Azgari Foundation

How instruction is delivered

All four programs are delivered 100% online. There is no in-person attendance option and no physical classroom. Instruction combines scheduled live video sessions with recorded, asynchronous coursework and guided independent practice. Every live session is recorded and made available afterward, so a participant who misses one is not left behind.

Schedule

Programs run on a cohort schedule with a common weekly structure. Participants should expect to commit approximately 15–20 hours per week for the duration of the program.

The remaining hours are guided independent work: recorded lessons, applied projects, portfolio building and certification study, completed on the participant's own schedule.

Cost

Every program is free to the participant. There is no tuition, no registration fee, no application fee, and no required purchase of books, software or materials. All instructional materials and certification exams are provided at no cost. Programs are financed by a party other than the student — restricted charitable contributions and partner agreements — which is the basis of the Foundation's §132.002(b) exemption.

Participants must have reliable internet access and a desktop or laptop computer. The Foundation can assist with equipment where a participant does not have it; ask during intake.

Course of study

Each program moves through five phases. Content differs by occupation; the structure is shared.

• Foundations — digital literacy, professional presence, business communication, AI fluency, prompting and verification.
• Core craft — the occupation's central technical skills, taught through applied work rather than lecture alone.
• Applied practice — tools, platforms and workflows used in the occupation day to day, including AI-assisted methods.
• Operations — the business context around the role: documentation, client and colleague communication, systems and process.
• Launch — public portfolio and case studies, certification completion, interview and job-search readiness, sustainable work habits.

Certifications available

All certifications offered are free to the participant. Availability is verified before each cohort begins. Current providers include Anthropic Academy, OpenAI Academy, HubSpot Academy (Content, Social, SEO, Email, Sales), Google (Digital Marketing, Ads, Analytics), Canva Design School, Meta Blueprint and Semrush Academy.

The Foundation does not itself award a degree or diploma. Participants earn third-party industry certifications and a portfolio of work.

Completion criteria

A participant is recorded as having successfully completed a program when all four of the following are met:

• Participation in at least 80% of scheduled live sessions, whether attended live or completed through the recording within one week.
• Submission of all required phase projects at or above the standard set out in the program rubric.
• A completed public portfolio demonstrating the program's core competencies.
• At least one industry certification earned in the program's occupational area.

Participants who do not meet these criteria are recorded as discontinued, transferred or withdrawn, as applicable, and may re-enroll in a later cohort where a seat is available.

Who the programs serve

Young adults ages 16 to 25 who are in, or have aged out of, the foster care or juvenile justice system in Texas, and who are referred by a partner organization.

Requirements to enroll

• Age 16–25 with a foster care or juvenile justice background.
• Referral by a partner organization under a written agreement with the Foundation.
• Able to read, write and communicate at a functional level. No high school diploma or GED is required.
• Reliable internet access and a desktop or laptop computer. Equipment assistance is available.
• Able to commit approximately 15–20 hours per week for the length of the program.
• For applicants aged 16 or 17, written consent from a parent, legal guardian or the managing conservator.

How enrollment works

• Referral. A partner organization identifies a young adult who fits the program and refers them to the Foundation.
• Review. The Foundation reviews the referral and identifies the program that fits the participant's interests and readiness.
• Contact. A team member contacts the participant and the referring organization within two business days.
• Enrollment. Program, cohort start date, equipment needs and — for minors — guardian consent are confirmed in writing.
• Training. The participant begins with the next cohort.

For partner organizations

Agencies, caseworkers, transition centers and community organizations serving this population can enter into a referral agreement with the Foundation. There is no cost to the partner or the participant. Contact partner relations below.

Attendance

Participants are expected to attend the weekly group class, pod session and mentor check-in. Every live session is recorded and posted; a missed session counts toward attendance when the recording is completed within one week and the accompanying work is submitted. Participation of at least 80% is required for completion.

A participant who misses two consecutive weeks without contact will be reached by their mentor and, where there is a referring organization, by that organization. The Foundation's first response to disengagement is outreach and support, not removal. A participant may be withdrawn after four consecutive weeks of no contact and no submitted work, and is welcome to return in a later cohort.

Refunds

The programs are free. No tuition, fees or charges of any kind are collected from participants, so no refund can arise. If a participant is ever asked to pay the Foundation for training, report it immediately to the contacts below — it is not authorized.

Code of conduct

Participants are asked to treat classmates, mentors, instructors and guest employers with respect; to keep classmate information shared in sessions private; to submit their own work and disclose where AI tools were used, consistent with how each program teaches them; and to represent themselves and the Foundation honestly in portfolio work and with clients and employers.

Conduct that harasses, threatens or endangers another participant or staff member, or that misrepresents the Foundation to an employer or client, may result in removal from a program. A participant facing removal is told the reason in writing and may respond before a final decision is made. Where a referring organization is involved, it is notified.

Support services beyond class

• Mentorship. A weekly one-to-one check-in with an assigned mentor for the length of the program.
• Daily drop-in. An optional 30-minute morning session for questions, accountability and troubleshooting.
• Equipment assistance. Help obtaining a computer or internet access for participants who need it.
• Trauma-informed support. Access to a licensed counselor on the Foundation's team.
• Certification support. Exam preparation and guidance; all certifications offered are free.
• Portfolio and job-search coaching. Portfolio review, interview preparation and introductions to employers on the Foundation's Employer Advisory Committee. Introductions are not offers, and hiring decisions belong entirely to the employer.

Complaints

A participant with a concern should raise it with their mentor first, or with the Foundation directly at the contacts below if that is not appropriate. The Foundation responds in writing within ten business days.

Participants funded through the workforce system may also use the complaint process of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and complaints about the Texas workforce system are handled under the Texas Workforce Commission Complaint Procedures Guide issued March 11, 2026. Using the Foundation's internal process is not a condition of using either of those.

The Foundation maintains an employer-based Employer Advisory Committee under a charter adopted September 12, 2026. The Committee is composed of representatives of Texas employers that hire, or are willing to hire, workers in the occupations the programs prepare people for. It reviews curriculum, entry requirements and completion standards against what employers actually require, and advises on which industry credentials carry weight in each sector.

The Committee is advisory. It holds no governance, fiduciary or policy authority over the Foundation, its recommendations are non-binding, and nothing it does commits any employer to hire any individual. Members serve voluntarily and are uncompensated. Related-party relationships are disclosed in writing and recorded on the Committee roster; a member with a disclosed relationship does not chair the Committee and does not count toward its quorum majority. The charter, roster and meeting minutes are produced to Workforce Solutions Capital Area and the Texas Workforce Commission on request.