SJF Impact

Education and
Employment

SJF seeks investments in education and training throughout the learning journey – PreK-12, post-secondary, workplace and life-long learning – to advance opportunity through education. SJF also invests to improve the experience of learning and employment to promote economic equality, happiness and wellbeing at school and work.

Our Strategy in Education and Employment

SJF invests in workforce and education companies to enable better learning outcomes and career opportunities for all, and particularly for historically underserved populations. SJF originally stood for Sustainable Jobs Fund, which was focused on low and moderate income job creation. Over time, our strategy has evolved; today we deploy capital into companies that develop innovative solutions benefiting students, workers, and the institutions that serve them.

Portfolio companies in SJF’s latest funds are improving college and career readiness among high school students, providing educators with social-emotional learning assessments, developing engaging content for working professionals looking to build new skills, and creating pathways for professionals looking to transition into new fields.

Pop quiz

A large majority of high schoolers say they want hands-on work experience before graduating. What share actually complete an internship in high school?
Answer: 5%. There's a wide gap between students' interest in career experience and their access to it. American Student Assistance estimates that only four to five percent of students actually participate in internships in high school, even as the share of employers offering them has grown to 38%. SchooLinks, an SJF portfolio company, helps students understand and secure work-based learning opportunities.
Source: The 74

Our Impact Objectives in this Sector

Doug Donovan
SJF brings a commitment to our impact mission and the work it takes to get there. They help us keep the mission front and center, and they're active in opening doors and bringing ideas and experience to help us reach our financial goals.”
Doug Donovan, CEO

Impact Highlights