SAN JOSE, Calif. – February 25, 2020 - Pivotal, a nonprofit headquartered in San Jose, California, announced today it is the proud recipient of a $50,000 grant from The Upwork Foundation. The goal of the foundation's inaugural funding initiative is to help those who are at risk of being left behind by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The award supports Pivotal’s Path to Self-Sufficiency for Foster Youth Program, which provides academic and employment coaching to over 300 high school and college participants in Silicon Valley and prepares and places 115 into paid summer internships.

“Our mission is to create economic opportunities so people have better lives –we are thrilled to offer these grants to help bolster communities at risk of being left behind with the changing nature of work,” said Anna Ninan, Senior Director leading The Upwork Foundation initiative. “Our final grantees stood out for their exceptional work to help underserved communities as they start their climb up the economic opportunity ladder.

“Pivotal plays a significant role in the lives of young people from foster care. Receiving growing support from global brands like Upwork is key to reaching more youth who need our help. We couldn’t be prouder to receive this grant from a well-established and publicly-traded company like Upwork,” said Elise Cutini, Pivotal’s CEO.

Other grant recipients of Upwork Foundation’s inaugural funding initiative are Code Nation and African Entrepreneur Collective.

About Pivotal

Pivotal's mission is to help young people from foster care get the education and career they need to create the life they want for themselves. Their comprehensive services include 1:1 academic and employment coaching, college scholarships, tutoring, career readiness training, and paid summer internship placement. Starting as early as 9th grade, Pivotal helps foster youth establish the foundation they need to become self-reliant when they emancipate from the foster care system.