RBIJ Receives $1.5M Grant from Sam's Club to Help Employers Hire Opportunity Youth and Justice-Impacted Veterans

Sam's Club funding supports the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ)'s work to expand hiring and workforce policy reform

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), an award-winning nonprofit that partners with companies to expand employment opportunities for often-overlooked talent pools, announces a transformative $1.5 million grant from Sam's Club to scale their employer-focused hiring programs and other efforts to strengthen the workforce.

Every year, millions of talented individuals are locked out of the workforce due to outdated corporate hiring practices and restrictive workforce policies, including opportunity youth — young people not currently working or in school — and veterans with criminal records. Their exclusion not only limits economic mobility but also increases their risk of costly justice system involvement.

With an estimated 15.8 million veterans and over 4 million opportunity youth in the United States, the potential for life-changing impact is significant. This new investment will allow RBIJ to reach more employers, helping them build effective talent pipelines and advocate for policy reforms that unlock career pathways for these candidates and help deflect them from the justice system.

"At Sam's Club, we believe opportunity should be accessible to everyone. Through our partnership with RBIJ, we're helping employers tap into overlooked talent pools and advance hiring practices that strengthen businesses and communities. This investment builds on our commitment to fuel futures and unlock career pathways for those who too often face barriers to employment," said Claire MacIntyre, SVP and Chief People Officer, Sam's Club.

Starting in 2022, Walmart.org — the philanthropic arm of Sam's Club's parent company, Walmart — invested in RBIJ to launch Unlock Potential, a first-of-its-kind hiring program designed to increase career opportunities for opportunity youth. Over two years, the program empowered 12 major employers — including Walmart, Sam's Club and Delta Air Lines — to develop talent pipelines for this population.

Now, with renewed support from Sam's Club, RBIJ will adapt its learnings into practical, replicable tools and action opportunities that the broader business community can use to launch similar hiring initiatives. This includes the development of employer trainings, resources such as the new Employer Guide for Hiring Opportunity Youth, in addition to timely opportunities for companies to advocate in support of policy reforms that reduce employment barriers.

These efforts aim to highlight roadblocks to work, often rooted in circumstance and limited opportunity — not choice — and to advance solutions that benefit us all. Research shows that many opportunity youth need additional resources and support to successfully enter the workforce and build sustainable careers. Similarly, many veterans face a range of obstacles upon returning home, from mental and physical health challenges related to their service to housing instability.

"RBIJ is on a mission to help businesses build a more vibrant workforce," said Maha Jweied, CEO of RBIJ. "With the support of Sam's Club, we'll equip even more employers to take action, build successful hiring programs, and ultimately help thousands of opportunity youth and veterans access meaningful employment and avoid contact with the justice system."

To learn more about this initiative, visit rbij.org/unlock-talent

About the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) is an award-winning international nonprofit that empowers companies to champion policy reforms and hiring solutions that promote public safety, deliver justice, and strengthen communities.

SOURCE The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice