Economic Mobility

Our Approach to Economic Mobility

Most of us believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build the life of our dreams — no matter what we look like, where we are from, or what our circumstances. But for too many of us, our dreams seem to be out of reach because our nation has created a racial wealth gap and inequitable opportunities to succeed.

Our government agencies have created many programs and services to help address these problems and dismantle inequities and unjust systems. But despite our best efforts, we've created a complex, often confusing, system of public benefits, postsecondary education, and workforce training programs that fail to consistently deliver the long-term outcomes for individuals and families that will transform their lives for the better.

We envision a future where someone's worth and success in life are rooted in more than just the work that they perform, where we all collectively invest in everyone's aspirations no matter their race, background or circumstance, and everyone has the resources they need to thrive. This is a future where we eliminate racial wealth gaps by building multi-sector partnerships that promote everyone's well-being and ensure accessibility to free or affordable education and training opportunities that support the whole person and lead to jobs and careers that pay a living wage.

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Economic Mobility Portfolios

We undertake work in economic mobility in two portfolios

Workforce Pathways

Third Sector works with communities and our government agencies to reimagine our workforce systems so they can help people find the careers and lives of their dreams.

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Post-Secondary Opportunity

Third Sector mobilizes cross-sector collaborators to transform our government's ability to provide education, training, support, and credentials to put people on a path toward economic mobility.

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News & Insights

Third Sector Expands Work to Help Adult Learners Access Education and Training with $1M Grant from Sijbrandij Foundation Third Sector Expands Work to Help Adult Learners Access Education and Training with $1M Grant from Sijbrandij Foundation

Erika Wynn
June 25, 2025

Third Sector is delighted to announce an expansion of our work advancing the adoption of Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) through a renewed $1 million grant from the Sijbrandij Foundation. This investment deepens the work of our Postsecondary Opportunity Practice Area, positioning LiLAs as a core strategy to support adult learners in accessing flexible, career-connected funding…

Reimagining SNAP E&T: Lessons Learned from Third Sector and NGA Building Bridges Across the Workforce Ecosystem Reimagining SNAP E&T: Lessons Learned from Third Sector and NGA Building Bridges Across the Workforce Ecosystem

Angelica Garcia
May 20, 2025

Across the country, SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) and other workforce development programs often operate in silos. Each aims to support economic mobility but does so through disconnected strategies, funding streams, and eligibility requirements. This fragmentation makes it harder for job seekers, especially those relying on SNAP, to access coordinated, high-quality services that lead to…

Third Sector to Support Four-State Cohort Building Inclusive Climate Workforce Initiatives Third Sector to Support Four-State Cohort Building Inclusive Climate Workforce Initiatives

Angelica Garcia
September 18, 2024

Third Sector, in partnership with the Families and Workers Fund, announced that it will support over the next 11 months a cohort of four states - Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico - in designing workforce initiatives to build a pipeline of quality jobs in the climate and infrastructure sectors. Third Sector's support is part…

Partnerships to Achieve Student Success National Cohorts Partnerships to Achieve Student Success National Cohorts

Dr. Joy Coates
August 28, 2024

The Opportunity Everyone, no matter their age, race, zip code, or previous educational background deserves to get the education and the career they want. And yet millions of Americans face significant barriers to enrolling, persisting, and completing postsecondary education and obtaining a credential - even as more and more of the best paying jobs require some…

Simplifying How We Save and Pay for Lifelong Learning Simplifying How We Save and Pay for Lifelong Learning

Adrienne Russman
August 5, 2024

We need our government to take action to simplify and streamline the structures and tools that help individuals fund lifelong learning. That’s why Third Sector is proposing a SIMPLE framework to help create a more streamlined approach to saving and paying for postsecondary education and job training that can provide clarity and ease for learners,…

Third Sector and National Governors Association Select Four States to Expand SNAP E&T Programs Third Sector and National Governors Association Select Four States to Expand SNAP E&T Programs

Angelica Garcia
July 24, 2024

This month, Third Sector and The National Governors Association (NGA) have selected cross-sector teams from Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina to participate in a project focused on helping governors expand employment and training opportunities in their states. Specifically, these four states will receive expert support and technical assistance to help them identify and address…

Launching and Maintaining Rural Sector Partnerships Launching and Maintaining Rural Sector Partnerships

Jessica Praphath
July 22, 2024

The six key lessons learned below come from 14 Rural Sector Partnership Leaders across 12 organizations and 26 rural sector partnerships in six states (CO, PA, WY, TX, LA, NC) as well as Third Sector’s own experiences and work to stand up these partnerships in Rural Central Texas.

Third Sector and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Announce Four-State Cohort to Develop Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) Pilots Third Sector and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Announce Four-State Cohort to Develop Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) Pilots

Alysha Alani
March 1, 2024

This month, Third Sector and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced the selection of four state cross-sector teams in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas into the National Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) cohort. Participants will design innovative LiLA pilots for their states, which will provide working people with access to education and training opportunities to…

Third Sector and National Governors Association to Expand SNAP E&T Programs Third Sector and National Governors Association to Expand SNAP E&T Programs

Angelica Garcia
January 10, 2024

This month, Third Sector will launch a new project with the National Governors Association (NGA) and Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) to identify and address statewide barriers to successfully and equitably implementing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) to increase the number of third-party SNAP E&T providers in 8-10 states. SNAP E&T is a…

“Education is the one thing that can’t be taken from you…”“Education is the one thing that can’t be taken from you…”

Alysha Alani
October 23, 2023

Third Sector values deep and authentic relationships - amongst our staff as well as with our partners and clients. We had an opportunity to reflect on these relationships during our Spring 2023 Retreat where we focused as a team on “Why we do the work.” It was a privilege to welcome our long-time client, Dr. Cynthia…

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