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Mission & Impact
Ideal Candidate, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, partners with governments, workforce intermediaries, and philanthropic institutions to help communities strengthen their workforce systems through technical assistance, strategic support, and scalable tools. Our work enables stakeholders to align efforts, improve outcomes, and serve more job seekers—especially those facing systemic barriers to employment.
The Ideal Candidate Scholarship
The Ideal Candidate Scholarship supports Black and Latino students on their path toward graduation, professional success, and financial stability by providing $2,500 per student to cover essential graduation expenses, internship costs, professional clothing, and other barriers that limit opportunity. In formal partnership with Lewis University, the scholarship is administered with integrity and transparency, and to date we’ve invested $12,500 directly into underserved students across Chicagoland—empowering them with the resources and encouragement needed to finish their education and step confidently into their future as The Ideal Candidate.
Finance Major
Lewis University
Giving them the resources.
Business & Nursing Majors
Lewis University
Giving them the support.
Aviation & Criminal Law Majors
Lewis University
Giving them the guidance.
Who We Support
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Government agencies building local or regional workforce systems to understand shortfall
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Philanthropic organizations funding multi-partner workforce initiatives to break down silos
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Workforce boards, intermediaries, and backbone organizations seeking to strengthen community partner networks by coordinating the ecosystem
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Workforce Programs, Supportive Services, Community-based organizations help career coaches and case managers coach and prepare their job seekers
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Employers who are trying to create new untapped talent pipelines
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Under-resourced job seekers provide capacity and best practice on how to become the ideal candidate
How We Help
We provide a structured approach to implement and scale workforce collaboration efforts by helping partners:
Build Community-Based Organizational Capacity
We train and support workforce programs, mentoring nonprofits, training providers, and community-based organizations to improve their data practices, strengthen employer engagement, and grow their reach.
Deliver Customized Technical Assistance
Our team works alongside stakeholders to assess workforce infrastructure gaps, co-design implementation plans, and provide hands-on support to ensure smooth rollout and adoption.
University Scholarships
The Ideal Candidate Scholarship provides $2,500 per student to support graduation costs for Black and Latino students. In partnership with Lewis University, we’ve awarded $12,500 to date to help students cross the finish line with confidence.
Coordinate Cross-Sector Workforce Efforts
We help unify nonprofits, public agencies, and employers into a shared framework—creating real-time referral pathways and shared data systems to improve outcomes and reduce duplication of services.
Why It Matters
Across the country, thousands of nonprofits and public agencies are working to support residents—but systems are often fragmented and underutilized. Ideal Candidate offers the structure, tools, and technical guidance to change that. We believe that:
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Referral systems should be coordinated, not siloed
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Nonprofits deserve the tools to scale their impact
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Employers need easier access to mission-aligned talent
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Cities and funders need data to guide investment and measure what works
