Kyndryl Foundation Expands AI and Cyber Skills Grants to 13 Countries
April 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The Kyndryl Foundation announced its third-year global grant recipients on April 7, expanding its cybersecurity and AI skills training program to 13 countries with the addition of France and Mexico. The grants fund 14 nonprofit organizations delivering hands-on workforce development to more than 100,000 people worldwide.
Which Organizations Received Grants
The 2026 cohort spans four continents. In the United States, Girl Security received funding to expand cybersecurity training for young women. Generation: You Employed (UK), Czechitas (Czechia), and Laboratoria (Mexico) are delivering specialized AI and cybersecurity courses in their respective markets.
Junior Achievement Americas received grants covering Brazil and Costa Rica. The Data Security Council of India continues its cybersecurity training programs. Additional grantees operate in Japan, Spain, Canada, Poland, and Hungary.
The program focuses on populations traditionally underrepresented in technology careers, emphasizing job-readiness programs that combine technical training with mentoring and placement support.
Why Private AI Skills Funding Matters Now
The Kyndryl grants arrive at a moment when federal workforce development funding faces deep uncertainty. The Trump administration's FY2027 budget proposes shifting Career and Technical Education from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, while cutting many existing workforce programs.
"We are proud to help create more pathways for individuals to enter meaningful careers in cybersecurity and AI," said Una Pulizzi, Kyndryl Foundation President.
The cybersecurity workforce gap remains acute — industry estimates put the global shortfall at over 3.4 million professionals. AI skills demand is growing even faster, with employers across every sector seeking workers who can deploy and manage AI systems.
What This Signals for Grant Seekers
Nonprofits working in workforce development, digital inclusion, or technology education should take note of the growing corporate foundation investment in AI and cybersecurity skills. As federal workforce funding contracts, private foundations like Kyndryl, Google.org, and the Ballmer Group are expanding their footprint in this space.
Organizations seeking AI-focused workforce grants can discover additional opportunities through grantedai.com.
For a broader analysis of corporate philanthropy trends in AI workforce development, visit the Granted blog.