U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

08/28/2026

Does your student have what it takes to compete in the ?

In partnership with College Board, we've launched a new civic knowledge quiz to put your skills to the test. Challenge yourself with 10 questions about U.S. government, history, and civic responsibility, and learn as you go with detailed explanations for every answer.

With the National Civics Bee application period opening this September, now is the perfect time to start preparing your middle schooler for the competition.

Take the quiz: nationalcivicsbee.collegeboard.org

08/27/2026

Together with our partners—including businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, governments, and state and local chambers—we shape and execute smarter solutions.

🎥 Hear from our team and learn more about our work at uschamberfoundation.org

08/25/2026

What's on deck this fall? 🍂

Swipe through to see what our team is working on and the conversations we're convening in the months ahead. Whether you're passionate about workforce development, civic engagement, economic opportunity, or simply helping communities thrive, there's something on our calendar for you.

🔗 Learn more and register at uschamberfoundation.org/events

08/18/2026

Looking for a place to start or strengthen your organization's approach to food insecurity? Our business toolkit offers step-by-step guidance, case studies, and resources to help businesses and chambers build effective food security initiatives and strengthen the communities they serve.

📥 Download the toolkit and get started: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/corporate-social-responsibility/food-security-initiative-development-toolkit

08/12/2026

🏆 Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation proudly presented Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity with the inaugural Excellence in Impact Award to recognize their outstanding leadership in scaling employer-driven workforce development strategies with real results.

Michigan earned this recognition by making the cornerstone of its statewide workforce strategy. The results speak for themselves:

- 60+ employer-led collaboratives
- 1,500+ employers engaged
- 3,100+ credentials earned
- 1,800+ Michiganders placed in new jobs across industries

This is what it looks like when employers lead and workers win. Read more:

The U.S. Chamber Foundation is recognizing the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity as the inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Impact Award for its leadership in scaling employer-driven workforce strategies that deliver measurable results across industries and communities.

08/12/2026

Businesses face complex challenges every day. Employer Provided Innovation Challenges, or EPIC, connects local businesses with high school and college students to help solve those problems.

Earlier this summer, six student teams from around the country traveled to to showcase their creative solutions and out-of-the-box thinking, creating meaningful value for employer partners while gaining hands-on, real-world experience that strengthened their career readiness.

Learn more about : https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/workforce/epic-in-action-students-deliver-real-world-solutions-to-businesses-nationwide

We are grateful to all of our partners who contributed to this work, including: College Board, Britebound, Stand Together, East Stroudsburg University, FCS Innovation Academy, San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, Miami Dade College Foundation, Miami Tech Works, and more.

08/10/2026

Educators: looking for a way to spark civic engagement in your community? 📚

We've teamed up with College Board to launch a new civics quiz—a great conversation starter for classrooms this fall. Plus, don't miss the chance to win a $250 gift card through our sweepstakes!

The application period opens in September. Start getting your middle schoolers excited now. ⬇️

Take the quiz: nationalcivicsbee.collegeboard.org

08/06/2026

"What was once considered a personal or family matter is now understood as a core workforce infrastructure issue.” - Shannon Parker, director of strategic relations at the Business Council of Alabama

is increasingly recognized as a critical component of workforce and economic stability. Business leaders, policymakers, and childcare providers are stepping up to turn that awareness into action.

Through the Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council, founded in partnership with Bipartisan Policy Center, states are advancing practical solutions—such as employer-focused tax credits and expanded childcare capacity—that support working families and strengthen the labor market.

Read more:

Across states, business and community leaders are working together to address childcare challenges as a workforce priority. Explore how cross-sector collaboration is shaping practical solutions that expand access, support working families, and strengthen economic competitiveness.

08/05/2026

With support from Walmart, we brought our community resilience efforts to Bentonville, Arkansas, where nearly 200 leaders from business, government, and nonprofits gathered for our Disaster Resilience Summit to strengthen the public-private partnerships that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

The conversations focused on the work that matters most on "blue sky days": building trusted relationships, mapping capabilities, and establishing clear roles before the next crisis strikes.

"In the end, we all have one goal, and that's to make sure that we're out there saving lives." — Glenda Fleming Willis, senior vice president of operations, Walmart

🔗 Read our recap: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/disasters/before-the-storm-building-the-disaster-resilience-system-america-needs

08/04/2026

Across the country, a substantial shift is underway in how communities think about preparing people for careers. For decades, the dominant model of workforce development has been driven by what education and training providers are able to offer: schools design programs, employers are invited as an afterthought, and too many graduates end up with credentials that don’t lead anywhere meaningful. The intentions are good, but the outcomes can fall short.

We launched Pathways with Purpose, a competitive grant initiative awarding $295,000 to employer-led consortia committed to strengthening alignment between education and the real demands of the labor market. And the response was extraordinary—in just five weeks, we received 181 applications from 45 states representing chambers of commerce, industry associations, employer coalitions, and economic development organizations eager to lead this work.

That level of interest is a signal in itself: employer-led organizations are not waiting to be invited to the table. They are ready to lead.

Read more: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/workforce/when-employers-lead-pathways-work-lessons-from-the-pathways-with-purpose-initiative