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closing the gap between talent and opportunity

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Corporate Sponsorship & Scholarship Opportunities

A smiling person in scrubs stands next to employment stats and a testimonial about career growth after completing a CNA certification program, made possible through impactful corporate sponsorships. Icons represent scholars served, persistence, and income increase.

INVEST WITH US

in our KC Talent pipeline

Kansas City’s continued economic growth depends on a resilient, skilled, and diverse talent pipeline. At Great Jobs KC, we empower corporations, foundations, and local business leaders to invest directly in the region’s future workforce. Whether funding college degree attainment or sponsoring hands-on pre-apprenticeships and career technical training, your corporate investment bridges the skills gap, powers equitable economic mobility, and connects your business directly to job-ready talent.

download our corporate sponsorship guide

Let’s build a STRONGER Kansas City, together.

what type of talent do we train?

High-Impact Industries

We align corporate investments with the critical industry sectors driving Kansas City’s regional growth:

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences: Sponsor Scholars earning credentials for high-need roles including nursing, medical assistants, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and phlebotomists.

  • Construction & Skilled Trades: Fund pre-apprenticeship pathways that give participants foundational safety, tool, and trade training before stepping onto active job sites.

  • Manufacturing & Advanced Tech: Invest in certifications for CNC machining, robotics, welding, and automated systems maintenance.

  • Logistics & Supply Chain Management: Power local training programs for commercial driving (CDL), supply chain logistics, material handling, and warehouse operations management.

Why Partner with

great jobs kc?

Corporate sponsorship is more than corporate philanthropy; it is a strategic investment in Kansas City’s regional competitive advantage.

When your organization sponsors Scholars through Great Jobs KC, you receive:

  • Customized Pipeline Recruitment: Direct access to talent pools specifically trained for your open entry-level and technical positions.

  • Measurable Community & ESG Impact: Transparent reporting on Scholar progress, graduation rates, and local job placement metrics to power your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.

  • Brand Visibility & Regional Leadership: Recognition across regional marketing channels, annual reports, and community workforce development events.

invest with us

Two Strategic Pathways to Invest in Kansas City’s Future Talent

To build a thriving regional economy, workforce development requires a flexible approach. We offer two distinct corporate sponsorship avenues tailored to your company’s hiring goals, Corporate Social Responsibility priorities, and industry needs.

Your investment fuels every step of a Scholar’s journey, from tuition and certification to mentoring, coaching, and career preparation that turn potential into a family-sustaining career.

Skills Training & Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways
College Scholarship Pathways
FIND OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX CREDITS FOR YOUR investment

post-secondary skills training opportunities

SKILLS Training & Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways

For immediate regional hiring needs, sponsoring high-demand certification programs and pre-apprenticeships delivers fast, direct results. Your sponsorship funds short-term credentialing, hands-on technical instruction, and supportive services that allow individuals to “earn while they learn.”

  • High-Demand Sectors: Direct your funding into certified training pathways for Healthcare, Construction & Skilled Trades, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Warehousing.

  • Talent Connection: First-look recruiting privileges to hire certified, job-ready candidates trained to industry standards.

download our corporate sponsorship guide
Infographic listing sponsorship tiers: Catalyst (5-10 scholars), Trailblazer (11-25), Transformation (26-50), and Legacy (51+), each with increasing benefits—highlighting unique opportunities for Corporate Workforce Development Partnerships in Kansas City through Great Jobs KC.
FIND OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX CREDITS FOR YOUR investment

post-secondary degree opportunities

College Scholarship Pathways

Higher education remains a powerful catalyst for long-term career growth and executive leadership. Corporate college sponsorship investments support local students pursuing two- and four-year degree programs, providing tuition coverage, academic advising, and career readiness mentorship.

  • Corporate Impact: Fund degrees aligned with your industry’s long-term leadership requirements (e.g., healthcare administration, business operations, engineering).

  • Talent Connection: Gain early visibility with high-achieving Scholars through summer internships, executive mentoring, and corporate campus visits.

download our corporate sponsorship guide
A graphic with three donation steps: choose your giving level, discuss naming and recognition—including options for Corporate Sponsorships—and confirm your gift. The title reads “Opportunities Change Lives. Make Your Gift.”.
FIND OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX CREDITS FOR YOUR investment

How Your Company Can Get Involved Today

  • Sponsor a Scholar Cohort: Direct funding toward a dedicated group of Scholars pursuing degrees or high-demand credentials in your specific industry.

  • Host Internships & Pre-Apprenticeships: Provide hands-on site access, mentorship, or work-based learning opportunities for active program participants.

  • Join an Industry Advisory Panel: Help shape curriculum standards and technical training criteria so our Scholars graduate with the exact skills your business requires.

  • Become an Employer Partner: Provide access to available positions to our Scholars.  
Download our corporate sponsorship guide
Large group of people wearing blue, orange, and green shirts stand outdoors on grass, posing for a group photo with trees and a modern building in the background—capturing the collaborative spirit of Corporate Workforce Development Partnerships in Kansas City with Great Jobs KC.

YOUR TALENT PIPELINE

powered by great jobs kc

Let’s connect and discuss how a partnership can lower your hiring costs and keep great talent in Kansas City. 

contact us
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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