The Opportunity Fund is a project of Tipping Point Community, a Bay Area funder that supports nonprofits advancing the most promising poverty-fighting solutions so that everyone has the opportunity to prosper. Its goal is to test if, and how much, financial support and financial coaching are needed to help people enroll in and complete job training programs that   help get onto a career path. Tipping Point is partnering with four Bay Area job training organizations to incorporate financial support and financial coaching into a limited number of cohorts, and will take what it learns to push for changes that expand economic opportunity and mobility for more low-wage workers across the Bay Area and beyond. 

The cohort you are applying to / enrolled in is different in that participants will receive a weekly stipend of $500 during the training period and $803.40 during the work-based learning opportunity, as well as a weekly stipend that gradually decreases over a period of 16 weeks to support you during the job search process. 

We are working with a research partner to evaluate the impacts of financial support on access to job training programs and subsequent employment and earnings. This research will inform how to design future public benefits assistance and job training programs. Data about you and your participation in the program will be shared with the research partner for this evaluation analysis. Your data will not be shared with anyone else or used for any other purpose other than this research study. You will be asked to sign a consent form that provides more details before enrolling in the program. 

You will also be invited to complete surveys and participate in interviews or focus groups during the course of the program. These are entirely voluntary and come with a financial incentive if you decide to participate. 

JVS has agreed to share data with our evaluation partner. This includes data from your application, program enrollment, attendance, completion, job attainment and subsequent earnings, and the use of program services and financial coaching. This data will not be shared outside of the organization and the evaluation partner. 

All participant data will be managed and safeguarded in compliance with established data protection standards, utilizing secure systems and controls to ensure confidentiality and data security.

This program offers a stipend because we want to show that by offering financial support, we are addressing a key barrier for people with limited income in successfully accessing and completing job training programs that lead to good jobs. We are able to offer stipends during this particular cohort because we have been selected to participate in a time-limited initiative that has dedicated funding for this purpose. 

Offering the stipend significantly increases the cost of the program and unfortunately we do not have ongoing funding to cover these costs. Our goal is to test and demonstrate the stipend’s impact so that we can unlock more public and private funds.

The stipend can be levied from your bank account if the Department of Child Support Services determines that you owe back child support. If you receive the stipend as a virtual or physical prepaid debit card, it cannot be levied.

It’s possible that your public benefits may be impacted by the stipend, but it depends on your individual and household situation. If you’d like to consult someone who specializes in public benefits, we will refer you to a partner who can help. If you decide to enroll in the program, you will also have the opportunity to discuss and plan with a financial coach. Please note that even if your benefits remain unchanged, this same issue is very likely to come up when you start a higher-paying job.

This stipend is considered taxable income, and you will receive a 1099-MISC form before you file your 2026 taxes. That means it must be reported on your tax return.  Whether you will owe taxes depends on your total income for the year, not just the stipend. 

Because everyone’s situation is different, we can’t say exactly how it will affect you without reviewing your full income. Before enrolling in the program, you will learn more about the potential impact from our financial coaching partners, and if you’d like more information, you’ll be referred to a partner who can help. If you decide to enroll in the program, you will also have the opportunity to discuss and plan with a financial coach.

The stipend will be issued weekly.  

The stipend is $500/week during training and $803.40/week during the work-based learning period. It will gradually decrease over a period of 16 weeks during the job search process. 

You can still receive the stipend if you don’t have a bank account via a virtual or physical prepaid debit card. You can also work with a financial coach to set up a bank account if you’d like.

You can use the funds for whatever you need to support you and your family in this process, with the following restrictions:  

You will receive the stipend during training, work-based learning, and post-program.

You will not lose the remaining weeks of the stipend if you get a job before the end of that period.

This session will provide important information about how your public benefits (if you’re receiving any) and your taxes may be impacted by the program’s financial stipend. It will also provide information on where to go if you want to discuss your individual situation in greater detail. 

No, financial coaching is not required after the initial group session.

No, you do not have to pay for this service.

No, there is no limit on the number of sessions you can attend with the financial coach during the duration of this program.

You can discuss a range of issues with the financial coach including the following: 

It’s possible that your public benefits may be impacted by a higher-paying job, and it depends on your individual and household situation. If you’d like to consult someone who specializes in public benefits, we will refer you to a partner who can help. You will also have the opportunity to discuss and plan with a financial coach.

It’s possible that your taxes may be impacted by a higher-paying job, and it depends on your individual and household situation. If you’d like to consult a tax specialist, we can refer you to a partner who can help. You will also have the opportunity to discuss and plan with a financial coach.

If you drop out of the program, you will not continue to receive the stipend, and you can no longer access financial coaching services. A JVS staff member will reach out to discuss alternative options.

We are looking for individuals who are interested in making the case to policymakers and other stakeholders about the importance of offering financial support and coaching to participants in job training programs. We are still developing a plan for what this might look like. If you are interested in learning more, please email EXCEL@jvs.org.

If you have an additional question not covered in these Frequently Asked Questions, please contact clientservicesall@jvs.org.