Kessler Foundation Inc

Program center: kessler foundation focuses on increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities through its signature employment and community employment grantmaking programs which fund local and national programs aimed to increase the percentage of americans with disabilities in the workforce. Special initiative grants, an invitation only program, are awarded to projects and organizations that operate within the broad spectrum of rehabilitation and physical disabilities primarily in new jersey. Rates of unemployment and underemployment are unacceptably high among the millions of people with disabilities in the united states. By working full or part-time, with training and support, many people can find meaningful employment and reap the benefits of greater independence and self-esteem. Having a job enhances social interaction and acceptance in the community, which contribute to a better quality of life. Although individuals living with disabilities represent the largest minority group seeking employment in today's marketplace, they are often not considered an integral component of corporate diversity programs. Through our strategic focus on employment, kessler foundation has invested over $58 million since 1998 in organizations that work to create job opportunities for people with disabilities. Projects funded include placement, training and education, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, emergency grants and institutional support. This funding has enabled people with disabilities to overcome the obstacles that often face them and meet the workforce needs of american business. Innovative grant making has introduced creative solutions to help eliminate barriers that prevent people with disabilities from working. Since 2013, kessler foundation and the university of new hampshire's (unh) institute on disability (iod) have issued "national trends in disability employment (ntide) custom reports and complementary webinars covering employment data for americans with and without disabilities. Ntide reports are followed by government agencies, policymakers, disability organizations, employers, and reporters. The semi-monthly reports have been cited by top-tier outlets including bloomberg.com, wall street journal, los angeles times, forbes, and fortune.