About Us
Our Purpose & Mission
TechForce powers technical careers so communities thrive.
TechForce™ is a community of students, working techs, educators, industry and donors committed to helping young people find a technical education and career that fits (Hence the name “Tech-Force”). Our mission is to champion all students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional technicians.
TechForce Foundation is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to the career exploration and workforce development of professional technicians across all sectors including (but not limited to) automotive, aviation, collision, diesel (trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy-duty, stationary engines, and rentals), fleets, marine, motorcycle, motorsports, restoration, welding, and emerging technologies.
TechForce inspires people to explore the technician profession; supports students obtaining the technical education needed to be workforce-ready; and connects techs to resources, mentors and employers to thrive in their careers.
As a public charity, TechForce is funded by donations from corporations, foundations and individuals.
Our Impact
$18M
scholarships and grants awarded since 2007
200,000
students awarded and impacted since 2007
16.5%
of scholarships & grants awarded to Veterans
1K+
official school partners in TechForce
TechForce Advisory Councils
Instructors Advisory
Council
The voice of high schools and post-secondary technical school instructors across the country.
National Leadership Cabinet
Top tier strategic alliance partners have a front row seat to solving the technician shortage.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
Leading our commitment to diversify the technician workforce, including Women Techs Rock.
TechForce Board of Directors
Angie Babin
Chair/President
Jon Vesely
Vice Chair
Paul Halsch
Treasurer
David Ellis
Secretary
Jennifer Maher
Ex-Officio Member /Executive Director
CHris Blanchette
Director
Dave Smith
DIRECTOR
MARK FERNER
DIRECTOR
Matt Hartford
DIRECTOR
michelle Johnson
DIRECTOR
Denise Kingstrom
Director
BILL WILLETTS
DIRECTOR
Chris Adams
DIRECTOR
Donor Spotlight: Ford Motor Company
New Ford Tech and TechForce
Ford Motor Company selected TechForce to administer all its technician Ford FACT and Ford ASSET scholarships across the U.S. Additionally, Ford enthusiastically activates TechForce’s promotions via its dealerships nationwide.
Strategic Alliance Partners
$1,000,000+ annually
$250,000+ annually
$100,000+ annually
Ford Dealers – Desert
Ford Dealers – Illinois
Ford Dealers – North Texas
Ford Dealers – Cincinnati North
Ford Dealers – Kansas City
Ford Dealers – South Florida
Ford Dealers – Mid-South
Ford Dealers – North Texas
Ford Dealers – Seattle
Ford Dealers – Southeast
$50,000+ annually
$20,000+ annually
Vesely Family Foundation
David W. Ellis
Margaret Dunning Foundation
John & Bernadette Heenan
Media Partners
as of 9/2/2024Annual TechForce Donors
Annual TechForce Donors
TechForce Providers $10,000+ annually
- Marshall Payne
- Penske Foundation Inc.
- Dave & Julia Smith Charitable Fund
- Total Seal
TechForce Educators $5,000+ annually
Auto Care Association / AAPEX Show
Cardinals Charities
Reg Cooper
Electude
- Evans Family Giving Fund
- Mecum Auctions
- Mary Mahoney
- MOTOR Information Systems
TechForce Champions $1,000+
annually
- Donald Ableson
- ANSED Diagnostic
- Austin Healey Club of Southern California
- Angie Babin
- James Bartholomew
- Barrett-Jackson
- Bill Barke
- Jennifer Bergeron
- Chris Blanchette
- Mark Bruno
- Car ADAS Solutions
- CYTK LLC
- Executive Car Events
- Mark Ferner
- Gustafson Brothers
- Paul Halsch
- Harbor Freight
- Matt Hartford
- Michelle Johnson
- Denise Kingstrom
- Greg Maher
- Jennifer Maher
- Kim McWaters
- Ed and Jean Moffett
- Jeri Nowakowski
- Bryce Peterson
- Reid Family
- Greg Rintala
- Schneider Foundation
- Gregory Settle
- Randall & Cathy Smith
- Robert Torcolini
- Jill Trotta
- Donna Turner
- White’s Family Queen City Motors
- White’s Canyon Motors
- William Willetts
In Memorium Funds
- Andrew Carl Sliwinski
- William “Willy” Bertoti
- Terry Emig
- John F. Weinberger
- Andrew VanGorder
- Justin E. Beutel
- John E. Leao II
- Admiral Thomas Hayward
- Bobby Bove
- Daniel W. Gruber
- John & Helga Garofalo
- Jerry W. Reynolds Sr.
- Matthew W. Madole
- Brienne Davis
- Richard “Pup” Conklin
- Douglas Wendell Duszynski
Media Collaborators
Association & Nonprofit Partners
Celebrity Ambassadors
Special Collaborators
Collaborators
- Advance Auto Parts
- Cythero VR
- Hunter Engineering Company
- Schwartz Advisors
- Laura Goodman
- David Morton
- Gregory Settle
- Quorum I.T., LLC
News & Publications
REPORTS &WHITE PAPERS
Annual Technician Supply & Demand Report and Women Techs Rock whitepaper.
Stay up to date with the TechForce Event Calendar
From School Visits to Student Experiences, Speaking engagements to Exhibitions, and more.
FAQs -
ABOUT US
What is TechForce’s mission?
Our mission is to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians.
What is TechForce's purpose?
We power technical careers so communities thrive.
How is TechForce structured?
TechForce is an Arizona nonprofit corporation designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are tax deductible. TechForce staff, consultants and volunteers work remote, nationwide to power the technician workforce. We are directed by a 15-member, volunteer board of directors comprised of industry professionals, working and retired techs, technical educators, and philanthropists.
How long has TechForce been in existence?
TechForce was founded in 2005 and began operations in 2007 as the Universal Technical Institute Foundation. For the first eight years, it existed as a scholarship and grant organization, supporting financially-disadvantaged students who chose to attend a UTI campus. In 2014, the charity’s board of directors elected to expand its mission to do more to solve the technician shortage and support students everywhere. In 2016, the organization changed its name to TechForce Foundation, expanded its scholarships to support students attending any post-secondary technical program, and entered into strategic alliances to fuel career exploration and workforce development for students starting in middle- and high-school. Today, TechForce is a fully independent, autonomous not-for-profit, helping tens of thousands of students from more than 1,000 schools nationwide find a technical education and career that fits.
How does TechForce help students?
TechForce helps students who love working with their hands and are interested in exploring the technician career to learn more about the profession, find technical schools, scholarships and grants, mentors, apprenticeships, jobs and successful careers.
What are TechForce's programs and services?
TechForce 1) promotes the professional by sharing information, resources and marketing that reframes the technician profession and dispels myths and stigmas; 2) provides hands-on experiences to engage students with auto/diesel technology, explore the career and get workforce ready; and 3) awards more than $4.0 million annually in scholarships and grants to support technical education (students, schools and fellow nonprofits). Additionally, TechForce collaborates with businesses, schools, associations and nonprofits offering additional workforce development solutions and connects students to all these valuable resources through TechForce’s online career hub.
If you need help logging in or with TechForce™, simply click on the green HOW CAN WE HELP button in the lower right part of your screen. Our technical team will get back to you more quickly than contacting us by phone or email.
