BeCome a Piston Partner
Support Our Programs, Engage Your Customers and Your Community
The collector car industry needs more young technicians who can carry-on the trades of today’s rapidly retiring workforce. The Piston Foundation offers a unique opportunity for mission-aligned businesses and private foundations to support the education and training of aspiring technicians while serving the grassroots needs of their customers and communities.
There is a skilled labor shortage in the collector car industry.
1,425 job openings may go unfilled due to the lack of qualified technicians.
As a community of businesses and car enthusiasts, we need to work together to solve this problem.
The Piston Mission
Creating a Career Path for Aspiring Collector Car Technicians
The Piston Foundation is creating a career path that will bring more young people into the trades of the collector car industry. Piston awards tech-school scholarships, connects aspiring technicians with jobs, and champions skilled trade careers in automotive restoration. To shift the classic car workforce from graying into growing, Piston is nurturing the passion and talent of the next generation.
The Piston Three-Step Career Path
STep 1
Car Events & Outreach
Career
Awareness
Step 2
Piston
Scholarships
Skilled Trade Education
Step 3
Job
Opportunities
On-the-Job
Training
A lack of awareness, education, and job training prevent young car enthusiasts from making collector car restoration their career. Our programs help overcome these challenges and grow the skilled labor workforce.
Sponsorship Case Study
Bring a Trailer Charity Auction
To commemorate the milestone of their 100,00th listing, Bring a Trailer will auction a company-owned 1973 Datsun 240Z with 100% of the proceeds going to The Piston Foundation to support educational opportunities for the next generation of auto enthusiasts.
How You Can Support Our Mission
As a mission-aligned business or private foundation you can help create career opportunities for a new and diverse generation of collector car technicians by providing financial support to our education and training programs.
- Share the Mission
- Make a Donation
- Donate a Classic Car or Auction Item
- Promote a Piston Fundraiser
Your support will help the Piston Foundation support local auto restoration businesses through workforce development and create a sustainable future for the collector car community.
Become a Piston Community Partner
Support our mission by funding scholars, events, and fundraisers.
Our Partner Program offers a unique opportunity for auto-related organizations to support the car enthusiast community by helping young people acquire the education and hands-on training to build a career in the collector car industry.
- Support our skilled trade education and training programs
- Help create a new and diverse generation of technicians
- Engage your employees and customers with values-driven giving
- Support the grassroot needs of the car community
- Sponsorship is tax deductible
If you have questions about becoming a sponsor, please contact us to request more information.
Financial Transparency
We are proud to have received a Platinum Transparency seal from Candid in our third year of operations. We embrace our responsibility to steward the gifts of our donors for the greatest possible impact.
From the Piston Blog
Piston Awards 30 Scholarships to 2025 Class of Future Technicians
Piston is thrilled to announce our 2025 Piston Scholars—30 exceptional students who share a passion for collector cars and the determination to master automotive trade skills.
Manual Transmission, Maximum Impact: Chris Gleason’s GR Corolla
Connecticut collector Chris Gleason transformed his manual-transmission Toyota GR Corolla into a Piston Foundation awareness vehicle, promoting hands-on driving experiences and skilled trade education before eventually auctioning it for the nonprofit’s programs.
Piston Scholar Zoe Carmichael Featured on Hot Wheels Local Legends
Piston Foundation alumna Zoe Carmichael was featured on Hot Wheels’ Local Legends for her workshop “Knowledge is Power” — an Auto 101 course empowering women with hands-on car skills and creating inclusive garage spaces.
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