FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program | FOA WB 25 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA WB 25 01

The FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program (FOA WB 25 01) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau. Its purpose is to expand and strengthen women's participation in apprenticeable occupations and nontraditional occupations (A/NTO) across the United States and its territories by funding organizations that can deliver hands-on, practical technical assistance to the entities that hire, train, and retain workers, especially employers (including public sector employers) and labor unions. The focus is not simply on recruiting women, but on building the systems, training pipelines, and workplace conditions that allow women to enter these fields and stay long enough to advance.

The grant is designed to support three main types of technical assistance activities. First, applicants can help develop, expand, or improve training pathways that prepare women for careers in A/NTO, including pre-apprenticeship programs, youth apprenticeship models, Registered Apprenticeship programs (as defined in the announcement's definitions), and other training that builds nontraditional skills leading to these jobs. This can include efforts like helping employers and unions design or refine program structures, strengthen partnerships with training providers, improve outreach strategies to women, and ensure the training aligns with real job requirements in the field. Second, the program supports ongoing orientations and other resources for employers, unions, and workers that are aimed at creating a workplace environment where women can succeed. In practical terms, that can mean technical assistance around onboarding practices, supervisor and mentor preparation, harassment prevention and response, jobsite culture, policies that reduce bias, and other workplace norms that affect whether women feel welcomed, safe, and able to progress. Third, WANTO supports retention-focused strategies, such as setting up peer support groups, facilitating networks, and providing supportive services (as defined in the FOA) to address common barriers that can push women out of these careers. This retention piece emphasizes the idea that entry alone is not enough; the program is looking for approaches that help women persist and complete training, remain employed, and continue advancing in these historically male-dominated fields.

Eligibility is narrower than many federal workforce grants. Only community-based organizations (CBOs), as defined in the FOA's Appendix B, are eligible to apply. The opportunity is open to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and to nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, but in both cases the nonprofit must not be an institution of higher education. The program also allows a consortium of CBOs to apply as a single applicant; in that situation, the application must include a consortium agreement that clearly identifies which organization will serve as the lead and administer the grant. Applicants are directed to review Section III of the Funding Opportunity Announcement for the full eligibility rules and documentation expectations, since the CBO definition and other requirements will be applied as threshold criteria.

Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $750,000 per grant, with an estimated 14 awards expected under this announcement. The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 17.701, and the funding activity category is Employment, Labor and Training. The original application closing date is August 8, 2025, and the announcement was created on July 9, 2025. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward organizations that can act as technical assistance providers and capacity builders for employers and labor unions, with the ultimate goal of increasing women's full and effective participation, success, and retention in apprenticeship and other nontraditional career pathways.

• The Womens Bureau in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.701.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for FOA WB 25 01

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