2024 DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant FAQs

The DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant is one component of $30 million to initiatives that help grow skills for tradespeople by 2027. The grants awarded to nonprofits and U.S. public schools (and equivalent outside the U.S.) are to fund vocational skills training and reskilling programs in construction.

Due to a lack of skilled trade workers, we are addressing the estimated 500,000 unfilled construction jobs in the U.S. and globally. The DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant helps reinforce the brand’s efforts to advance and accelerate vocational skills training programs to fuel the growth of trade careers.

Through our DEWALT® Grow the Trades Grant, we are sharply focused on creating change within the skilled trades industries within a concentrated time period. We are on a quest to create deep, intense impact over the course of five years with cash and tool grants to literally provide the tools for empowering and equipping tradespeople.

We plan to award up to $3 million in cash grant funding and up to $500K in tool donations per year over the next five years, beginning in 2023 as a component of our overall Grow the Trades $30 million commitment by 2027. Cash grants will vary in size of $10,000 minimum and up to $200,000 maximum in the U.S. or equivalent value in other countries, and tool donation grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 U.S. retail value. There is no set limit on the number of grantees we plan to award each year.

Nonprofits, U.S. public schools, and trade schools supporting workforce development for trade skills initiatives.

• 501(c)(3) organizations, U.S. public schools, nonprofit trade schools, and equivalent outside the U.S. with a valid organization email address and W-9.
• Example Organizations & Programs: U.S. high school trade skills training programs, training centers, vocational and nonprofit trade schools, makerspaces focused on trade skills, community and technical colleges, nonprofits focused on vocational and trade skills development.
• Programs focused on trade skills training for women, veterans, people of color, underrepresented, underserved, or justice involved.

• The number will fluctuate. There could be upwards of 100 nonprofits, U.S. public schools, and trade schools per year. 
• Higher priority given to nonprofits, U.S. public schools, and nonprofit trade schools that haven’t received a grant more than three times.

• Grant recipients will be required to set goals and metrics in advance and provide progress and results to demonstrate outcomes and measurable impact.
• The number of grant participants earning a vocational certification.
• The number of grant participants earning an apprenticeship or trade skills job.

501(c)(3), U.S. public school, nonprofit trade school, or equivalent outside of U.S and provide trade skills services directly to people in at least one of the following markets: United States, Canada, or Mexico.

We are only planning to award grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, U.S. public schools, nonprofit trade schools, or equivalent outside of the U.S.

No, nonprofits in North America, specifically Canada and Mexico, are eligible as well.

A range of skilled trades will be considered, particularly in concrete, mechanical, pipe, and finishing.

Any skilled trades involved in the four major types of construction, including residential building, institutional and commercial building, specialized industrial construction and infrastructure, and heavy construction.

According to Skill-Up Technologies, reskilling is teaching a worker the skills for a new job and upskilling is teaching a worker advanced skills for the current job. Note: DEWALT® is primarily focused on trade skills training in construction for this grant opportunity.

• Applicants must be registered in Benevity with Electronic Transfer Funds (EFT) setup in advance of applying. See the Benevity Registration Guide under the Resources section or log on to Benevity.com for more information. Do not delay registering for Benevity that can take one to two weeks.
• All requests must be submitted through the application at Grow The Trades | DEWALT, from May 14, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET through June 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET (no extensions).
• No status calls, emails, or appointments are allowed to pitch program grant ideas. Incomplete applications are ineligible, and no extensions are granted. Only one (1) request per nonprofit for either a cash or tool grant.

• Priority given for concrete, mechanical, pipe, and finishing trades; other trades with a compelling application will be considered
• Based in and/or serve San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, District of Columbia (DC), Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Nashville, Phoenix, Canada, and Mexico. These North American markets are weighted higher. Other locations are NOT excluded from applying and receiving a grant.
• Historical outcomes or success factors/milestones 
• Sustainable impact
• Community engagement
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Innovation and technology usage
• Number of people served with vocational training
• Number of people earning a certification in a trade skill (past and potentially from this grant)
• Reach, location and depth of programs
• Funds requested
• Outcomes projected

A diverse team of DEWALT® employees will read, score, and deliberate to select the grant recipients.

We expect awards of $10,000 minimum and $200,000 maximum in the U.S. and of an amount with equivalent value in other countries or up to $25,000 (retail-value) in a tool grant.

By September 1, 2024 (notification) and by September 30, 2024 (grant distribution)

Grow The Trades | DEWALT and learn how to register for Benevity at Benevity Causes

Yes.

Yes. A past grant recipient can reapply. Yet, you may not be considered if you have received a grant three times to allow us to share resources with other nonprofits.