The unemployment rate for the black population in the Minneapolis metropolitan area is three times that of the white population This is one of the highest in the U.S. (Economic Policy Institute).

The Cause: The workforce development field is focused on helping people get the skills and the jobs they need to sustain themselves and their family, and connecting employers who need skilled workers. It is also important to note that workforce development is not only about acquiring skills but also about access to jobs.

The Scope: Minnesota workforce development experts were asked to recommend nonprofit organizations that could be focused on job training, job placement, access to jobs, youth work readiness, small business development and entrepreneurship training for people with lack of access to jobs, job retention/stability, and helping employers invest in their own workforce, etc. These nonprofits might work with various populations: adults wishing to gain additional skills, immigrants, youth (around career education), adults or youth with disabilities, refugees, welfare recipients, elders, homeless people, formerly imprisoned people, businesses, or the community at large. And these nonprofits might focus on different kinds of activities: policy, research, advocacy, direct services, education, technical assistance, social enterprise (nonprofits that run businesses which employ people for job training), etc.

This research was commissioned by the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, which supports The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation and 1,600 other affiliates across Minnesota.

100 Local Workforce Development experts recommended the following 18 outstanding nonprofits.
Meet the experts and read more about this research.

	Top Nonprofit	Mission
1	Goodwill Easter Seals	The mission of Goodwill/Easter Seals is to assist people with barriers to education, employment and independence in achieving their goals. We prepare people for work.
2	Project for Pride in Living (PPL)	To work with lower-income individuals and families to achieve greater self-sufficiency through housing, employment training, support services and education.
3	HIRED	HIRED’s mission is to provide personalized and innovative work solutions.
4	Emerge	Invest in people through social enterprise.
5	Greater Twin Cities United Way	Greater Twin Cities United Way unites caring people in building stronger communities by inspiring people to help others, increasing resources to meet needs and fostering innovative solutions to problems.
6	Charles K Blandin Foundation	To strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area.
7	Twin Cities Rise	The mission of Twin Cities RISE! is to provide employers with skilled workers-- primarily men from communities of color in the Twin Cities area-- by training under- and unemployed adults for skilled jobs that pay a living wage of at least $20,000 annually.
8	Workforce Development Inc	Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota.
9	Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council	The mission of SW MN PIC is Building Tomorrow’s Workforce through Training, Leadership, and Economic Development. SW MN PIC operates programs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Adult and Youth services, State and Federal Dislocated Worker Programs, the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Employment and Training services, the Food Support Employment and Training (FSET) program, the Minnesota Youth Program, the Youth Intervention Program, as well as various other projects.
10	RESOURCE, Inc.	RESOURCE empowers people to achieve greater personal, social and economic success.
11	Lifetrack Resources	Work together to develop the strengths within children, families, and adults facing the greatest life challenges.
12	Women Venture	WomenVenture's mission is to help women achieve their own economic success and prosperity.
13	Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation	Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation invests in the region's future growth through grants, loans, technical expertise and partnerships that foster community assets via workforce readiness and entrepreneurial activity - especially in areas of bio-medical, bio-agriculture and alternative energy.
14	Rebuild Resources, Inc.	Our mission is to help addicts and alcoholics be sober, self-sufficient and of service by providing meaningful, transitional employment in business enterprises we own and operate. These enterprises provide a safe, sober, secure, supportive, but non-enabling environment for recovery, AND serve as the economic engines which sustain our work.
15	Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services	To strengthen Central Minnesota communities through leadership in workforce excellence.
16	Rural Minnesota CEP	To provide quality workforce services that meet our customers' needs.
17	Hmong American Partnership	Hmong American Partnership (HAP) is a social service and community development organization whose mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of our cultures while achieving our potential.
18	Summit Academy OIC	We exist to assist individuals in developing their ability to earn and to become contributing citizens in their community. We support the development of self-sufficiency in every person regardless of background, economic status or level of ability. We strengthen the community by preparing individuals to assume their roles as workers, citizens and parents.

Check out all nonprofit reviews for Local Workforce Development (Minnesota).

Have questions about these results? Review our methodology.