Catalyze Expands Regional Career-Connected Learning Strategy With $1.5 Million Catalyze Pittsburgh Challenge

Applications will be accepted through Oct. 30, 2026, for locally-led ideas that bridge the gap between young people's career interests and future workforce needs in the Pittsburgh area. 

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyze continues to expand its national funding strategy to the next region with the $1.5 million Catalyze Pittsburgh Challenge, which is currently accepting applications for an initial award of $15,000. A nationwide collaborative funding initiative, Catalyze has invested more than $22 million since 2021 through national and regional challenges across the nation. It has built a Community of Practice of more than 100 funded organizations, positively impacting more than 110,000 learners across the United States.

Across five rounds of the national Catalyze Challenge and three rounds of the Catalyze Birmingham Challenge, Catalyze has supported organizations testing and scaling new approaches to career-connected learning. Many of these models bring employers directly into the learning experience, helping young people explore career possibilities while giving employers new ways to connect with the next generation of talent.

Moving to the Pittsburgh area, and in partnership with the Richard King Mellon Foundation and local workforce leader Partner4Work, Catalyze will fund early-stage ideas for helping youth ages 11-18 connect their passions to careers in emerging industries and occupations.

"The Pittsburgh region is a hub for technological innovation, and career pathways are evolving rapidly. Through the Catalyze Pittsburgh Challenge, we're excited to learn from and support new ideas for helping young people explore emerging sectors," said Catalyze Director Michelle Cheang.

Organizations in six Southwestern Pennsylvania counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland) are invited to apply with ideas that focus on serving youth from financially challenging circumstances. Applications are due by Oct. 30, 2026 and will be evaluated on criteria such as innovation, alignment with emerging industries or occupations, and impact. Funding will be awarded in two rounds in 2026 and 2027.

More details are available at Catalyze Pittsburgh and in the Application Guide.

About Catalyze
Catalyze is a collaborative funding initiative to accelerate innovation in career-connected learning through grantmaking, movement building, and shared learning. The national Catalyze effort is supported by Britebound, the Charles Koch Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation. Since 2021, Catalyze has awarded more than $22 million through national and regional challenges, with a growing Community of Practice of more than 100 funded organizations. Learn more at www.catalyzechallenge.org.

About Partner4Work
Partner4Work, which anchors and operates Catalyze Pittsburgh, is a workforce development organization that connects funding, expertise and opportunities for employers, job seekers, agencies, and policy makers to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh area. Learn more at Partner4Work.org, or email [email protected].

SOURCE Catalyze