosts, creating a welcoming environment for those in need. Every program we offer is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. By combining scholarships, stipends, and a network of wraparound services, we help individuals retrain for living-wage careers, breaking down barriers that have held them back. Together, with our community, we’re building pathways to brighter futures. 

Over the past two years, the Dorcas Workforce Development Cohort Program has empowered 65 participants, primarily women (83%) and BIPOC individuals (42%), to transition from low-wage jobs to living-wage careers in fields like IT, bookkeeping, and biotech. Participants completed training with an 87% success rate, far surpassing the community college average of 50%. These efforts have led to measurable impacts. Nearly half of participants (44%) earned certifications, and 24% of surveyed graduates secured living-wage jobs within three months. The program also significantly reduces dependence on crisis services—only 18% of participants returned for food or financial assistance compared to 66% of the general Dorcas client population. The program has grown through rich feedback from both participants and our partner community college instructors, improving processes to better select candidates who are good fit with the training program. Scholarships, cash stipends, and one-on-one career coaching ensure participants can overcome barriers like lost income and childcare costs. The cohort model fosters peer support through regular in-person gatherings and professional development, creating a sense of community and accountability. By addressing the challenges of retraining, the program has helped participants achieve life-changing stability and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. 

Dorcas Workforce Development Program

See the "Training Programs" tab.

The Dorcas Workforce Development Cohort Program takes a significantly improved approach to addressing barriers to living-wage jobs by integrating tailored financial support, personalized professional guidance, and cohort-based peer relationships. A key innovation is the provision of unrestricted cash stipends, allowing participants to use the funds in the way that best supports their family’s unique needs. This addresses the significant opportunity cost of retraining, enabling participants to reduce work hours, cover childcare expenses, or manage transportation costs—barriers that often make career transitions unattainable. Unlike traditional workforce programs focused solely on technical training, Dorcas combines financial flexibility with wraparound services. Participants receive scholarships for local college training programs, individualized case management and career coaching, and the encouragement of a peer support network. Through regular in-person meals and professional development, the cohort model builds community and accountability, helping participants navigate career changes with confidence. This holistic model has produced transformative results: an 87% program completion rate (compared to 50% at local community colleges), 44% certification attainment, and only 18% of graduates returning for crisis assistance, compared to 60% in the broader client population. By addressing both financial and systemic barriers combined with rich relational support, Dorcas’ approach sets a new standard for workforce development. The unrestricted cash stipend, in particular, a game-changer for underserved populations, should inspire others in the field to adopt models that align with the financial realities of underemployed workers.  

The Dorcas Workforce Development Cohort Program aims to empower underserved individuals to secure living-wage careers, reduce reliance on crisis services, and achieve long-term financial stability. Our impact goals include: 

1. High Program Completion Rates: Maintain an 85% or higher completion rate across all cohorts. 

2. Employment Outcomes: Ensure at least 40% of graduates secure jobs in their new career field within six months of completing training. 

3. Reduced Return to Crisis Services: Lower the percentage of participants returning for food or financial assistance to less than 20%, compared to the 66% baseline in our general client population. 

4. Increased Career Coaching Engagement: Achieve 50% participation in career coaching services to support post-training employment success. 

5. Increased Confidence in Job Readiness: Maintain an 85% or higher self-report rate of confidence in participant’s ability to navigate a job search and leverage skills learned through the professional development portion of the program. 

We measure these goals through detailed tracking of participant data, from surveys and interviews, as well as program participation data from our community college training partner. Feedback from participants, instructors, and program managers also informs continuous program improvement. 

3 Full-Time Staff

30 Volunteers

Dorcas’ workforce development began over 30 years ago, prioritizing relationships. In the 1980s, retired educators mentored women who received scholarships to upskill and support their families. This evolved to include more volunteer career coaching, and in 2018, a full-time case manager was hired to provide deeper support and professional guidance. In 2021, we piloted a peer learning cohort model addressing isolation and fostering community. Combined with cash stipends and ongoing coaching, this approach empowers participants. Since 2022, 65 students have achieved notable success in IT, biotechnology, and health sciences, demonstrating the program’s impact on personal and professional growth.

Dorcas Ministries values diversity and fosters a welcoming environment for all team members, volunteers, and clients. Diversity is in our DNA, as we were founded in 1968 by an interracial group of women—a groundbreaking initiative for its time. Our current staff reflects this commitment, including people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. We hire inclusively, provide flexible schedules, and ensure equitable pay. Through professional development, team-building, and open communication, we empower staff to thrive and contribute to our shared mission. 

The majority of our funding comes from our thrift shop, a social enterprise that is both a cornerstone of our mission and our primary revenue generator. The thrift shop not only provides an affordable place for people to shop, but also directly funds the wide range of programs we offer to help our neighbors thrive. These programs include crisis financial assistance for essential bills such as rent, utilities, medical expenses, car repairs, or other necessary costs to prevent homelessness. For individuals facing immediate housing crises, we provide emergency shelter through hotel vouchers, offering safety and stability. Our food pantry supports families experiencing food insecurity, ensuring access to nutritious groceries during challenging times. Additionally, our workforce development program helps participants overcome barriers, offering career coaching, life skills classes, and training programs that lead to living-wage jobs. While the thrift shop generates most of our funding, we also receive revenue from donations by individuals, local businesses, and faith communities, which provide important support for our mission. The smallest portion of our funding comes from grants, such as a capacity grant from the city government that helps families displaced by development. Together, these funding sources enable us to provide comprehensive support to individuals and families in need. 

Our organization sustains its work through a diverse funding model that combines revenue from our thrift store, individual donations, and grants. This multi-faceted approach allows us to maintain flexibility while ensuring the continued success and growth of our programs.

The revenue generated by our thrift store plays a crucial role in supporting our mission, as it provides funding for our operations and helps build a sense of community engagement. By selling gently used items at affordable prices, we can fund key services while promoting sustainability through reusing and recycling goods.

In addition to thrift store revenue, we rely on the generosity of individual donors who contribute to our cause. Their support is vital in sustaining day-to-day operations and enabling us to expand our offerings. These donations come from a wide network of community members, partners, and philanthropists who believe in the value of our mission.

Another component of our financial support comes from grant funding. We are proud to have received a Truist grant in the past, which specifically helped fund our workforce development programs as we developed our cohort model. This funding enabled us to enhance job training opportunities and provide crucial resources to individuals seeking to build sustainable careers. Beginning in 2025, we have been awarded a 5-year workforce development grant from Forge Nano, totaling $69,000 per year. This substantial funding will allow us to further develop and scale our program, ensuring long-term impact and helping us serve even more individuals in need. We also have a large 3-year grant from our city government for capacity building across the organization. 

Together, these funding streams create a solid financial foundation that allows us to continue offering vital services and expanding our reach, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

We are applying to the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards because we believe the support and opportunities provided through this program will enhance our ability to deliver wrap-around support and address the unique challenges of career transitions for the community we serve, primarily mothers with school-age children who are midcareer and looking to upskill for living wage jobs. 

The leadership retreats and workshops offered by this program would help us refine our program, ensuring our cohorts are designed to navigate barriers to living-wage jobs. Access to mentorship and resource networks would further empower us to strengthen partnerships with employers and community organizations, improving career navigation for participants.

One critical area we aim to improve is post-training engagement. Currently, only a portion of participants stay connected after completing their training, which limits their ability to transition successfully into their new careers. Expert guidance in behavioral psychology and marketing would enable us to design more effective strategies to keep participants engaged and fully utilize our resources, fostering long-term economic stability. 

Additionally, collaboration with innovative programs and national recognition would amplify our impact. Exposure to new ideas, funding, and partnerships would allow us to expand our reach and help more individuals achieve sustainable careers. By working with the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards program, we can build on our relational model to transform lives through meaningful, worker-centric upskilling opportunities.