Careerwise Colorado

What it reported doing in 2025

Careerwise is a pioneering nonprofit that catalyzes the development of business-led, modern youth apprenticeship programs and systems in communities, regions and states across the country. In just ten years, careerwise has not only successfully launched and grown a coalition of businesses and schools in its flagship locations who are redefining apprenticeship for the 21st century by implementing the model, but careerwise has also built the capacity to consult with and support other communities looking to do the same. Careerwise tools, technologies and processes, built and refined in Colorado and New York, are now being leveraged by a growing national network of partner initiatives seeking to close the gap between education and employment to enable more equitable economic and educational outcomes. Combining paid, on-the-job training with continued classroom education at secondary and postsecondary institutions, careerwise's modern youth apprenticeships provide benefit to employers, students and society alike. Successful apprentices are equipped to succeed in career and/or college, widening the door to opportunity by multiplying their options and cultivating a more skilled workforce for a quickly changing economy. Careerwise is honored to have bloomberg philanthropies, the chicago community foundation, iconiq impact education & economic mobility co-lab, and the united states department of labor among national funders who have supported the piloting of modern youth apprenticeship in the united states by investing in careerwise's system. With additional support from local funders including the daniels fund, the beacon fund, the Colorado health foundation, zoma foundation and the state of Colorado, the organization has garnered significant philanthropic and government investment in recognition of its status as a field-building innovator. Careerwise's locally implemented programs broker formal relationships between businesses and students and the schools where they learn, including both k-12 institutions and institutions of higher education. Moreover, careerwise's national team also coordinates between those local programs, which comprise a growing nationwide network of leaders seeking to identify and capture best practices for scale and impact. As a recipient of federal funding, careerwise also plays a leadership role in helping grow and modernize the u.s. Registered apprenticeship system by serving younger, more diverse populations of apprentices who work in modern industry. Careerwise continues to receive notable attention from leading research institutes and policymakers. After a decade of building, collaborating and learning, careerwise is looking ahead with renewed urgency and purpose. In 2026, we are focused on expanding opportunities and partnerships in high- demand sectors like healthcare, education and youth development, government/public service, enterprise business management, and technology.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 84.5%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.67 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -49.4%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.74; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 15%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.6% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.1% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.2% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings