Thanks to our community’s support, 2025 was a year of powerful progress at FareStart. Together, we achieved a 36% increase in student enrollment, a 75% increase in graduates, and an extraordinary 121% increase in job placements, helping more people move toward stability and economic opportunity.
As we look forward to 2026, we’re building on that momentum as we begin executing the first year of our new Strategic Plan—focused on taking what’s working and driving even greater impact. This year, our work centers on three priorities: 1) delivering a high-quality student experience, 2) growing our social enterprises and student reach, and 3) strengthening organizational health to sustain our mission.
Quality Student Experience
In 2026, we will:
– Enroll 400 students across our job training programs
– Support 91 job placements
– Provide 42 CTE high school credits for youth and young adults in school
We remain committed to delivering hands-on training, wraparound support such as social services, transportation and case management, and direct connections to employment, ensuring every student has a real pathway to success.
Growth in Our Social Enterprises
Our restaurant, café, catering and other social enterprises are critical to both student training and financial sustainability. This year, we aim to:
– Increase social enterprise revenue by 12%
– Consult with 64 organizations nationwide to help expand job training and employment pathways
Growth in these areas allows us to serve more students and partner with like-minded organizations while strengthening our earned-revenue model.
Investment in Organization Health
Sustaining our mission requires a healthy, resilient organization. In 2026, we plan to:
– Increase individual, corporate and public giving by 3% or $400,000
– Provide 3,675 community engagement opportunities through volunteerism, media, events and advocacy
– Support staff with professional growth opportunities as well as competitive pay and benefits
– Enhance facilities to improve safety, functionality and operational efficiency
– Improve data, technology and systems to drive better effectiveness, decision-making and accountability
The year ahead is about putting our strategic vision into action and expanding access to job training and employment pathways. At the same time, we recognize that the world around us continues to evolve. The federal landscape brings uncertainty for many in our community, with real impacts on food security, access to healthcare and other essential benefits that our students rely on.
To achieve our goals, your support matters more than ever. You can help power our work. Dine and cater with us, attend Guest Chef Night, volunteer, spread the word or give. Together, we can ensure our community has the stability and support it needs to move forward.
