Breaking Barriers to Work: The Impact of Upwork’s Workforce Reentry Grants

At Upwork, we know that access to work is transformative. It’s not just about a paycheck—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and a path forward. That’s why The Upwork Foundation invests in programs that expand access to economic opportunity for those who need it most.

As part of this mission, during a past funding cycle, we directed our grantmaking toward workforce reentry programs that help adults from underrepresented communities rebuild their careers. Unlike many reentry-focused initiatives that concentrate solely on justice-involved individuals, our approach expanded to include those displaced due to caregiving responsibilities, health issues, industry shifts, technological disruptions, and displacement.

In 2024, Upwork-funded programs equipped over 8,000 individuals with the skills, support, and opportunities needed to secure meaningful employment.

With a job market still in flux—marked by layoffs, economic uncertainty, and AI-driven workplace shifts—our grantees’ work remained as critical as ever. Here’s how three standout organizations helped transform lives in 2024.

ManifestWorks: From Adversity to Hollywood’s Workforce

The entertainment industry is notoriously difficult to break into. For individuals impacted by foster care, homelessness, and incarceration, that challenge is even greater. ManifestWorks is changing that.

In 2024, 62 individuals completed ManifestWorks’ intensive 11-week training program, gaining 160 hours of hands-on experience in production and media careers. But the real impact goes beyond training hours. Applicants entering the program reported an average annual income of $6,897, while alumni now earn an average of $41,254 per year reflecting significant income growth. Government aid reliance dropped from 80% to just 7%, demonstrating the power of stable employment.

One alum described the experience as “life-changing,” highlighting how the program not only provided technical skills but also built a network that led to long-term career opportunities.

Humans in the Loop: Unlocking Digital Careers for Displaced Workers

Conflict and displacement often force skilled professionals to abandon their careers. Humans in the Loop (HITL) is ensuring they don’t have to.

Take Yuliia Tatarets. A rocket engineering graduate from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Yuliia was forced to flee with her children when war broke out. Thanks to HITL’s programs, she completed a graphic design course, secured an internship, and ultimately landed a full-time digital marketing role which allowed her to rebuild her life in a new country.

In 2024, HITL’s programs supported nearly 500 individuals located in some of the most conflict-ridden countries across the Middle East, Europe and Africa, offering IT training, career counseling, and freelancing courses. With graduation rates between 73% and 93% across nine programs and 68% of career counseling participants being women, HITL is not only providing economic mobility but also ensuring displaced professionals can access the digital economy on their own terms.

Generation You: Employed: Opening Doors in Rural Appalachia

Professional resilience is not just about overcoming personal barriers, it’s also about transcending geographic ones. In economically distressed rural areas, where job opportunities are scarce, remote work can be a game-changer.

That’s why Generation You: Employed launched its first U.S. program in West Virginia last year, training residents for remote tech sales roles. Through an 8-week SaaS Sales Development Representative (SDR) program, participants gained the skills needed to thrive in high-growth industries—regardless of their zip code.

With a graduation rate of 84%, the program has already placed 55% of its graduates into full-time jobs, including one at Oracle. And for those still in transition, paid micro-internships have provided a crucial bridge between training and full-time employment.

Looking Ahead

At Upwork, we know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Through our Foundation’s grantmaking, we are working to close that gap—ensuring that individuals, no matter their background or circumstances, have access to life-sustaining work.

These are just a few of the incredible stories unfolding. As we continue to invest in workforce reentry, critical skill development, work placement and entrepreneurship, we remain committed to breaking barriers, empowering professionals, and shaping a more inclusive future of work.

In 2025, The Upwork Foundation is focusing its grant-making on expanding human potential. We will support nonprofits that are thinking critically about the skills that set individuals apart in an evolving digital landscape and those that will remain crucial in future work environments. Learn more about our grant strategy at upwork.com/about/values/foundation.