Hilton Global Foundation Invests $5.4 Million in Community and Workforce Initiatives Worldwide
Hilton Global Foundation (HGF), the philanthropic arm of Hilton, has announced a $5.4 million investment in 18 non-profit organisations across multiple regions. The funding supports initiatives to expand access to career opportunities, strengthen community resilience, and improve the sustainability of travel and tourism destinations.
This funding round represents HGF’s largest annual allocation to date and aligns with Travel with Purpose, Hilton’s strategy for generating positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes for people, communities, and destinations. The supported projects focus on workforce development, youth skills training, food security, waste reduction, and long-term community stability.
“This year’s grants demonstrate the value of collaboration,” said Katherine Lugar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Hilton, and President, Hilton Global Foundation.
“Working with our nonprofit partners allows us to extend access to education and employment, support destinations, and contribute to stronger communities.”
Global impact focus
The 2026 grantee portfolio is expected to:
Expand access to more than 170,000 learning and career opportunities
Provide daily drinking water access to over 12,000 people
Support the delivery of more than 400,000 meals to communities in need
Help prevent nearly 350,000 pounds of carbon emissions
Americas
In the Americas, HGF is supporting organizations that work to improve workforce access, housing stability, and social inclusion. These include initiatives with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to raise awareness of hospitality careers among young people, the International Youth Foundation in Mexico to provide job-readiness training, and Hospitality Hub in Memphis to support housing and employment opportunities for families experiencing homelessness. Additional grants help address food security, survivor economic mobility, hygiene access, and inclusive employment efforts.
Asia Pacific
Across the Asia Pacific, funding supports efforts in clean water access, disability inclusion, hospitality skills training, environmental protection, and youth workforce development. Grantees include Planet Water Foundation, Hands On Tokyo, Ocean Purpose Project in Singapore, STREETS International in Vietnam, the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Council in India, and World Wildlife Fund programmes focused on food waste reduction.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
In EMEA, HGF investments emphasize youth employment, food recovery, inclusive hiring, and vocational training. Supported organizations include The Felix Project in the UK, Fondation Marocaine de l’Éducation pour l’Emploi in Morocco, Mukuru Promotion Centre in Kenya, PizzAut in Italy, and the Türkiye Down Syndrome Association, among others. Through these partnerships, Hilton Global Foundation continues to support community-based solutions that connect people to skills, employment, and essential resources, while highlighting the role of hospitality in contributing to local economic and social development. Further details on the foundation’s work are available in the Hilton Global Foundation Impact Report.
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