S&P Global and the S&P Global Foundation have launched StepForward, a three‑year $10 million initiative designed to prepare the next generation for success in an AI‑driven economy. Launched in December 2025, the program supports organizations delivering innovative workforce readiness and AI education programs worldwide, complemented by skills‑based volunteering from S&P Global employees.
The initiative is backing major partners such as Generation and MIT RAISE, which will deliver AI‑focused youth development and employment programs across key markets. In addition, six regional nonprofits identified through MIT Solve’s Essential Innovation Challenge — including Bécalos, NavGurukul, NClude, Positiv, She Code Africa, and Urdu AI — are receiving funding to scale AI learning and human‑centric skills tailored to local needs.
S&P Global is also providing corporate funding for eight strategic collaborators, including AI For Good, Goodwall, IIT Hyderabad, Misk Foundation, National University of Singapore, Stanford Institute for Human‑Centered AI, and the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford. The UN Youth Office will serve as a global collaborator, leveraging its digital reach to over one million young people to raise awareness of future‑ready skills.
Leaders at S&P Global emphasized that StepForward combines global expertise with regional insights to create an ecosystem that delivers both scale and local relevance. The initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to AI adoption and workforce upskilling, building on programs such as EssentialTECH education, “AI for Everyone” employee training, and partnerships to enable skills‑based career mobility.
The S&P Global Foundation, operating independently as a charitable entity, administers grants exclusively to nonprofit organizations, while corporate‑funded contributions are managed directly by S&P Global. Together, these efforts aim to expand access, unlock opportunities, and ensure young people have the confidence and skills to thrive in rapidly changing labor markets.
