St. Joseph the Worker Grant Signed Application 2025
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Proposition 202 Tribal Gaming 2025 Application Sponsorship/Support Form Ak-Chin Indian Community Name of the Tribal Community: Ak-Chin Indian Community Due date of the application to the Tribal community: July 2025 Name of the Non-profit: St. Joseph the Woker (The Worker) Contact person/title: Brittany Bunce, Grant Writer Email address: bbunce@sjwjobs.org Address: 382 E Palm Lane, Suite 150, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Project name: Workforce Development Amount being requested: $25,000 Project summary: With a generous $25,000 grant, The Worker could assist up to 500 job seekers in securing full-time employment and promoting a life of self-sufficiency. To secure quality employment, clients require a range of resources tailored to their unique needs and job industries, such as work clothes, shoes, transportation assistance, food handler cards, and MVD vouchers, with an average cost of $50-$150 per person for a full suite of services. Beneficiaries: Disadvantaged populations – low income, previously incarcerated, unhoused, unemployed, underemployed, homeless, marginalized communities Supervisor District: Maricopa 2 and Maricopa 3 (office locations) The undersigns hereby certifies they have read and comply with the responsibilities set forth in the PINAL COUNTY TRIBAL GAMING GRANT PROGRAM Request for fiscal agent/pass through support documentation. Carrie Masters Chief Executive Officer St. Joseph the Worker _______________________________________ Director name and signature Ak-Chin Indian Community 2025 Prop 202 Grant Application St. Joseph the Worker A. Purpose of Grant. 1. Describe the proposed program, project, or purchase (collectively, the “Project”). This description should identify the needs/issues the Project. According to Arizona’s “Homelessness Trends Report,” for every 10 people finding housing, there were 19 new individuals experiencing homelessness (azmag.gov). At St. Joseph the Worker (The Worker), we provide pathways to self-sufficiency for disadvantaged populations, with employment as the foundation of all we do. We do this by providing support, resources, and tools necessary for becoming employable. Our Workforce Development Program plays a crucial role in preventing homelessness by addressing a variety of barriers that many individuals experience on their journey to employment. Workforce Development's focus on connecting clients to jobs paying at least $17+/hour, offering benefits, and providing opportunities for growth within the company paves a pathway for individuals on the verge of homelessness to personal and financial stability. When a client is looking for a job, a Workforce Expert will provide them with custom job leads in an industry of their choosing, resume writing, mock interviews, transportation assistance, and clothing for interviews. Once a client secures employment, we continue to support them by offering transportation assistance to and from work, uniform assistance and work shoes, and any necessary certifications and tools. By providing comprehensive support at every stage of the employment journey, the Workforce Development Program empowers clients to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. 2. Identify the target population that will be served by the Project. (Who will benefit? How many will be served? Is there a targeted geographic location? Etc.) The Workforce Development Program provides employment assistance to any resident living in cities and towns located throughout Maricopa and Pinal County, regardless of their background or any other potential barriers they might have. The Worker operates out of two offices: one in central Phoenix and another in Mesa, Arizona, helping any individual needing our assistance. Last fiscal year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024), the Workforce Development Program served 6,984 clients and successfully employed 4,380 individuals in jobs offering an average of $17.88/hour, with 82% receiving benefits from their employers. With this generous funding, we will be able to provide employment services and resources to up to 500 individuals on their journey to quality, long-term employment. 3. Describe the Project goals and objectives and outline a plan to meet these goals. Achieving a livable wage is essential for financial stability, housing, meeting basic needs, and building a foundation for long-term success. During the upcoming fiscal year, we plan to increase the average wages earned by our clients through employer partners by 10% and enhance their access to employer-provided benefits by strengthening partnerships with local businesses that offer livable wages and benefits. Specifically, we plan to raise the average wage earned by clients through these employer partners from $19.25/hour to $21.18/hour, with 86% of clients receiving benefits. By focusing on increasing wages and access to benefits, we Ak-Chin Indian Community 2025 Prop 202 Grant Application St. Joseph the Worker provide clients with a stable path to long-term financial independence, physical well-being, and economic security, empowering underserved populations to break the cycle of poverty. A crucial area for connecting clients to livable wages and benefits is our collaboration with local employers. We foster strong relationships with community businesses, who play a vital role in our mission by providing long-term direct-hire employment opportunities for our clients. These employers offer our clients jobs making at least $17+/hour, benefits, and opportunities for growth within the company. In the long term, The Worker aims to create lasting change by breaking cycles of poverty and homelessness in our community and empowering individuals to achieve self-sufficiency. Through access to stable jobs with livable wages and healthcare benefits, we hope to provide individuals with a life that strengthens their families and establishes a solid foundation for long- term success. 4. Provide a timetable for implementation of the Project. The Workforce Development Program is an ongoing initiative that started in 1988. The Worker follows a fiscal year (FY) calendar that begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. We will utilize funding by the end of the upcoming FY, spanning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. B. Resources. 1. Identify current funding sources for the Project and characterize each funding source listed as either a one-time-only or long-term funding source. Most of our funding sources require an annual application or conversation to secure. The major donors for our Workforce Development for this fiscal year include the following: DFIU Family Foundation - $150,000; Target Corporation - $75,000; The Moreno Family Foundation - $50,000; PNC Foundation - $25,000; Arizona Private Charitable Foundation - $25,000; Salt River Project (SRP) - $25,000; Power Design, Inc. - $25,000; Google - $25,000; The Burton Family Foundation - $25,000; Nationwide Foundation - $20,000; The Roman Catholic Diocese - $20,000; City of Tempe - $18,097; Donald D. Lynch Family Foundation - $17,000; APS - $15,000; McDowell Mountain Music Festival - $15,000; Maureen and Paul Rubeli Foundation - $10,000; Edward Jones - $18,500; Margaret T. Morris Foundation - $10,000; Pacific Premier Bank - $10,000; The Arizona Republic’s Season for Sharing - $7,500; Tempe Diablos Charities - $7,500; Dignity Health - $5,000; Four Peaks Rotary Foundation - $4,000; Snell & Wilmer - $4,000 2. Identify other organizations or partners that are participating in or contributing to the Project, but which are not funding sources, and describe their roles or contributions. The Worker collaborates with a diverse range of nonprofits to provide holistic support, addressing everything from mental wellness and addiction recovery to housing and ID replacement, ultimately helping individuals prepare for the workforce. The Worker is Ak-Chin Indian Community 2025 Prop 202 Grant Application St. Joseph the Worker committed to working with all agencies that need our employment services. Some of the nonprofits we collaborate with include the Homeless ID Project, Televerde Foundation, Save the Family, Saving Amy, and St. Vincent de Paul. By addressing employment barriers and providing comprehensive support, we ensure that Workforce Development clients have all the resources they need to help break the cycle of poverty, offering a path to long-term stability and self-sufficiency. 3. Define the Project as a new or continuing project or a purchase. Provide information about how the Project will be sustained or the purchase will be maintained after the grant funding is exhausted. Workforce Development is a dynamic, ongoing program that requires annual funding to sustain its impactful initiatives. Our revenue stream is currently a mix of government, corporate, foundation, individual giving, and event revenue. To ensure the program's sustainability, we have developed a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes innovative strategies and community outreach efforts. By raising awareness and engaging with the community, we aim to build a robust support network, fostering long-term financial stability and enhancing the program's reach and effectiveness. 4. If the Applicant organization has requested funding from any other Arizona tribe, please list: a. Pending requests made within the last eighteen (18) months, including the name of the tribe to which the request was made and a brief summary of the project for which a grant was requested. Requests planned from other Arizona tribes: The Worker plans to submit a grant request to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in May of 2025 for our Workforce Development Program. We are requesting funding to assist 200 individuals by providing a comprehensive range of resources, including access to job leads offering wages of at least $17+/hour, resume writing assistance, and mock interview preparation. Additionally, this funding will help participants acquire essential client work items such as tools, work uniforms and shoes, and other preemployment items. It will also cover transportation costs to and from interviews, as well as for the initial weeks on the job, helping bridge the financial gap until the first paycheck arrives. b. Funded requests made in the last five (5) years, including the name of the tribe that awarded the funding, a brief summary of the project for which the funding was awarded, and the amount of the funding received. Gila River Indian Community – $10,000 in 2020 for our Workforce Development Program (formerly known as Employment Without Barriers). This funding provided our clients with resources such as transportation assistance (bus passes and gas cards) in addition to personnel expenses such as salaries and wages. Ak-Chin Indian Community 2025 Prop 202 Grant Application St. Joseph the Worker c. Reports. Approved grantees must report back to the Community about the use of all grants. Outline how your organization will account for and manage the funding if selected. Describe how Project progress and results will be tracked and documented. The Worker evaluates success with the Workforce Development Program primarily by the number of individuals who receive job search assistance and, crucially, by the number who successfully secure employment. While this provides a snapshot of progress, we also assess starting wages and benefits offered, which are indicative of economic self- sufficiency and overall well-being. We use the Salesforce platform to track client data. This data is captured through both client self-disclosure and verifying income via offer letters or paystubs. Through this data capture, The Worker can identify areas of opportunity within programs to better assist the client on their job search journey. d. Budget. Provide a budget, including justification, that supports the request in the Application. Provide an estimated timeline for when funds will be expended. Workforce Development Budget Expenses Amount Requested from Ak- Chin Indian Community Salaries and Wages $1,090,060.19 Taxes and Benefits $289,670.44 Administration $109,348.21 Direct Client Support $206,034.89 $2,000.00 Client Work Essentials $280,000.00 $23,000.00 In-Kind Client Goods Expense $114,000.00 Additional Client Support/Resources $82,940.98 Total Budget $2,172,054.71 $25,000 Direct Client Support includes bus tickets and gas cards for clients. Client Work Essentials include tools, uniforms, shoes/boots, certifications, and other preemployment items. Funds will be expended by the end of our upcoming fiscal year, spanning from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. e. Additional information. Please provide any additional information about the Project or the Applicant organization that the Ak-Chin Council should know when considering the Application. On behalf of our team, Board of Directors, and the clients we serve, I sincerely thank you for considering our request. Ak-Chin Indian Community 2025 Prop 202 Grant Application St. Joseph the Worker Sincerely, Carrie Masters Chief Executive Officer St. Joseph the Worker