Expand access to entry-level career pathways in healthcare for 534 people facing barriers to employment with Focusing Philanthropy and JVS
As always, Focusing Philanthropy covers all overhead costs. 100% of every donation will go to the 2025 Health Careers campaign.
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The Need
The healthcare sector is the largest and fastest-growing employer in the U.S. economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, six of the ten fastest-growing occupations are in healthcare. The Labor Department projects that healthcare will create about 45 percent of all projected job gains from 2022 to 2032, adding about 2.1 million jobs.
A large percentage of available healthcare jobs are entry-level positions, which offer opportunities to begin careers with family-sustaining wages, benefits, and a path to advancement. Medical Assistant and Aide roles are predicted to have the most significant growth (39% of the new healthcare jobs). They are also considered the first steps on the career ladder for nursing, which is the occupation with the greatest overall demand.
Training programs that effectively prepare low-income and minority jobseekers to meet employer demand can lift workers and their families out of poverty, strengthen local economies, and help create a workforce demographic that matches the changing U.S. population.
The Goal
Focusing Philanthropy, JVS Boston, and JVS MetroWest (New Jersey) are partnering to raise $2,100,000 to set 534 individuals facing barriers to employment on entry-level career pathways in healthcare. Our 2025 campaign increases access to good jobs in the industry as a means of achieving equity through self-sufficiency.
JVS is a national network of workforce development nonprofits, with a 100+ year history of empowering people from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities to find employment and build careers. Member organizations collaborate with local employers across many industries to fill in-demand positions with diverse, well-trained talent at no cost to the trainees. Among their program offerings, JVS Boston and JVS MetroWest offer various healthcare tracks. These 2-3 month courses provide participants (the vast majority of whom are people of color) with the training and support needed to acquire industry-specific skills and credentials required for high-demand jobs. In addition to technical instruction, programs include career coaching in soft skills (interviewing techniques, financial literacy), vocational English language training (ESL) for immigrants and refugees, as well as wrap-around services (childcare, housing, transportation) to remove barriers to employment.
The 2025 Health Careers Campaign will serve 349 healthcare trainees in Boston and 185 in New Jersey, of which ~75% will graduate and ~85% will land jobs. In response to market trends and projections in each location, JVS will provide occupational skills training in seven high-demand healthcare occupations:
Boston
Certified Nursing Assistant with ESL option (average earnings – $37k/yr)
Patient Care Technician (average earnings – $34k/yr)
Certified Pharmacy Technician (average earnings – $45k/yr)
Certified Central Sterile Processing Technician (average earnings – $47k/yr)
New Jersey
Certified Home Health Aide (average earnings – $34k/yr)
Certified Pharmacy Technician with ESL option (average earnings – $33k/yr)
Certified Nursing Assistant (average earnings – $37k-$42k/yr)
The GIVING MATCH
From May 1 to December 15, 2025, every $2 raised by JVS will be matched with $1 raised by Focusing Philanthropy, until the campaign goal of $1,350,000 is reached. To qualify for the match, donations must be directed to Focusing Philanthropy and a minimum of $1,000.
Donations are fully tax deductible and 100% of funds contributed will go to the 2025 Health Careers campaign. All Focusing Philanthropy costs are covered by its founders.