SHRM Foundation and Elizabeth Dole Foundation Join Forces to Empower America's 100 Million Caregivers in the Workplace

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, the SHRM Foundation and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation launched a transformative national initiative designed to elevate and empower America's caregivers in the workplace. This strategic partnership addresses a pressing challenge: supporting the more than 100 million Americans who balance careers with caregiving responsibilities – including 14.3 million who care for service members and veterans.

Together, the organizations are driving awareness, advancing training and support systems, and championing employer practices that enable caregivers to find, retain, and thrive in meaningful work across every industry. The partnership, unveiled at the Supporting Caregivers in the Workforce Summit in Washington, D.C., centers on six strategic pillars: awareness building, training and support, recruitment and retention, thought leadership, coalition and movement building, and continued support for military and veteran caregivers.

“Every career intersects with care,” said Wendi Safstrom, President of SHRM Foundation. “Every worker either has been, is, or will be in the position of caring for a friend or loved one.  Employers have both an opportunity and a responsibility to build workplaces where caregivers are seen, supported, and set up for success. Through this partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, we’re uniting two missions rooted in compassion and purpose to ensure that working caregivers have the support they need to stay, contribute, and thrive.” 

The initiative draws on groundbreaking research released by SHRM in April 2025, which revealed over 40% of working caregivers report their responsibilities hinder career advancement. The studies, titled Care and Careers: Navigating Caregiving and Work Responsibilities and The Caregiving Imperative: Organizational Solutions for Supporting Caregivers and Elevating Business Performance, also found organizations taking proactive approaches to caregiver support report significantly better outcomes in employee engagement, recruitment, and retention.

“Military and veteran caregivers are often the first to face the realities that millions of working Americans are now navigating. At the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, we’ve seen how the right support can make all the difference—and we’re committed to learning and sharing what works to keep caregivers in the workforce and families strong. Together with the SHRM Foundation, we’re bringing those lessons to every workplace—recognizing caregivers as essential talent and aligning policies to match,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. When employers design with caregivers in mind, they build teams that are more resilient, more competitive, and better for the nation.”

The October 30 Summit convened leaders from government, business, and nonprofit sectors to foster candid dialogue about caregiving challenges and workplace solutions. The closed-door event featured panels on government policy solutions, organizational best practices, and the financial implications of caregiving, along with fireside chats with C-suite executives and thought leaders.

Building on the momentum from the Summit, SHRM and the SHRM Foundation will host a public webinar on November 12, 2025, at 12:30 PM ET featuring SHRM Foundation President, Wendi Safstrom, Emily M. Dickens, SHRM's Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs, and Elizabeth Dole Foundation CEO, Steve Schwab. The session will explore key findings from SHRM's caregiving research and provide actionable guidance for HR professionals seeking to support working caregivers. You can register for the upcoming webinar here. Additional resources are available at shrm.org/workingcaregivers.

About the SHRM Foundation

SHRM Foundation empowers Human Resources as a force for social good. As the nonprofit arm of SHRM, the world's largest HR professional society, the Foundation believes that HR holds a unique position to lead change in the face of complex challenges within the world of work. The organization mobilizes and equips HR to ensure the prosperity and thriving of talent and workplaces. The Foundation works by widening pathways to work for more skills-first candidates and more kinds of talent; tackling societal challenges, with a current focus on workplace mental health and wellness; and strengthening the HR field with even more diversity, growth, and readiness to address these needs. SHRM Foundation works with SHRM, courageous partners, and bold investors to generate awareness, action, and impact to build a world of work that works for all. Discover more at SHRMFoundation.org.

About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers—the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans. Established by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation works to empower military and veteran caregivers, their families, and their communities through programs, partnerships, and advocacy that drive innovative, impactful, and sustainable solutions. The Foundation’s Hidden Heroes public awareness campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military and veteran caregivers, galvanizing action to strengthen support for them in communities across the nation. Visit elizabethdolefoundation.org for more information.