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Building the AEC Workforce of Tomorrow

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01 — THE MOMENT

The industry's greatest shortage isn't materials. It's people.

Across the AEC industry, three forces are converging at once: an aging workforce retiring faster than the pipeline can replace it, fewer young people entering the trades and professions, and a pace of technological change that outruns traditional training.

For fifty years, the Construction Institute has answered this call — bringing architects, engineers, contractors, and facilities professionals together to learn from one another. But the scale of what comes next demands more than our operating budget alone can carry. 

02 — THE PROGRAM

Introducing the CI Vanguard Fellows

/ ˈvan-gärd / — The ones at the front. Leading into new territory.

A CI Vanguard Fellow is a high school, college, or technical student stepping into the AEC industry in fields like construction management, architecture, engineering, or the trades — passionate about building the world around them, and facing the cost of textbooks, software, and credentials that stand between them and their first job.

Your gift makes it possible for that student to become a CI Vanguard Fellow — earning their first AEC credential, building their first industry network, gaining direct access to senior industry leaders, and stepping into a career that will shape the built world.

What Every Fellow Receives

SCHOLARSHIP
Financial support to help fund their education
MENTORSHIP
Guidance from industry professionals
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Construction Institute
CERTIFICATE
Access to CI certificate programs
CREDENTIAL
Verified Credly badge
RECOGNITION
Acknowledgement of their accomplishments
03 — WAYS TO GIVE

Become a Founding Supporter

All gifts made before December 31, 2026 are recognized as Founding Supporters of the CI Education & Workforce Fund.


Donate $10,000

Founding Patron

Forge Sponsor




Catalyst sponsor


Igniter sponsor
Every gift — at every level — supports the full Ignite Campaign: scholarships, professional education, and workforce development. Multi-year pledges welcome. The Construction Institute directs Fund resources where the industry's need is greatest each year.
04 — QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

How will my gift be used?

Gifts to the CI Education & Workforce Fund support three areas: scholarships through the CI Vanguard Fellows Program, expansion of CI's professional education program, and strategic workforce initiatives. CI directs resources where the industry's need is greatest each year.

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes. The Construction Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Can I make a multi-year pledge?

Yes — and we encourage it. Multi-year pledges of two to four years let donors reach higher giving levels comfortably.

Can my company match my gift?

Many AEC firms have matching gift programs. We're happy to help you check with your employer and process the match. Combined personal-and-match gifts often qualify donors for the next giving level up.

How will I know if my gift is making a difference?

Every donor — regardless of giving level — receives an annual impact report from the Fund. The report details how resources were deployed, how many Fellows were supported, what programs were funded, and what outcomes were achieved.

Can I direct my gift to scholarships only?

For named CI Fellowships at $10,000 and above, yes — your gift establishes a Fellowship in your name for the inaugural year. For gifts below that level, we ask all donors to give to the Fund generally. The flexibility is what makes the Fund work — it lets us deploy resources where the need is greatest each year.

IGNITE CAMPAIGN: BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT