NEW YORK, October 27, 2026 – A vacancy in one town. A parent unable to afford day care in another. A worker for whom the journey to a shift at a warehouse ends at a bus stop miles away. It is the gap between those ready to work and the available work that a new alliance, backed by New York philanthropy, is trying to bridge.
Launched on October 26, over 20 foundations and philanthropies have teamed up for “All In For Jobs,” a $1 billion project for connecting half a million Americans to “good jobs” and training workers for the disruptions as well as the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and automation. The Rockefeller Foundation spearheaded the initiative, with launch partners committing more than $800 million, according to the foundation.
It’s a simple premise, which might be why it has gotten some attention. Instead of framing every economic issue as one where there are simply not enough jobs, the organizers are trying to find out what it is that is stopping people from accessing jobs that already exist: whether it’s too expensive childcare, inadequate transportation, or ineffective training programs.
“In communities across the nation, there are too many people who need jobs, and too many jobs that need people,” said Derek Kilmer, senior vice president for U.S. program and policy at The Rockefeller Foundation. “Philanthropy has a unique role to play in helping people connect to jobs that are open right now, helping create new ones, and helping workers adapt and thrive as work evolves.”
A coalition, not a single check
This isn’t a single foundation making a single huge donation. The investors are the AARP Foundation, Google.org, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, Stand Together, the Strada Education Foundation, StriveTogether, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, along with more than 20 other launch partners.
$1 billion isn’t money sitting in an account somewhere; it’s a goal that All In For Jobs is working to raise. More than $800 million has already been committed, and the group says the coalition is actively growing.
Beginning in January 2027, the partners will meet periodically to develop and scale strategies that seem to be working. What 250 communities will be involved remains to be determined; those selections will be made in the months ahead.
It makes a difference. Huge philanthropic donations always look transformative on the day they’re announced. But the real question is whether local groups, employers, and workers will receive enough resources soon enough to actually make a difference. For now, All In For Jobs is betting on a decentralized approach – local leaders who know the problem best, but with national money and cross-sector collaboration behind them.
Why AI is part of the pitch
The campaign comes at a time when employers and employees are all grappling with the implications of automation on routine work, job creation, and wages. The organizers have been very careful not to present AI as a catastrophe in waiting; rather, they claim that technology should not be the determining factor of economic success.
“AI and automation may be transforming work, but technology alone should not decide who benefits, who is left behind, or what happens to a community,” said Tonya Allen, president of the McKnight Foundation. “The people closest to this transition must have the power, resources, and seat at the table to shape what comes next.”
The president of the AARP Foundation, Claire Casey, emphasized that the unique vulnerabilities of low-income and older workers must be addressed in previous transitions. This shows that the program is not just intended for young and tech professionals but also for people who might require retraining, flexible work hours, or simply some help in getting back into secure employment.
What “good jobs” means
The term “good jobs” carries some heavy meaning in this case. There was no set wage or benefit criteria mentioned in the announcement, something that will surely be under scrutiny as the plan evolves. But judging from the aims of the coalition – to connect people to jobs, help create opportunities for them and help workers adapt to new job changes – it’s likely the term good job means more than just having any job available.
The challenge will be a local one. Is it possible to understand the reasons why a hospital is unable to staff the positions of certified nursing assistants? Is it possible to organize the child care so a person could take a full-time position?
Kilmer acknowledged that the answers are not settled. “We don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re inviting people to the table to help find them,” he said.
For workers, the promise is straightforward: fewer dead ends between ambition and a paycheck. Whether All In For Jobs can turn a $1 billion ambition into 500,000 durable employment connections is the question the next five years will have to answer. More information is available at allinforjobs.org.
