FAIRFAX, Va., June 26, 2024 – The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation (CMCF), a prominent funding organization based in Virginia, has announced the launch of Claude Moore Opportunities, a 501(c)3 public nonprofit organization. This new entity, chaired by Karen G. Schaufeld and led by CEO Dr. William Hazel, Jr., former CMCF Senior Deputy Director, aims to address Virginia’s workforce shortages and provide more career opportunities for Virginians.
CMCF has already invested over $24 million in various workforce programs, particularly in healthcare. The foundation is recognized for its leadership in the healthcare workforce sector. With the establishment of Claude Moore Opportunities, this work will be expanded to include statewide collaborations among educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders to fill critical employment gaps. The new nonprofit will have the capacity to fundraise, enhancing CMCF’s impact and enabling expansion into other areas with workforce shortages.
J. Hamilton Lambert, CMCF Executive Director, highlighted the need for advanced credentials among Virginians. “More than three million Virginians do not have credentials or diplomas beyond high school. These credentials are necessary for well-paying careers that will support them and their families,” Lambert stated. He emphasized that while CMCF has significantly funded workforce development, the need surpasses what they can support as a private foundation.
Lambert continued, “We want, just as Dr. Moore did, for Virginians to have a leg up rather than a handout. Claude Moore Opportunities will hit the ground running with deep knowledge of the needs across the Commonwealth and relationships already in place in healthcare, workforce development, and education. It has the added benefit of being able to raise money.”
Dr. Hazel expressed his enthusiasm for leading Claude Moore Opportunities. “I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead Claude Moore Opportunities, which has been two years in the making. We have an unprecedented number of open job opportunities in healthcare throughout the Commonwealth. At the same time, workforce development efforts for these careers are disparate and decentralized.”
Dr. Hazel further explained, “Our efforts at the Foundation have been incredibly successful, but we are not able to fund in all the areas that need support. Claude Moore Opportunities allows us to raise money so that we can do more to build healthy communities, local economies, and provide education and skills to the many Virginians who can benefit. With our proven track record of developing multi-stakeholder partnerships that bring together the interests of educators, students, workers, policymakers, and employers, Claude Moore Opportunities will seek philanthropic partners that can help us scale our efforts to build regional and statewide collaborations.”
