JFF's Dave's Killer Bread Foundation Acquisition FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About JFF’s Acquisition of Fair Chance Hiring Program and Other Assets From Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation

What is Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation (DKBF), the nonprofit whose assets Jobs for the Future (JFF) has acquired?

DKBF is a nonprofit organization created in 2015 as a social impact initiative of the company Dave’s Killer Bread to mobilize the business community to adopt second chance employment practices (also known as “fair chance” employment practices). Inspired by the experiences of Dave’s Killer Bread co-founder Dave Dahl, who was incarcerated for a total of 15 years before stabilizing his life and rejoining his family’s bakery, the foundation helps employers assess applicants on their skills and qualifications rather than on their criminal history.

DKBF’s mission is to expand fair chance employment by training business leaders and producing tools to help more companies hire people with criminal records. Its leading program is the Second Chance Corporate Cohort, a nationally respected eight-week course that helps talent and HR leaders evaluate their company’s current hiring practices and create a customized plan to implement fair chance employment.

The foundation also provides individual advice to business leaders, customized training programs for employers in specific industries, and curated tools and resources for the field. DKBF has built a strong network of alumni with 34 companies that have completed the program, including Cisco, General Motors, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gap, Inc., the Koch Group, Union Pacific Railroad, and Vistra Corp. It is also a founding partner of the Second Chance Business Coalition, a group of cross-sector private companies and organizations committed to fair chance hiring.

Why has JFF acquired assets from DKBF?

With approximately 70 million people in the United States living with a criminal record and nearly 600,000 individuals released from prison each year—a disproportionate number of whom are people of color—the need to advance fair chance hiring has never been greater. Research shows that having a full-time job with good pay and benefits is critical to successfully reentering the community following incarceration. But many state laws and stereotypes make it nearly impossible for people with records to get and keep a quality job or pursue educational opportunities, regardless of their skills and abilities. On average, states have nearly 100 occupational and business licensing laws that prohibit employers from hiring people with records.

Previously, DKBF and JFF had each been working independently to expand employment opportunities for people with records by changing employer practices in multiple industries and sectors. With the acquisition of DKBF’s assets, JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement (the Center) can accelerate this work and significantly increase its scale and impact—all aligned with JFF’s mission to drive equitable economic advancement for all. The Center aims to help thousands of people with records find quality jobs.

The Center will expand its capacity to advise employers on how to implement fair chance hiring by combining DKBF’s nationally respected Second Chance Corporate Cohort training program and other employer resources with JFF’s convening power and scaling expertise. Integrating these assets into JFF’s ongoing work in apprenticeship, career pathways, and other areas will enable our team to broaden the delivery of trusted guidance on hiring people with records to public and private employers, employer coalitions, and employer networks.

How will the transfer of DKBF’s assets to JFF help people with criminal records gain employment?

Job opportunities for people with criminal records will improve only when businesses are willing and able to hire these workers. Like DKBF, JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement (the Center) is committed to mobilizing employers to hire people with records, debunking myths about people who have been incarcerated, tracking the success of these employees, and cultivating a broader commitment to fair chance employment.

By acquiring DKBF’s assets—including its training programs, curriculum, and expertise—the Center will significantly increase its capacity to advise business leaders on the value of assessing applicants on their skills and qualifications rather than on their criminal history and how to adopt fair chance practices.

DKBF appreciates the Center’s multidimensional approach to employer mobilization. The Center connects employers to policy guidance, advocacy efforts, and talent development resources to ensure not just employment but equitable economic advancement for people with records.

How will JFF’s partners benefit from the transfer of assets?

As a result of this new venture, JFF and the Center for Justice & Economic Advancement (the Center) will enhance their current relationships in the field of fair chance employment as well as create new partnerships. DKBF’s prominence in the field and its strong networks will help facilitate this growth. JFF and the Center will engage with new and diverse networks of employers, industry associations, government agencies, and funders dedicated to fair chance hiring. With increased resources provided by JFF, the Center can further scale the foundation’s signature training program, the Second Chance Corporate Cohort, and create greater economic mobility for people with records. JFF’s partners also will benefit from the accelerated development of fair chance hiring resources and tools for employers.

What are the benefits of the acquisition for DKBF’s constituents?

DKBF’s large network of alumni and partners will continue to advance fair chance employment practices as the Center will carry on DKBF’s legacy. DKBF’s constituents will maintain their relationships with DKBF’s staff through the Center and will continue to receive one-on-one expert guidance. They also will benefit from the accelerated development of resources and tools the Center will have the capacity to produce.

How will the acquisition affect staffing at DKBF and JFF?

JFF is excited to welcome two new staff members to the Center’s team. DKBF’s founding executive director, Genevieve Martin, will join JFF as a senior director who will lead the Center’s employer initiatives. DKBF’s project coordinator, Crystal Mourlas-Juan, will join JFF as a project manager.

Where can I learn more about the announcement?

To learn more, read our press release.

For more information about JFF and the Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, visit www.jff.org and the Center’s web page.