We know that the best answers often come from those closest to the problem.
We look for big ideas
We believe big things can happen when you don’t shy away from big ideas. We look for nonprofits, social enterprises, and civic entities who understand the needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations and are working to address inequities at scale.
We ask communities what they need
At this time, we do not accept applications for support outside of our Google.org Impact Challenges. Each challenge is an invitation to nonprofits and social enterprises with ideas to make their communities, and beyond, a better place. Ideas with the most potential are given a package of support, which may include funding, mentorship, and technical support from Google volunteers.
We uplift leaders making bold changes
It’s important to support the people who work every day to make a change within their communities and industries. Leaders to Watch is Google.org’s way of supporting social innovators from our grantees to help them continue to make a big impact.
Accelerating impact
We provide support through a combination of funding, innovation and technical expertise.
Funding
Every year we grant $200 million to nonprofits and social enterprises across the globe. Our goal is to use our philanthropic capital to help stimulate innovative approaches to solving problems, and provide comprehensive support for marginalized communities.
Innovation
The same technology that makes our lives easier every day can also help tackle complex social challenges. We make our research, open source technology and products accessible to nonprofits working on the front lines of social change.
Technical expertise
We connect nonprofits and civic entities with Google employees who volunteer their own time or who provide pro bono services through the Google.org Fellowship for up to six months full time.
Our approach in action
Google.org and Goodwill Industries
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Helping people access new careers and greater financial stability
Deciding how and where to deploy resources right after or during a crisis is challenging. Common relief practices are inefficient, are usually not data-driven, and rely on word of mouth. As a result, vulnerable communities are often underserved.
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In 2017, Google.org provided support to Goodwill to create the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator® (GDCA). The GDCA helps Goodwill place people in jobs that provide good wages and pathways to future careers. This support is a part of the Grow with Google initiative, Google’s program to remove barriers to digital skills training.
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Funding
This initiative was funded by a $10 million Google.org grant, which will enable 1.2 million people to receive digital skills training by 2021.
Grant:
$10 million
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Innovation
Access was granted to the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, a first-of-its-kind online program from Grow with Google that teaches skills for a career in IT support.
Technology:
Google IT support
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Expertise
A team of seven Google.org Fellows worked full-time for six months at Goodwill locations across the country, where they lent their technical expertise to help Goodwill develop better infrastructure and analyze data to improve training programs and services for job seekers. Additionally, numerous Google employees volunteered their own time to conduct trainings.
Volunteers:
1,000
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From our Fellow
“Goodwill has always been a household name, but it wasn’t until the Fellowship that I truly understood their mission and how far their impact reaches. The opportunity to apply my quantitative background while empowering them to build a more technical and analytical foundation for achieving their goals was an unforgettable experience.”
— Audris, Google.org Fellow
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100,000
people have found jobs through the GDCA
From Goodwill
“Without digital foundations, many doorways to better futures are simply closed. The Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator® (GDCA) provides digital gateway skills as well as opportunities for higher-level certifications that lead to well-paying careers. Because of Google.org’s financial investment and the support of Googlers lending their technical expertise to the project, nearly 800,000 GDCA participants have walked through those doors and are discovering a different set of possibilities for their lives.”
— Steve Preston, President and CEO Goodwill Industries International
Opportunities