Building the Future Workforce Challenge

In May 2026, the Building the Future Workforce Challenge was launched to identify, test, and scale sustainable, tech-forward solutions that will strengthen the advanced manufacturing and technician workforce—today and for the future. This challenge welcomes fresh perspectives on training from various sectors and geographies and will award up to five teams $1 million each to implement their bold solutions over a maximum two-year project period. Winning solutions will have the opportunity to be implemented in one or more Caterpillar facilities and Caterpillar communities in the United States, Brazil, India, or Mexico—providing a testing ground for introduction, replication, and scale.

Note: The testing, evaluation, monitoring and/or assessing the feasibility, viability or implementation potential of winning solutions will occur in select Caterpillar facilities or Caterpillar communities. Applicants will identify their preferred locations on the registration and application forms.

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The Building the Future Workforce Challenge requires each applicant to identify a Lead Organization who will assume responsibility for the receipt and management of any award.

While Lead Organizations may be located anywhere around the world, teams must demonstrate the ability to implement their proposed solutions within the continental United States, Brazil, India, or Mexico. The following types of organizations are eligible to apply as a Lead Organization:

• For-profit, limited liability company or partnership
• Non-profit or fiscally-sponsored non-profit (including 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) entities)
• College or university
• PreK-12 public, private, or charter school Note: If awarded, solutions led by educational entities should implement their proposed solution at more than one school and should not be limited to serving only that Lead Organization.
• Benefit corporation, flexible purpose entity, or similar “hybrid” entity

Please note: Past awardees, as well as organizations funded only through Caterpillar’s United Way or Caterpillar Foundation employee matching programs—are eligible to participate.

Organizations currently receiving funding from the Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund are not eligible to participate as a Lead Organization or team member, regardless of program alignment. An exception is federated organizations IF the applicant operates independently (see more information below).

Regional or location-specific branches of eligible larger organizations, federated organizations, as well as departments, schools, and non-profits within or based in a college/university – who are not currently receiving funding from Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund – are eligible to participate. Each entity may register and submit separately as the Lead Organization on one application as long as the proposed solutions are separate and distinct.

Eligible Lead Organizations are welcome to collaborate with non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, foundations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, individuals, and other entities to implement the proposed solution.

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility. Review the Rules for a complete set of eligibility requirements and take the readiness quiz to help gauge if you are eligible and a strong fit for this challenge.

The following are not eligible to participate or apply as a Lead Organization:

• Government entities, including non-501(c)(3) preK-12 education entities, tribal governments, United Nations agencies, inter-governmental bodies, and regional cooperation agencies.
• Current Caterpillar Foundation or Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund awardees. (NOTE: Organizations currently funded only through Caterpillar’s United Way or Caterpillar Foundation employee matching programs are eligible to participate.)
• Individuals, including employees of Competition Sponsor, Carrot, and any of their subsidiaries and affiliates, and immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such employees.

Please note: Caterpillar’s portfolio of brands, Carrot subsidiaries / affiliates, and organizations currently receiving funding from the Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund are not eligible to participate as a Lead Organization or team member, regardless of program alignment. An exception is federated organizations IF the applicant operates independently. Regional or location-specific branches of eligible larger organizations, federated organizations, as well as departments, schools, and non-profits within or based in a college/university – who are not currently receiving funding from Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund – are eligible to participate. Each entity may register and submit separately as the Lead Organization on one application as long as the proposed solutions are separate and distinct.

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility.

Review the Rules for a complete set of eligibility requirements and take the readiness quiz to help gauge if you are eligible and a strong fit for this challenge.

Past awardees, as well as organizations funded only through Caterpillar’s United Way or Caterpillar Foundation employee matching programs—are eligible to participate. Please be sure to note any past work with Caterpillar Foundation or Caterpillar Inc. in responses within your application, such as under Track Record & Capabilities or Other Considerations.

Organizations currently receiving funding from the Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund are not eligible to participate as a Lead Organization or team member, regardless of program alignment. An exception is larger or federated organizations IF the applicant operates independently (see more information below).

Regional or location-specific branches of eligible larger organizations, federated organizations, as well as departments, schools, and non-profits within or based in a college/university – who are not currently receiving funding from Caterpillar Foundation or the Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund – are eligible to participate. Each entity may register and submit separately as the Lead Organization on one application as long as the proposed solutions are separate and distinct.

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility. Review the Rules for a complete set of eligibility requirements and take the readiness quiz to help gauge if you are eligible and a strong fit for this challenge.

Current vendors are not allowed to register and apply. With that, Caterpillar recognizes the vast expertise that its vendor base possesses. The Challenge is not the only avenue for funding as related to the overall goals of the Challenge – please email us to explore other options.

Eligible Lead Organizations are welcome to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations, companies, foundations, schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, individuals, and other entities to develop and implement the solution. By listing a collaborator, the Lead Organization confirms they have conducted due diligence on any partner organizations included in the application and takes accountability for the disbursement and management of any subgrants should the Lead Organization receive an award from Building the Future Workforce Challenge.

Organizations proposing to work together may be asked to provide a fully executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or a similar agreement, signed by all participating organizations. This agreement must demonstrate that all parties acknowledge that a single eligible entity (the Lead Organization) serves as the Winner, with full direction, control, and supervision of the proposed project, including the management of all Award funds and responsibility for all reporting requirements. This MOU will not be collected during the application process but may be requested from teams that are selected as awardees.

NOTE: Current Caterpillar Foundation or Caterpillar Inc. Social Impact Fund awardees are not eligible to participate. Review the Rules for more information.