I need volunteer assistance identifying and drafting a grant proposal for funding to provide a stipend for graduates of our training program who opt to stay on as continuing education students.

Education funding for education-to-workforce trade/skills training seems like a concept that I hear being promoted and supported regionally and nationally, but I lack the experience in finding the funding that would support our school in being a part of this movement. While the trade of Zookeeping is not as common as some other trades (plumbing, automotive, electrician), there is a steady demand for trained and experienced keepers both nationally and globally, however, those looking to enter the field are often hampered by job application requirements calling for paid experience, which is hard to come by until you get the job. I want to connect the funds to the students in this second phase of their vocational training. This would recognize the extensive hours of training and physically demanding work that our graduates put forth to be professionals in this field, by creating the opportunity for paid experience, thus meeting that requirement to help launch their careers.

This project is a priority for our program as it provides our graduates with some financial support to continue their education, build their resume, and give them the paid experience necessary to transition into the workforce at zoos and wildlife facilities around the country and globe. Having paid experience to pair with their hands-on training and academic studies would provide a launch pad to help graduates enter the workforce and support themselves in a career that they are passionate about. Our nonprofit wildlife rescue also serves as the campus and classroom where our students learn in depth all aspects of our Mission: Wildlife Rescue, Compassionate Care, and Education Ambassadorship. Our students are the heart and soul, as well as the muscle that makes the daily care for our wildlife possible while making meaningful connections with our guests as we educate them about the various species, and how human conservation and awareness can help preserve the wildlife in our region and globally.

We have been a locally based nonprofit since 1991, providing wildlife rescue, educating thousands of school-age guests, and training hundreds of students for this unique and dedication-driven career. For over 20 years, our state-licensed trade school has drawn students locally and from afar. Our graduates have filled positions from entry-level keepers to curators and directors of zoos and facilities around the globe. Our name is known in the industry for teaching and training some of the most reliable and dedicated staff in this field.

While we have managed to fund one or two each year with temporary paid roles to expand their experience and help them meet application requirements of paid experience, we do not have adequate funding to offer the paid experience to all qualified continuing education graduates once they complete the initial program. We have current and soon-to-be graduates who have demonstrated a desire to continue their training, so implementation would be possible as soon as a grant award was made available to our facility.