Genesys Works lands $4M Ballmer Group grant for AI-era career training
What's the deal? Genesys WorksDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a national nonprofit that places high school students in paid internships, has received a $4 million grant from Ballmer GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The money will fund its growth through 2030 as it prepares students for a workplace being reshaped by AI.
What's the endgame? Genesys Works runs paid, yearlong internships with employers including Accenture, Kirkland & EllisDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Mayo ClinicDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and TargetDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Students take on real responsibilities and build professional networks before graduating, while employers gain early access to talent.
What's the money for? The grant will fund new approaches to program delivery and curriculum updates to meet employers' changing needs. It also kicks off a fundraising campaign tied to the nonprofit's 25th anniversary in 2027.
Why now? A September 2026 report from the National Association of State Boards of Education found that as many as three in four Gen Z high school students feel unprepared for life after graduation. About a third of teachers agree their students are not ready.
In 2026 performance reviews, supervisors said interns built AI tools their teams use daily. At one global medical technology company, a supervisor credited an intern with identifying up to $100,000 in savings by reviewing duplicate tools and spending.
What they're saying: "Young people shouldn't have to make decisions about their future without meaningful, hands-on experiences to inform their next steps," said chief executive officer Byron V. Garrett. He added the grant will help make such opportunities "part of how more students prepare for careers."
The signal: The grant follows a $1 million Salesforce grant in April, pointing to continued backing from major corporate and philanthropic funders. As entry-level roles shift under AI, youth workforce funders are increasingly targeting digital skills — echoed by the Citi Foundation's $25 million global challenge to prepare low-income young people for an AI-shaped economy.
Read more: third-news.com
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