Metallica’s new multimillion-dollar foundation funds trade school across the U.S.
It has let tens of thousands of people gain skills without crushing debt.
Metallica is famous for heavy metal. For several years the band has also been quietly financing training. Through its nonprofit, All Within My Hands, it has committed more than $17 million to trade programs in the United States.
A 2019 pilot at ten community colleges grew into the Metallica Scholars Initiative.
By mid-2026 the program reached students at 93 community colleges in all 50 states and Guam. It has helped tens of thousands of people learn high-demand trades without taking on debt.
The money supports hands-on programs such as welding, advanced manufacturing, health care, automotive repair, and firefighting. Besides tuition, the foundation pays for safety gear, course materials, and basics such as transportation so students can finish.
Band members, including James Hetfield, have said they take pride in raising the standing of trade work and in careers that can support a family. In 2026 the initiative made its first international grant, in the United Kingdom. The band is as serious about the workforce as it is about the stage.
[All Within My Hands. (2026). Metallica Scholars Initiative National Workforce Education Program Expands to Over 90 Schools. All Within My Hands Foundation]