National Housing Endowment Receives Major Gift from Kohler Estate

Workforce Development
Published

The National Housing Endowment (NHE) announced a $3 million gift from the estate of Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., former Kohler Co. Executive Chairman. As a founding member of NHE, Kohler served on the Board of Trustees for 35 years.

“Herb believed in our mission and work to provide the housing industry with education, training and research,” said Al Scott, chair of the Endowment. “His support of our college programs goes back decades and has paid off with over 50 residential construction management programs in place today thanks to NHE funding. His vision is now a reality, and this generous gift lets us do more.”

In addition to funding residential construction faculty and curriculum, scholarships help more than 500 students annually attend the International Builders’ Show. Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainability & DEI Officer at Kohler Co., noted, “My father understood the value of students participating in housing’s largest event through the NAHB Student Chapter Competition. He knew that the students’ opportunity to meet designers, contractors and builders face to face goes a long way in determining their residential construction career choice.”

This contribution also enables expansion of the Skilled Labor Fund’s Career Connections grant program to fund local association-organized career events. In 2023, an estimated 70,000 students will learn about the skilled trades required to build homes, meet industry professionals, and experience hands-on demonstrations with the tools and materials used in construction.

“Before we can train future home builders, we first have to make them aware of the great career opportunities available in all the residential skilled trades,” said Ted Mahoney, a member of the Skilled Labor Fund Operating Committee. “I have had the honor of working with Mr. Kohler on industry issues going back to the 1980s, and the development of young people into rewarding careers ranked high on his list of priorities.”

To learn more about Herb Kohler’s contributions to housing, manufacturing and community, visit celebrateherbkohler.com.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Workforce Development

Apr 22, 2026

Jobsite Visits Offer Florida Teens Firsthand Look into the Trades

Through the Charlotte DeSoto Building Industry Association, Florida students are exploring the skilled trades by shadowing certified professionals on active jobsites.

Advocacy

Apr 21, 2026

NY Governor Spotlights Importance of Home Building at HBA Awards Ceremony

Highlighting her “Let Them Build” agenda, Hochul explained the struggle for young adults in the region to purchase an apartment or starter home, and her proposed solutions to help fix the issue.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Apr 21, 2026

Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025

U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, while natural change remained relatively stable.

Economics

Apr 20, 2026

Construction Workforce Shifts: Fewer Tradesmen, More White-Collar Jobs

The long-running shift in the construction labor force away from construction trades and toward management, business, and technical roles is ongoing and gaining momentum, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS).

Economics

Apr 17, 2026

Count of Second Homes Declines in 2024

In 2024, the number of second homes in the U.S. was 6.2 million, accounting for 4.3% of the nation’s housing stock, according to NAHB estimates. This reflects a modest decline from 2022, when the number reached 6.5 million. This decline suggests some cooling following the pandemic-era surge in second home demand.