Funder: [Womens Bureau - https://www.dol.gov/wb]
Due Dates: June 10, 2025 (11:59 pm ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $750,000 per award; total program funding approximately $6,000,000; expected 17 awards
Summary: Provides technical assistance grants to employers and labor unions to increase women's employment and retention in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations through training programs, resources, and support services.
Key Information: Eligible applicants are community-based nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) experienced in workforce development and training women for apprenticeable or nontraditional occupations. Focus encouraged on historically underrepresented women, including women of color, women with disabilities, low-income women, and rural populations.
Description
The FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Womens Bureau, aims to support employers and labor unions in the U.S. and its territories to increase the employment and retention of women in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations (A/NTO). The program provides funding for technical assistance activities that:
- Develop, establish, expand, or enhance pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship, or other nontraditional skills training programs designed to prepare women for careers in A/NTO.
- Provide ongoing orientations, resources, and support to employers, unions, and workers to foster successful work environments for women in these fields.
- Set up support groups, facilitate networks, and offer supportive services to improve retention of women in A/NTO.
The program encourages applicants to address industries where women are historically underrepresented or concentrated in lower-wage roles, including but not limited to advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, health care, information technology, finance, and transportation.
Applicants with experience as equity intermediaries or those focusing on outreach and recruitment of historically underrepresented communities—such as women of color, women with disabilities, women at or below the federal poverty line, and women in rural areas—are especially encouraged to apply.
Due Dates
- Application Deadline: June 10, 2025, by 11:59 pm Eastern Time
- Estimated Project Start Date: September 30, 2025
Funding Amount
- Total Program Funding: Approximately $6,000,000
- Number of Awards: Approximately 17
- Award Ceiling: $750,000 per award
- Award Floor: $350,000 per award
- Funding Instrument: Grant
- No cost sharing or matching required
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education) with or without 501(c)(3) IRS status
- Must be community-based organizations (CBOs) as defined in the funding announcement: private nonprofits (including faith-based organizations) representative of a community or significant segment thereof, with demonstrated expertise and effectiveness in workforce development and experience administering programs training women for apprenticeable or nontraditional occupations.
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by the deadline.
- Applicants should carefully review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for detailed application instructions, eligibility criteria, and required documentation.
Additional Information
- The program supports a broad range of industries and encourages innovative approaches to increase women’s participation and success in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
- Emphasis on supporting women from historically underrepresented and vulnerable populations.
- Technical assistance may include training program development, employer and worker resources, support networks, and retention services.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|
| Email | WB.OGM@dol.gov |
| Phone | (202) 693-6710 |
| Funder Address | Womens Bureau, 200 Constitution Ave., NW Room S-3002, Washington, DC 20210 |