CAEL Awarded $125K General Support Grant From Richard King Mellon Foundation

Initial-Phase Grant to Support CAEL Capacity Development in Southwestern Pennsylvania

INDIANAPOLIS - Following the recent opening of its Pittsburgh office, CAEL is further bolstering its regional capacity thanks to a new funding relationship with the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The one-year, $125,000 operational support grant will help advance CAEL’s work to drive economic mobility by building education-employment partnerships vital to key industries such as health care, banking, construction management, and information technology.

“As we forge new relationships in the region, investments in our capacity maximize our impact on communities in need,” said Earl Buford, CAEL president. “We are grateful for the Richard King Mellon Foundation’s generous support and look forward to partnering with the Foundation on a project basis in the future.” 

CAEL, a nonprofit organization helping adult learners navigate on- and off-ramps between education and employment, is engaging with educators, employers, and community-based organizations throughout the region to further academic and career success for adult learners and equitable economic growth for the communities in which they live and work. Examples of CAEL’s current regional partners include Pittsburgh Scholar House, Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) Vibrant Pittsburgh, and Partner4Work. As CAEL continues to build relationships in the region, additional partners will augment its efforts in the future. 

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, we foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals, and their communities thrive. A national membership organization established in 1974, CAEL is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. Learn more at cael.org and stradacollaborative.org.

About Richard King Mellon Foundation
For more than 70 years the Richard King Mellon Foundation has invested in the competitive future and quality of life of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and in the protection, preservation and restoration of America's environmental heritage. The Foundation was created by Richard King Mellon, president and chairman of Mellon Bank, a conservationist and leading figure in the financial and civic life of Pennsylvania. Its strategic funding priorities include economic development, economic mobility, health & well-being, conservation, organizational effectiveness and social impact. The Foundation’s projected 2020 year-end endowment was $3.1 billion, and its Trustees in 2020 awarded grants and Program Related Investments totaling $130 million, making it one of the 50 largest foundations in the world.

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