At Rocket Community Fund, we believe talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not. Throughout 2025, we worked to close that gap by investing in programs that connect Detroiters—particularly young adults and students—with the career training, professional development, and employment opportunities they need to build prosperous futures. Our comprehensive approach addresses barriers at every stage of the education-to-career pipeline—from high school internships to workforce development for young adults to wraparound support for college students.
Building Pathways for Young Professionals
In September, we announced a $500,000 investment in Year Up United—doubling our initial $250,000 commitment from 2024—to expand access to economic opportunity for young adults ages 18–29 who face systemic barriers to employment. Year Up United’s mission is to end the “Opportunity Divide”—the gap between corporate hiring needs and the untapped talent that could address them. Through this tuition-free program, participants from underserved backgrounds receive technical and professional training, internships, and direct career placement.
Nationally, 80% of Year Up United graduates are employed or attending college within four months of completing the program. In 2025 alone, eight Year Up United participants were hired full-time at Rocket Companies, demonstrating how skills-first hiring strategies can simultaneously build inclusive workforces and meet business needs.
We also renewed our partnership with Urban Alliance with a three-year, $750,000 commitment to provide 105 Detroit high school seniors with paid internships and comprehensive personal and professional development programming. The results speak for themselves: 100% of UA students graduate high school, and more than 90% gain acceptance to college. We brought Urban Alliance’s flagship program to Detroit in 2018, and since then Rocket Companies has served as the anchor employer. 30 of the 40 participating students received paid internships at Rocket during the pilot year, and we have continued to integrate UA interns into real workplace environments across our organization since then. This hands-on approach not only benefits students directly placed with us but also demonstrates to other major employers the value of investing in Detroit’s young talent, helping expand opportunities throughout the program.
Removing Barriers to Degree Completion
Career pathways begin with educational attainment, but too often, students are diverted from their educational path by financial barriers unrelated to academics. Through our continued partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber and Last Mile Education Fund, we renewed our support for the Detroit Area Talent Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance to low- and moderate-income Detroit residents pursuing STEM-related certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. Since its February 2023 launch, the fund has supported over 1,500 students with mini-grants—with up to $1,200per calendar year—to address unexpected obstacles like transportation barriers, lack of devices, rent, and utility bills that might otherwise derail their educational progress.
Our investment recognizes a critical reality: covering tuition is just one part of the equation. Students close to completion often face significant funding gaps that force them to choose between paying for basic needs and staying in school. By providing targeted emergency support at these critical moments, the Detroit Area Talent Fund helps students stay on track to join the workforce of the future. The program has since expanded with support from the Kresge Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Ford Fund, and Michigan Central, reflecting growing recognition of this model’s effectiveness in supporting both students and regional workforce needs.
Our $1 million grant to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s TalentEd initiative further addresses these challenges by establishing wraparound service models at higher education institutions, creating stronger connections between colleges and employers, and expanding support for adult learners working to finish their education. To date, we have invested over $3M into TalentEd, providing emergency funds for unexpected challenges like transportation or housing while aligning direct student support with strategies to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. This support makes meaningful progress toward the Chamber’s goal of increasing postsecondary education attainment to 60% by 2030. Beyond philanthropic investment, Rocket Community Fund is working with Rocket Companies to develop strong career pathways and opportunities for students served by TalentEd initiatives, creating clear connections between education and meaningful employment.
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2026, we remain committed to eliminating the opportunity divide by investing in programs that provide training, remove barriers, and create clear pathways from education to employment. In 2025, Rocket Community Fund was recognized as Black Tech Saturdays Future 100 Awardee – honoring organizations that are helping to shape Detroit’s tech ecosystem. We were also honored with the Outstanding Corporation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Detroit Chapter as a result of our work supporting the Tech On Ramps program, a collaboration between Wayne State University, Rocket and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT). These awards aren’t just accolades – they reflect our dedication to building a strong workforce development infrastructure that will help Detroiters access the careers of tomorrow. Because when young Detroiters have access to professional networks, workplace experiences, and the support they need to complete their education, they don’t just build individual success—they strengthen the economic future of our entire community.