Funding Enhances Growing Movement to Redefine Workforce Pathways for Disabled Professionals, in Partnership with Making Space
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 2Gether-International (2GI), the largest nonprofit startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities and Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform that has supported more than 10,000 Disabled professionals to date, has been awarded a grant from Truist Foundation to expand Making Space's original flagship Ascend program.
The investment underscores a growing, cross-sector movement to reimagine workforce development for Disabled professionals. Over the past year, 2GI launched the nation's first Department of Labor–registered apprenticeship program designed for startup executives with disabilities, in partnership with BuildWithin. The program broke new ground by opening leadership-track opportunities for Disabled talent in the startup and tech sectors. Making Space has emerged as a leader in disability-inclusive workforce innovation, designing and delivering the job-readiness programming and peer community at the heart of Ascend. By combining skill-building, mentorship, and employer engagement, Making Space ensures Disabled professionals are both prepared for opportunity and welcomed into environments ready to support their success.
Truist Foundation's support now propels the momentum for this effort, bringing complementary resources that strengthen the broader ecosystem. Whereas the apprenticeship focuses on executive-track training and on-the-job experience, Ascend 2.0 builds on Making Space's successful first Ascend program, supported by the GitLab Foundation, which delivered a 123x ROI and a $1.1M average lifetime earnings increase per participant. Ascend 2.0 scales the initiative, adds a regional focus in the Southeast and introduces wraparound supports such as financial education, ABLE account education, benefits counseling, and employer training. Together, these approaches create a more comprehensive pipeline that equips Disabled professionals to succeed across industries and roles.
With Truist Foundation's support, Ascend 2.0 will:
- Support Disabled professionals in the Southeast, expanding from the original Ascend program
- Deliver ABLE account and benefits navigation to enhance financial security
- Place at least 70 participants into jobs, including 20+ in middle-skill or higher roles
- Train 50+ hiring managers in inclusive workplace practices
"This grant represents more than a program expansion—it shows that multiple institutions are investing in a disability-led model of workforce development, validating disability as a competitive advantage," said Diego Mariscal, CEO and Founder of 2Gether-International. "Momentum is building, and together with partners like Truist Foundation, we're creating a new standard for economic mobility that benefits entire communities."
"We're incredibly proud of the success of the first Ascend program. As a proud 2GI alum and the CEO & Founder of Making Space, I'm thrilled to expand our support for participants with enhanced wraparound resources made possible by 2GI," said Keely Cat-Wells, Founder and CEO of Making Space. "This partnership represents another step in building systems where Disabled professionals are recognized, valued, and equipped to lead at every level of industry."
With 85% of beneficiaries from low- to moderate-income backgrounds, Ascend 2.0 aligns directly with Truist Foundation's building career pathways to economic mobility pillar. It also demonstrates the scalability of disability-inclusive models, reinforcing a national and international movement to redefine economic opportunity.
"At Truist and Truist Foundation, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities," said Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation. "That commitment extends to creating career pathways to economic mobility. By supporting 2Gether-International's and Making Space's Ascend 2.0 initiative, we're helping unlock access to meaningful employment, financial stability and brighter futures for individuals across the Southeast."
For more information on 2Gether-International and its programming, visit https://www.2Gether-international.org/ and for more information about Making Space and its programming visit, https://www.making-space.com/
About 2Gether-International (2GI)
2Gether-International is the largest startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities. 2GI supports high-growth, high-impact startups, led by founders with disabilities. Through this work 2GI highlights disability as a competitive advantage for businesses. Learn more about 2GI and their accelerator program here: https://2Gether-international.org/
About Making Space
Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform that helps companies hire, support, and retain Disabled professionals, while providing free, accessible upskilling, career opportunities, and community for Disabled talent. Seamlessly integrating with existing enterprise software, Making Space connects employers with a highly qualified, innovative, and often overlooked workforce while providing employers with essential education to confidently support current and future Disabled employees. Making Space is trusted by employers including: Netflix, Indeed, Salesforce, Microsoft, Visa and more. https://www.making-space.com/
About Truist Foundation
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation's leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.
Media Contact
Alex Rush, 2Gether-International, 1 718-664-3517, [email protected], https://www.2gether-international.org/
SOURCE 2Gether-International
Share this article