CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

CIEF seeks to be the national leader in introducing youth to built environment occupations and fostering quality programs for trades professionals, creating a pathway “where the industry meets the classroom.”

Born out of the need to engage the next generation of tradespeople, CIEF works to introduce youth and young adults to the rewarding careers available in the built environment. In addition, CIEF endeavors to provide construction, design, and trade professionals much needed training.

CIEF programs include youth programs embedded in California State Education Standards, mentoring initiatives that bring the side-by-side learning between industry mentors and youth, and professional workshops focused on safety training, legal, human resources, business leadership, and scholarships. CIEF hosts an endowment to support academic and summer experience scholarships for students with over $90,000 awarded annually.

The CIEF Board of Trustees activated a strategic plan (2021 – 2025) that outlines a vision for refining, designing, and implementing high-quality youth programs, along with expanding workshops for young industry professionals while working to deepen the organization's engagement with its partners, construction trade leaders, schools, government, and community. In addition, the organization is dedicated to scaffolding its internal structure to meet the current and anticipated substantial growth within the state of California and beyond. The plan includes a much-needed expanded vision around diversity, equity, and inclusion in both foundation staff and our training vision, illustrated by our Women in Construction Conference, in its fifth year of delivery.

Setting new pathways for engagement and education while tooling a new culture of diversity underscores our vision to provide opportunities that will make a powerful impact on the culture and the 21st Century workforce for the building industry.

CIEF's ability to design and implement high-quality programming and outreach while continually anticipating future marketplace opportunities has been well supported by trustees culled from industry leaders, strategic partnerships, and a professional staff with a combined experience of 20+ years in programming, leadership, and organizational infrastructure.

To maintain the organization's health, longevity, and focus on its mission, CIEF understands capacity updates are essential. CIEF plans on measurable improvements in the efforts to diversify revenue, board and staff growth, and development along with refinement in the workplace and technology to continue high-quality service and growth.

Founded in 2004 by the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX), CIEF has had tremendous success supporting the health of the construction and design industry by creating and implementing education programs for youth and young professionals with the intent to address the growing labor shortage. In recent years, CIEF service has grown from serving 350 students annually to over 2,700 in four years alone (2015 -2019). In 2021, CIEF awarded $93,750 in student scholarships and provided 14 nonprofit grants. Consistent delivery of high-quality education engagement in the built environment has expanded program partners, robust growth in board members and sponsorship opportunities, and a modest increase in staff.

CIEF will continue to focus its energy and attention on the refinement of outreach and programs while enhancing its internal and fund development management. Assuring that CIEF's vision to provide opportunities “Where Industry Meets the Classroom” presents model programming available to all.