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The DeBruce Foundation Launches 2025 Graduation Toolkit to Empower Career Success
Free online resources help every graduate build career literacy, networking skills, and a plan for the future
KANSAS CITY, MO – The DeBruce Foundation, a national nonprofit, today announced the release of its 2025 Graduation Toolkit—a free, online collection of career resources designed to help high school and college graduates navigate the evolving labor market and confidently plan their futures.
Now in its sixth year, the Graduation Toolkit equips graduates with the tools they need to:
- Identify their top work skills
- Explore in-demand careers
- Understand the income they’ll need
- Update their resume to highlight their strengths
- Build their networking skills
- Map out a plan for their future
New this year to the Graduation Toolkit is a cheat sheet to help students in networking conversations–from how to introduce themselves and their interests, to questions to ask their new contact, to how to end a conversation gracefully. With the addition of this resource, the Graduation Toolkit better equips graduates to build lasting professional relationships that will help them throughout their career journeys.
“The data is clear: Career Literacy and Network Strength are the most important factors in building long-term financial security and career empowerment,” said Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for The DeBruce Foundation. “Now more than ever, graduates need proven tools to navigate a changing workforce and expand their vision of what’s possible. That’s exactly what our 2025 Graduation Toolkit provides.”
The resources in the Graduation Toolkit help graduates build their Career Literacy and their Network Strength–two key components in building careers with an average of $48,000 more in annual earnings, less risk of unemployment, and better benefits, as shown in The Foundation’s research.
One tool in the Graduation Toolkit is the Agile Work Profiler© (AWP), a career assessment developed by The DeBruce Foundation that helps people at any stage in their career identify their top work skills and interests. Unlike other assessments, the AWP is designed to expand the career pathways people consider, rather than narrowing their options or directing them towards a specific career.
The tools in the Graduation Toolkit were developed based on The DeBruce Foundation’s extensive research and proven strategies for expanding career pathways. For example, using ASA’s TeenVoice platform, The DeBruce Foundation recently conducted a survey of more than 600 youth aged 13-19 from across the country. The results indicated that students are eager to learn more about career exploration, but they lack the tools or opportunities to do so. The Graduation Toolkit guides students as they explore careers while facilitating the discovery of their own strengths and interests.
Students shared their perspectives on the value of the Graduation Toolkit:
- “I like that the Graduation Toolkit is for EVERYONE. It’s accessible, easy to use, and beyond helpful for planning out your future – No matter what stage you’re in!” – SaDerra
- “I like that the graduation tool kit helps me dig deeper into my dream career and understand the job better!” – Jenae
To deliver this gift nationwide, The DeBruce Foundation is partnering with educational institutions, nonprofits, and families in launching a public awareness campaign. Get the Graduation Toolkit and help the Class of 2025 plan their path forward at DeBruce.org/GradGift
