New Opportunity: Financial Assistance for Apprentices
April 8, 2025
At a glance
JFF announces the launch of the National Apprentice Fund, a $2 million initiative that will provide financial assistance directly to apprentices to increase program completion rates. Learn how to apply below.
The Opportunity: National Apprentice Fund
Research has shown that financial barriers are a primary reason why apprentices don’t complete their apprenticeship programs. In April 2025, Jobs for the Future (JFF), with support from Google.org, launched the National Apprentice Fund (NAF) to address this barrier. The fund will offer financial assistance to participants in U.S. Registered Apprenticeship programs who are having trouble paying their expenses while participating in the training. The NAF will focus on supporting apprentices in occupations in new and emerging industries, such as health care and technology, that haven’t traditionally used apprenticeships as a talent development model.
Are you an apprentice who’s currently experiencing financial barriers affecting your ability to complete a Registered Apprenticeship program? You may be eligible to receive a one-time monetary award through the NAF.
To learn more about the program, watch the recording from our recent information session and national launch event on April 30, National Apprenticeship Day.
It’s not uncommon for people to experience financial challenges when they pursue education or training to gain new skills so they can advance in their careers. Financial burdens vary from person to person, but they can include the cost of the tools or equipment they need to pursue their training or bills for essentials like transportation, child care, and housing. By reducing those kinds of financial stresses and enabling more people to complete Registered Apprenticeships, the NAF aims to help build a stronger U.S. workforce.
What We Offer
JFF will manage the National Apprentice Fund, a $2 million initiative that will provide financial support directly to apprentices. Through the NAF, JFF will:
- Provide 750 apprentices with individual awards of $2,800 per person.
- Prioritize apprentices in growing sectors of the economy that pay competitive wages and offer opportunities for upward career mobility, including advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, clean energy, and education.
- Assess the fund’s impact on apprentice outcomes, including retention, completion, and job placement, through a comprehensive evaluation of and ongoing communication with the people who receive funding.
Award Timeline
April 8, 2025: The NAF application period opens and apprentices may begin submitting applications for support. Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. After you apply, you’ll receive a decision within two to four weeks. If selected, you’ll be asked to submit required financial documents. Once all documents are received, funds are typically disbursed within four to six weeks. Overall, the full process usually takes six to ten weeks from application to payment.
April 30, 2025: JFF holds a national launch event on National Apprenticeship Day, where apprentices can learn about the NAF, why it’s important, and how to apply.
November 2026: The NAF will close in November 2026, or whenever the funds run out, whichever comes first.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for NAF support, you must be:
- Currently enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship program
- Age 18 or older
- Experiencing financial barriers that may impact your ability to complete your apprenticeship
The NAF will focus on supporting apprentices in occupations in new and emerging industries, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology, clean energy, and education, that haven’t traditionally used apprenticeships as a talent development model.
Organizations are welcome to refer eligible apprentices to the NAF. If you represent an employer, a community-based organization, or another Registered Apprenticeship provider or program partner, please use this link to access a form you can use to refer individuals who may be interested.
Expectations of NAF Recipients
To qualify to receive funding through the NAF, you will need to do the following:
- Complete an application: Applicants will be asked a series of questions about their apprenticeship programs and will be required to respond to narrative questions focused on how financial barriers may be affecting their ability to complete their apprenticeship.
- Provide documentation: To ensure that the disbursements align with the NAF’s objectives, apprentices will need to submit documentation to verify their identity, age, and apprenticeship program status. Acceptable forms of identification include but are not limited to a driver’s license, a passport, a current apprenticeship agreement (Form ETA 671), an official registration document from their state’s apprenticeship office, or a letter from an employer confirming that the applicant is an apprentice.
- Remain in their programs and work toward completion: Recipients of NAF funds will be required to remain enrolled in their Registered Apprenticeship programs and make reasonable efforts to complete their training. They will also be required to provide information to the JFF team about their completion.
- Participate in a program evaluation: Recipients might be asked to complete surveys, participate in focus groups, and offer other forms of feedback to help JFF assess the NAF’s impact and help improve future iterations of the program.
Information Sessions
JFF will be hosting informational sessions for anyone who wants to ask questions and learn more about the NAF, including details about application process and the goals of the initiative. Our first information session and national launch was on April 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET – on National Apprenticeship Day. Watch the recording below. We will update this website as new sessions are added.
How to Apply
- First, be sure to review NAF eligibility criteria and expectations above.
- Watch our recent information session to learn more about the initiative and tips for navigating the application.
- Gather the required documentation to verify your identity and age, such as a driver’s license, a passport, and your apprenticeship status, such as an apprenticeship agreement (Form ETA 671) or an official registration document from your state’s apprenticeship office.
- Apply using our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant online application platform. A section of the application requires written responses regarding barriers you may face that could limit your ability to complete your apprenticeship. When you get to this section, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document first and then pasting it into the application when it’s complete, because you won’t be able to save uncompleted work in the application form and submit it later. Organizations are welcome to refer eligible apprentices to the NAF. If you represent an employer, a community-based organization, or another Registered Apprenticeship provider or program partner, please use this link to access a form you can use to refer individuals who may be interested.
- Read through your application thoroughly before clicking “submit.” JFF is reviewing applications on a rolling basis through November 2026, or whenever the funds run out, whichever comes first. We review applications within two or three weeks of submission and respond with our decisions shortly thereafter.
Measuring Outcomes
JFF will track participants’ demographic data, program continuation rates, and program completion rates. We will use this information to prepare a robust outcome evaluation that will include the following:
- Quantitative analysis: An assessment of short-term outcomes, including wage-gains and credential attainment.
- Qualitative analysis: Findings from the feedback apprentices provided in surveys and focus group conversations.
- Reporting: A comprehensive overview of insights and recommendations that we will share with stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions - Eligibility Requirements
Who qualifies for the National Apprenticeship Fund?
To be eligible for NAF support, you must be currently enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship program, age 18 years or older, and experiencing financial barriers that may impact your ability to complete your apprenticeship.
What industries are covered?
The NAF will focus on supporting Registered Apprentices across all industries and occupations. An emphasis will be placed on new and emerging industries, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology, clean energy, and education, that haven’t traditionally used apprenticeships as a talent development model.
Are transitioning military service members eligible?
Yes, if they meet the basic eligibility criteria (enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship program, 18+ years old, experiencing financial barriers), they qualify.
Are returning citizens eligible?
Yes, if they are enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship program and meet the eligibility criteria.
Do people in pre-apprenticeships qualify?
The eligibility criteria specifically require being “currently enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship program.” Pre-apprentices do not qualify for this fund.
Is U.S. citizenship a requirement?
Individuals who can successfully enroll in a Registered Apprenticeship program are eligible for the fund.
Frequently Asked Questions - Application Process
How do I apply and verify my status?
You apply using the ADA-compliant online application platform. To confirm your apprenticeship status, you can submit documentation such as a current apprenticeship agreement (Form ETA 671), official registration documents from your state’s apprenticeship office, or a letter from an employer confirming that you are an apprentice.
Can program staff submit applications on apprentices' behalf?
Apprentices themselves must apply directly to the fund. However, organizations are welcome to refer eligible apprentices to the NAF. If you represent an employer, a community-based organization, or another Registered Apprenticeship provider or program partner, you can use the referral form to refer individuals who may be interested.
How competitive is the application process?
The fund will support 750 apprentices with individual awards of $2,800 per person, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions - Fund Usage and Disbursement
How are funds distributed?
After you apply, you’ll receive a decision within two to four weeks. If selected, you’ll be asked to submit the required financial documents. Once all documents are received, funds are typically disbursed within four to six weeks. The whole process usually takes six to ten weeks, from application to payment.
What expenses can be covered?
Financial burdens vary from person to person but can include the cost of tools or equipment needed for training or bills for essentials like transportation, child care, housing, and other essentials needed to complete training.
Will recipients need to prove how they spend the funds?
Recipients do not need to provide receipts or documentation of expenses, but recipients will be required to remain enrolled in their Registered Apprenticeship programs and make reasonable efforts to complete their training. They will also be required to provide information to the JFF team about their completion through follow–up surveys or interviews.
Is the funding taxable?
Yes, the funding is considered taxable income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Program Structure
How will JFF verify that apprentices remain active in their programs?
Recipients of NAF funds will be required to remain enrolled in their Registered Apprenticeship programs and make reasonable efforts to complete their training. They will also be required to provide information to the JFF team about their completion through follow–up surveys or interviews.
Will the apprentice need to repay the award if they don't complete their program?
No, apprentices do need to pay back the funds. We hope apprentices make good faith in their commitment to complete their programs.
Will JFF evaluate the program's impact?
JFF will track participants’ demographic data, program continuation rates, and program completion rates and use this information to prepare a robust impact evaluation. Recipients might be asked to complete surveys, participate in an interview, and offer other forms of feedback to help JFF assess the NAF’s impact and help improve future program iterations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Program Administration
What is the timeline for the program?
The NAF application period opened on April 8, 2025, and apprentices can submit applications now. The NAF will close in November 2026 or whenever the funds run out, whichever comes first.
Is Google.org the sole source of funds for this program?
Yes, the National Apprentice Fund was launched with support from Google.org. JFF administers the fund and evaluates its impact.
Will the program continue after the initial funding is exhausted?
At the moment, there is no funding beyond this period. We hope this fund will incentivize other funders to make similar commitments to apprentices in the future.
Are promotional materials available?
Yes, there is a communications toolkit that partner organizations and/or employers can use to promote the fund.
Questions? Contact Us
If you have questions about the National Apprentice Fund, would like to find out if you’re a good fit for this program, or need information related to logistics surrounding the application process or information sessions, please contact nationalapprenticefund@jff.org