Path to Pro Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Home Depot Foundation
Program Overview
The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program supports workforce development for the skilled trades and connects learners with careers in the home improvement industry. It partners with industry organizations and training institutions to scale entry into trade careers where demand is high. The program focuses on accelerating training pathways and expanding access to apprenticeships, certification programs, and two-year technical education. This initiative addresses a significant labor shortage by preparing candidates for nearly 400,000 open roles in the trades nationwide.
Description: Path to Pro funds and partners with organizations that deliver trade-focused training, mentorship, and placement services to prepare learners for careers in construction, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and related fields.
- Targets skilled-trades workforce development at scale
- Partners include HBI, Construction Ready, SkillPointe Foundation, and Atlanta Technical College
- Supports training, certifications, and connections to open roles
Eligibility Requirements
The program provides scholarships for individuals preparing to enroll or already enrolled in accredited trade-related programs in the United States. Applicants must meet basic educational and enrollment criteria and must not be current employees of The Home Depot or their dependents. Eligible career paths typically include carpentry, construction management, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Applicants should plan to start or continue training within a one-year timeframe.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a high school senior, graduate, or GED equivalent; plan to enroll or be enrolled within one year in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year or vocational institution in the U.S.; and must not be an employee or dependent of a Home Depot employee.
- Open to high school seniors/graduates and GED holders
- Requires enrollment in an accredited trade-related program within one year
- Excludes Home Depot employees and their dependents from this scholarship
Application Timeline & Award Use
Applications are accepted on a quarterly schedule with deadlines on the last day of March, June, September, and December. Awardees are notified approximately four to six weeks after the applicable deadline, and scholarships must be used within one year of acceptance. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s school or training center; recipients should consult the program’s acceptable use policy for permitted expenses. Review the program’s FAQs and payment policies before applying to ensure compliance.
Application Timeline: Quarterly deadlines (end of March, June, September, December) with notifications roughly 4–6 weeks after each deadline.
Award Use: Scholarships are disbursed directly to the educational institution, must be used within one year, and are subject to the program’s acceptable-use guidelines.
- Quarterly application schedule with predictable deadlines
- Notification window of about 4–6 weeks after each deadline
- Funds paid to institutions and restricted by acceptable-use rules
Program History
Since its inception, the Foundation’s trades-focused partnerships have delivered substantial reach and impact across the skilled-trades pipeline. The program has trained more than 60,000 participants and introduced over 490,000 people to the skilled trades. It exceeded an initial commitment to train 20,000 people six years ahead of schedule, demonstrating rapid scale and early success. Ongoing partnerships continue to expand training capacity and employer connections nationwide.
History of the Award: Path to Pro has rapidly scaled through collaborations with training providers and industry partners, achieving key milestones well ahead of target timelines.
- Trained 60,000+ participants through partner programs
- Introduced more than 490,000 people to the skilled trades
- Exceeded an early training commitment several years ahead of plan