Our Supporters

Together, we can help thousands of learners unlock their potential and launch life-changing careers. Donate to Merit America and turn every $1 into $33 in wage gains for hard-working Americans.

Support Our Mission

We envision a world in which anyone can advance their life based on merit, not money

At Merit America, we are dedicated to providing learners with the training and support they need to build family-sustaining careers. To date, our efforts have generated more than $1.4 billion in cumulative wage gains for Americans stuck in low-wage work.

For every $1 invested in Merit America, we drive $33 in wage gains. With 53 million Americans stuck in low-wage work and AI reshaping industries, rapid reskilling at scale has never been more important. Merit America was made for this moment.

Merit America team
$21,000
Avg. Annual Wage Increase
2024 Alumni Wage Analysis
33:1
Social Return on Investment
Bridgespan SROI Analysis
20,000+
Learners Served Nationwide
$1.4B
Cumulative Wage Gains
Kalen's Story
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Our Learners

Kalen’s road to tech

Kalen’s journey mirrors that of countless others — searching for ways to advance his career, yet unsure of the next steps. Working full-time with limited financial flexibility, his breakthrough arrived when he discovered Merit America.

Kalen credits personalized coaching as crucial in navigating the workforce after nearly a decade in autobody repairs. Through Merit America, he earned a Google Career Certificate through Coursera and transitioned to a career as a Network Operations Analyst.

$45,000annual wage increase
Our Partners

Investments that drive impact

Clark Foundation
Case Study · Clark Foundation

From 15-person pilot to national scale

When the Clark Foundation invested in Merit America, they backed a clear vision and a dedicated team working to expand opportunity. That early support helped transform a 15-person pilot into a growing organization that, by 2023, had already prepared more than 7,500 people to succeed in new career paths.

Read the case study
Crankstart Foundation
Regional Investment · Crankstart Foundation

$15.6 million to advance Bay Area workforce training

Merit America and the Crankstart Foundation joined forces to uplift 2,000 Bay Area residents from low-wage roles into upwardly mobile careers — projecting over $200 million in cumulative wage gains across California.

Read the announcement
Hear From Our Supporters

Backed by leaders who share our mission

“Through one of Ascendium’s most significant philanthropic awards to date, we’re proud to help Merit America reach sustainable, national scale and impact.”
Carolynn Lee
Carolynn Lee
Senior Program Officer · Ascendium
“Through our partnership with Merit America, we are breaking down barriers and providing life-changing opportunities for the workforce.”
Ann Canela
Ann Canela
Director of Corporate Giving · Niagara Bottling
Financial Stewardship

Your investment, maximized

90%
Of Every Dollar Goes to Programs
$48.9M
2025 Total Revenue
4,979
Learners Served in 2025
74%
Revenue From Foundations
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Everything supporters need to know about giving to Merit America.

Merit America community
Yes. Merit America is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-2108762). Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
You can donate online, or give via check or wire transfer. For wire transfer routing details, please contact our team at learnmore@meritamerica.org.
Checks can be made payable to Merit America and mailed to: Merit America, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1560, Washington, D.C. 20002
Our most recent audited financials and Form 990 public disclosures are available through our 2025 Impact Report. For additional financial documents, please contact our team.
Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 84-2108762.
Merit America’s Board includes Byron Auguste (CEO & Co-Founder, Opportunity@Work), Naomi Bagdonas (Best-selling Author, Executive Advisor), Eli Bildner (VP of Operations, Crankstart), Ahmmad Brown (Co-Founder & Executive Director, Equity Based Dialogue for Inclusion), Norman Atkins (Managing Partner, Array Education), Becca Levin (Managing Director, Stanford Management Company), and Yin Lu (Partner, MCJ Collective).
You can reach us at learnmore@meritamerica.org. We’ll respond within 24 hours.
News & Press

News & Press

Heckscher Foundation for Children

Case Study: Heckscher Foundation for Children provides funding to Merit America to support its launch in New York City.

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The Dallas Morning News

Capital One awards grant funding to nonprofits addressing Dallas' COVID-19 workforce challenges.

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The Hg Foundation

The Hg Foundation backs Merit America to help low-wage workers access careers in tech.

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Philanthropy News Digest

Funding collaborative Blue Meridian Partners has invested $60 million to help scale efforts to close financial equity gaps.

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Google News

A digital jobs program to help America's economic recovery.

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Ascendium Philanthropy

$10 million investment will supplement up to $45 million dollars provided by the Google Career Certificates Fund, which was co-designed by Merit America to bring unique financing.

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