Learn more about this opportunity on our website!

Background

The GitLab Foundation’s mission is to improve lifetime earnings through access to opportunities. We focus on individuals making below a living wage in their local context and on specific groups that are disadvantaged due to factors such as gender, disability, or social background.

In 2024, as part of our Emerging Talent Demand portfolio, we are launching a national $3M Green Jobs for Economic Opportunity fund to support nonprofits and partnerships in exploring or developing early-stage initiatives to improve economic mobility. This fund will help fill gaps for newer projects that often have a more challenging time raising resources to establish proof of concept, connect to other funding, and/or develop a roadmap for continued success.

The Opportunity: Catalyzing Green Jobs Through Early Stage Initiatives

Significant public and private investments are helping to drive a renaissance in how we produce and consume goods and deliver services. As we make this transition, many roles and job functions will change. Renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and sustainability are a few of the fast-developing sectors spurred by technological advancements, policy, and public will. Over the next decade, more than nine million jobs will be created through several national policies. The CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act will stimulate these sectors and help provide multiple entry points and career advancement opportunities for those with varying levels of educational achievement and experience.

Despite this momentum, training and placing workers remains a challenge. Studies point to a gap in workforce participation and a lack of diverse representation of historically marginalized populations. Limited visibility, disconnected and expensive training, significant barriers to opportunities, and nascent green industries prevent individuals from connecting to high-growth jobs.

In March 2024, the GitLab Foundation will be accepting proposals from organizations working to incubate new ideas, deploy solutions to overcome these challenges, and/or establish a roadmap for future momentum. What is unique about the GitLab Foundation is that we are willing to take risks on new approaches and seek solutions with a clear potential to increase the incomes of low-wage workers (our North Star outcome).

We believe that flexible grants for early-stage and innovative ideas will help drive new climate careers while filling a gap in the funding ecosystem.

The examples below help illustrate these types of projects in action:

• Coalfield Development Corporation is leveraging GitLab Foundation funding to unlock more than $4M in public and private funds to expand their solar micro-credential program in Appalachian communities. A key component of this project is how the organization used early investments to develop a coalition of West Virginia cities, economic revitalization organizations, academic institutions, and private sector innovators to apply and win an Economic Development Administration grant.
• GRID Alternatives is leveraging GitLab Foundation funding to expand training programs in underinvested communities across the country. The organization will pilot an Installation Basics Training program in Puerto Rico and will expand a Tribal Solar program in Native American communities. A key component of this project is the investment in infrastructure, such as data systems, personnel, and toolkits, that will attract funding and continue to scale after the grant period.
• Jobs to Move America will deploy GitLab Foundation funding to develop Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) with private employers such as New Flyer, which is leveraging Inflation Reduction Act funding for electric bus manufacturing. A key component of this project is JMA’s new Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center for employer and nonprofit partners interested in replicating projects. The CBA Resource Center will act as a comprehensive solution to expedite CBA development among private, public, and nonprofit actors.

Overview of Application Process:

We prioritize early-stage initiatives with a high potential for implementation and progress toward measurable short-term outcomes. We encourage partnerships between nonprofits, employers, the public sector, unions, academic institutions, startups, etc. to ensure projects have a lasting impact.

To garner the largest number of creative applications, we will have a low-friction, one- to two-page concept note submission process. As concepts are reviewed, we will request that a small number submit complete applications to be used for final review and award decisions.

Applications will be reviewed by GitLab Foundation Program Officers and select advisors. Interested parties can sign up for announcements here: Link to application page

FAQs

The GitLab Foundation will continuously update this list over the coming weeks!

1. When are concept notes due? Friday, May 2 at 5:00pm PT
2. I have a question that has not been answered. Who should I contact? We recommend you register for the webinar on April 5. After the webinar, you can contact [email protected] for additional questions.
3. Are EU projects eligible for funding?
   1. Not at this moment. Organizations based in the US with US-centered projects are eligible for funding.
4. I'm looking for more information, where should I start? Please review the Fund Overview and Concept Note for more details.
5. Can you tell us more about the ROI Process
   1. Please see the Webinar slides and recording from April 5, 2024
   2. Also, the Impact Measurement page is very useful for understanding our approach to outcomes
6. Do Concept Notes have a word or a page length limit?
   1. For each prompt, please keep answers to a maximum of 200 words.
7. Do you have any tips for how to estimate potential earning increases for a new project where we may not have data on current population income and increase from our project/intervention?
   1. Take a look at case study #2 in the webinar slides from April 5, 2024. Within that example, two suggestions:
      1. First, estimate what the counterfactual is in your initiative’s area. In some cases, data sets and reports can help elucidate wages in the area or for your beneficiaries. If this doesn’t exist, use minimum wage (federal or local, whichever is higher) and layer on other circumstances that a person may be experiencing. An example of this: the minimum wage in Los Angeles is $17.27. However, if you are working explicitly with people impacted by the criminal justice system, it has been shown that people who have spent time in prison see their annual income reduced by an average of 52%. Combine those two data points:
         1. Annual minimum wage $35,921.60 ($17.27 x 2080 hours) x 52% = $18,679.23
      2. Second, estimate what the impact of your project will be for your beneficiaries, and compare that to the counterfactual. Example: if you are working to [ban the box](https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/#:~:text=This law generally prohibits employers,“Ban the Box” law.) in a certain industry and estimate incomes will increase to $30/hr, multiply this by total working hours
         1. New wage due to your initiative is $62,400 ($30 x 2080 hours), leading to an increase of $43,720.77
8. Can the submission be part of a larger project idea? Given the funding criteria of $250K - $500K, how are you looking for applicants to articulate impact for the portion of the larger work (with large funding need) being submitted?
   1. Yes, please share your entire vision! We hope that this opportunity can contribute to the ongoing momentum of your project or idea.
9. For scenarios where the income gains come in steps progressively over a lifetime (i.e. not one income jump), how does your math account for these situations?
   1. We will customize our calculations based on your assumptions. In some industries or for certain certifications/credentials, we can see jumps in income after completion - think of how a high school or undergraduate degree bumps up income after completion. If you provide details on your intervention, we will incorporate the impact.

Application

Click here to submit a concept note

Timeline

1. March 13: Fund Announcement and Open Solicitation
2. April 5: Webinar at 10:00am EST (please register here)
   1. Recording: Linked Here
   2. Password: 9B7$y&S%
3. May 2: Concept Note Submission Deadline
4. May 2-14: Concept Note Review and Selection of Full Invitations
5. May 15: Full Application Invitation
6. June 14: Full Application Deadline
7. June 17 - July 12: Application Review and Selection
8. Mid-July: Awards, Contracting and Announcements