A $25,000 Faith & Action Project grant helped Purposeful Design launch its first formal School of Woodworking and Discipleship, pairing practical skills with the relationships and personal foundation for lasting employment.
| wdt_ID | At a glance | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organization | Purposeful Design |
| 3 | Location | 1710 Jenkins Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46218 |
| 4 | Faith & Action grant | $25,000 awarded in 2017 |
| 5 | Grant focus | School of Woodworking and Discipleship |
| 6 | Community served | People overcoming homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and other barriers to employment |
Who is Purposeful Design?
Purposeful Design is an Indianapolis Christian ministry and social enterprise that creates wood and metal furnishings while helping people rebuild their lives through work. Participants develop technical skills, job readiness, healthy routines, and relationships that support long-term self-sufficiency.
What did the grant help make possible?
The 2017 Faith & Action Project grant helped Purposeful Design move from an emerging training concept to its first formal School of Woodworking and Discipleship. The program combined workforce preparation with character formation and a community of support.
What outcomes were achieved?
Purposeful Design’s first formal training program produced promising early results and established a foundation for continued growth:
- 30 men completed workforce training in the inaugural program.
- The program achieved a 70% graduation rate, exceeding its 60% target.
- 90% of graduates moved immediately into jobs, surpassing the 80% placement target.
- Since the initial grant, annual participation grew from 12 to more than 250, while corporate partnerships expanded from 5 to 33.
Why does this matter to Indianapolis?
Technical skills can open a door, but the ability to remain employed often depends on confidence, trust, discipline, and supportive relationships. Purposeful Design’s experience suggests that workforce programs can be more durable when they strengthen the person as well as the resumé. Its growth also demonstrates how an early catalytic investment can help a promising model expand.
Quick Answers
How much did Purposeful Design receive from The Faith & Action Project?
$25,000 in 2017.
What did the grant help launch?
Purposeful Design’s first formal School of Woodworking and Discipleship.
What were the program’s early employment results?
The program reported 90% immediate job placement among graduates, according to the 10-Year Impact Report.
Read the Full Story
View The Faith & Action Project 10-Year Impact Report to learn more about the program’s early outcomes, the lesson Purposeful Design carried forward, and the scale of its growth after the initial grant.
