Catalyze exists to jumpstart innovations in the field of career-connected learning. Through the Catalyze Challenge, we award competitive grant funding to forward-looking organizations with groundbreaking solutions to specific career-connected learning challenges, particularly those faced by learners and young adults ages 11-22 who are navigating career pathways.

Catalyze is made up of three pillars — grantmaking, learning, and storytelling — with each revolving around the Catalyze Challenge. Since 2021, Catalyze has awarded more than $17 million to over 65 initiatives through national and regional challenges, with a positive impact on more than 63,000 learners. Grantees in the Catalyze community work across the U.S. to plan, pilot, and implement innovations that provide students with career-connected learning opportunities and pathways into fulfilling careers. Learn more about Catalyze’s impact to date.

The Round 5 application period is January 7 - February 27, 2026. Sign up for the Catalyze Newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest challenge announcements.

Round 5 will focus on early-stage solutions (operating less than three years) that are testing bold new approaches to CCL with strong potential for impact and scale, including:

• New idea - A concept that has not yet launched or is being tested for the first time.

• Recent pilot - A pilot with early traction, launched within the past three years, and still refining its model.

Theme 1: Career Exploration for Young Adolescents

Early exposure opportunities for middle school and high school students to discover interests, build agency, and shape career identities. Programs should offer integrated, comprehensive services with multiple touchpoints that are immersive, hands-on, and student-driven. Experiences may include a variety of entry points, with opportunities to engage directly with employers where possible.

Theme 2: Meaningful Work-Based Learning through Employer Partnerships

Applied, employer co-designed experiences that provide secondary and postsecondary learners with technical and professional skills directly aligned to current and emerging workforce needs. These opportunities emphasize authentic engagement with employers, ensuring learners gain both industry-relevant competencies and transferable skills for long-term success.

Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organizations and for-profit entities located in the U.S. All applicants must demonstrate that their proposal has a charitable purpose and must have the ability to accept grant funding. Catalyze encourages proposals led by for-profit entities, particularly those at an early stage of development. In order to receive philanthropic grant funding, for-profit entities must demonstrate that the primary purpose of the proposed work is charitable, and the work is not intended to result in a private benefit.

Round 5 includes three phases designed to support participants at every stage of their journey from idea to implementation. 

• Phase 1: Submission. Open call for new and innovative ideas that expand career-connected learning and help students explore high-demand careers.

• Phase 2: Incubation: Up to 30 participants receive 3 months of technical assistance and a $10,000 award to turn their ideas into action plans.

• Phase 3: Implementation. Up to 14 grantees will receive up to $300,000 and a full school year of coaching, mentorship, and technical assistance to bring their ideas to life.

Please email us at roundfive@catalyzechallenge.org.