Kyndryl Foundation Grant

The Kyndryl Foundation Grant aims to empower communities through investments in education, technology, and workforce development. With a focus on cybersecurity and AI skills for underrepresented learners, the foundation fosters balanced partnerships and innovation. It prioritizes transparency and integrity, ensuring grants support long-term impact. This initiative aligns with Kyndryl's mission to create a sustainable future by enhancing access to opportunities and resources for all, thereby promoting diversity and inclusivity in economic growth.

Purpose
To power human progress by providing opportunities for Kyndryl and its employees to create a purpose-driven company and support the communities it serves around the world.
Our Grantmaking Principles
These principles guide Kyndryl Foundation’s grantmaking process:
Balanced partnershipsWe recognize the value of trust-based philanthropy principles and entering relationships with our grantees as collaborators. We seek to reduce burdens on grantees by streamlining processes and making grants that favor long term impact.  Forward-thinking mindsetWe will embrace innovation in our grantmaking practice and support new models that promote positive social change.Data-forward designWe understand that social change is not always easily measurable, but we will seek the benefit of science-based outcomes and creative approaches to measure the impact of our grants.  Representative grantmakingOur grantmaking will be deeply rooted in the communities we fund. We will seek feedback from our grantees and their communities to promote diversity and improve our grantmaking process. Integrity and transparencyOur grantmaking process will be guided by a commitment to integrity and appropriate transparency, including ensuring that our grantmaking criteria is publicly available.Holistic engagementWe commit to looking for ways to support our grantees beyond funding, by leveraging our talent, resources, and relationships.
Impact Areas
Kyndryl Foundation's focus for funding organizations will be aligned with our 3 impact areas.
Future-forward educationWe support equitable access to student-centered and technology-enabled education, ensuring all learners acquire the skills needed to promote sustainable development.Climate actionWe support an equitable transition to an environmentally sustainable future through innovative technology and mitigating the impacts of climate change by strengthening resilience in the communities most affected.Inclusive economyWe focus on investing in bold ideas that help to build a representative economy in which all individuals and communities can participate in and benefit from sustained economic and social prosperity.
RFP Focus Area
In year two, the Kyndryl Foundation will focus on funding:
Cybersecurity skills and job placement programs for underrepresented learners and job seekersArtificial Intelligence (AI) skills and job placement programs for underrepresented learners and job seekers

Eligibility

Organization must be a non-profit organization either based in the United States or able to obtain a 501(c)(3) Equivalency DeterminationOrganization must be based in or deliver impact in one of Kyndryl's core counties, which in year one includes USA, Japan, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and IndiaOrganization must support cybersecurity workforce development or nonprofit capacity buildingTechnology and innovation are central to our business, to Kyndryl employees, and a focus of Kyndryl Foundation's grantmaking. Organization must be led by individuals from the communities the organization servesAt Kyndryl Foundation, we believe that the best solutions come from people most directly impacted by the challenges we seek to address. That's why we fund organizations rooted in the communities they serve and led by trusted individuals with lived experience within those communities. Organization must measure the results of its work, have a commitment to learning and a desire to enter into a balanced partnership with fundersOur grantmaking principles at Kyndryl Foundation reflect our commitment to enter into data-informed, balanced and holistic partnerships with grantees who can benefit from the skills and passions of our employees, as well as our financial support.