For funders and partners
A front door to the help Cleveland already has.
Where we are: early, and honest about it. First Footing is a free tool that is live now, forming as a nonprofit and seeking a fiscal sponsor. Based in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland. No outcome data yet.
The problem
In January 2026, 66.1% of long-tenured workers who lost jobs in 2023–25 were working again. Among those back in full-time jobs who reported their old pay, only about 49% earned as much as before. Most of the losses came from positions cut or plants closed, not from anything the worker did.Source: BLS, Worker Displacement 2023–25, released August 27, 2026
Cleveland has good training and free help. But it’s spread across agencies, PDFs and phone trees, and many people never reach it. They don’t know which path fits, or that their experience counts.
What First Footing does
A 15-minute, plain-language conversation that starts from what a person is good at, lays out honest options, and ends with a specific local next step: a program, what it pays, how long it takes, and who to call. We send people to Greater Cleveland Works, Tri-C, Towards Employment and other proven programs. We don’t compete with them.
What we know
Training tied to employers can raise pay for years. In randomized trials, Project QUEST found a 20% earnings gain in year nine, and Year Up (ages 18–24) 30% in year seven. That evidence belongs to those programs, not to us.
QUEST sourceYear Up sourceWhat we’re testing
Whether a short conversation gets more displaced workers to contact a program, enroll, and finish, compared with finding their own way. We’ll publish what we find, including if it doesn’t work.
Safeguards
The AI can’t make hiring or admission decisions or enroll anyone, and it is instructed never to promise jobs, pay or admission. No account is needed. People can delete their own conversation. We have a second AI from another company review changes to its instructions.
All safeguardsHow we’ll report
Once measurement starts, we’ll publish these counts every quarter, with dates and the zeros included:
Ways to help
- Programs and agencies: tell us when your details change, or let us check a referral path with you.
- Employers: tell us which hands-on jobs you can’t fill and what training you trust. The tool never screens candidates.
- Funders and fiscal sponsors: we’re looking for a sponsor and a small first pilot.
- Case managers and recovery coaches: try it yourself first, and tell us what would make you comfortable recommending it.
Write to [email protected]. A person reads every message.
Figures checked October 23, 2026.