About Us

The Education Fund is a partnership between 22 healthcare industry employers and 6 SEIU local unions, funded by collectively bargained employer contributions to provide education and training benefits for over 100,000 eligible healthcare workers.

Our mission

To empower our diverse healthcare workforce to advance in a changing environment through innovative education and training solutions.

Eligibility

If you work in a participating SEIU bargaining unit position for a contributing employer, have completed your probation period, and worked a minimum 2 shifts per month for the most recent 6 months, you are eligible for Education Fund programs and services.

History

The SEIU-UHW West & Joint Employer Education Fund (the Education Fund), is a multi-employer benefit trust established in 2004 by SEIU-UHW, Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health for the education and training of union represented employees. Since 2004, the Education Fund has grown to include 22 employer partner hospitals and health systems and 105,000 eligible union members. We are committed to equity and inclusion through expanding opportunities for career advancement to develop a diverse talent pipeline that reflects our communities’ needs. Almost 70% of our learners are people of color and 80% are women. Our organizational structure, based on a formal partnership with major health care employers, allows us to connect learners to career advancement opportunities for in-demand, high quality jobs. Our graduates who move on to new roles earn on average 45% higher wages in family sustaining union jobs.

Please see our Partners page for a list of participating unions and participating employers, as well as our Shirley Ware Education Center page for more information on our affiliate organization.