In Virginia, a consortium of agencies is currently providing funding support to provide people in the state free WorkWORLD^TM software and updates throughout the year. Several funding methods have been used at various times in a number of other states to fund the provision of free WorkWORLD software to state residents. People in some of these states received WorkWORLD for free because their state has established an agreement to pay a basic annual subscription. People in some other states received WorkWORLD for free because their state established a more comprehensive agreement to customize the software with state policy differences. And, people in other states received WorkWORLD for free through the insightful support of innovative programs sponsored by NISH.

People in states that have not established such a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Employment Support Institute to make WorkWORLD available at no cost must purchase a WorkWORLD subscription to keep their software up-to-date.

State agencies, community-based organizations, and individuals can help build a state funding pool to make WorkWORLD free to residents of their state by making pledges of any amount over $1,000 to support WorkWORLD. Pledges are promises of future funds that will be provided when the funding goal is achieved. These pledges will be tracked by ESI and posted on the WorkWORLD website.

When the pledges reach the annual funding goal, pledgers in that state will be asked to designate a lead coordinating agency that can accept invoices from ESI so that we can provide the free WorkWORLD software and updates to all citizens in the state who want WorkWORLD. No pledged funds change hands until this point is reached.

For example, several inspired state agency leaders in Virginia employed this method to make WorkWORLD free for all state residents. The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) agreed to be the lead agency, to coordinate the project, and to manage the pledged funds for WorkWORLD outcomes.

Additional Information

To make a pledge or discuss how to encourage others in your state to make a pledge, contact Jim Troxell, ESI Network Developer/Coordinator, at 443-223-7060 (cell) or email at jltroxel@vcu.edu.

To see the current status of WorkWORLD Support in your state, select your state from the list on the contacts page.