Grant from Ballmer Group to Improve Equal Access to Opportunities via Goodwill® Model

Funds Will Expand the Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator®

September 25, 2025 - Goodwill Industries International (GII) is proud to announce a transformative grant from Ballmer Group. This grant will help spread the Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator (OA) model to local Goodwill organizations in the U.S. as a way to offer customized job training and support to individuals in lower-wage employment and those who are facing challenges to finding and maintaining employment. This grant will improve program outcomes, expand adoption of the OA model and address the evolving needs of communities and employers.

The OA model, developed by GII, helps people reach their full potential with customized career paths that lead to better employment opportunities. With this funding, GII will expand access to the tools, data, resources and career navigators that empower local Goodwill career centers. With these resources, career navigators will provide intensive, customized support based on individual needs and local employment opportunities.

"With Ballmer Group's support, we're scaling a proven model that delivers better outcomes for job seekers and meets the evolving needs of employers," says GII President and CEO Steve Preston. "This investment amplifies our ability to connect people with meaningful careers, meeting them where they are and helping them get where they want to go."

"Ballmer Group is proud to invest in Goodwill Industries International because of its proven ability to scale opportunities for millions of individuals across its network. Their mission delivery model reflects the kind of bold, data-driven and community-rooted innovation we seek to support," says Emma Uman, director of national career success of Ballmer Group.

The investment will also support local program implementation, technology development and pilot testing.

The OA model is built on the belief that meaningful connections with trained career navigators lead to better job placement and long-term career success for those who use Goodwill job training and support services. With Ballmer Group's support, GII is poised to scale this impact and continue building a more inclusive, adaptable workforce.