MCLEAN, Va. – Yesterday, the Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s primary philanthropic arm, announced a commitment to grant a record $3.3 million in funding toward 13 organizations that are supporting career development, community resilience and environmental sustainability. The announcement also marks Travel with Purpose Week, Hilton’s annual global week of service for its more than 450,000 team members around the world.

Through funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation, this year’s grantees are estimated to meaningfully impact more than 50,000 community members, provide nutritious food to more than 25,000 people, divert more than 450,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, preserve more than 150 acres of land and support more than 20,000 learning and career growth opportunities. This positive impact supports Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy and efforts to create five million learning and career growth opportunities while meaningfully impacting 20 million community members by 2030.

The Hilton Global Foundation was created based on the belief that travel can be a powerful force for good. This year, we’re proud to commit over $3 million, our biggest contribution to date, towards grantees who are driving efforts that make communities better for those who live, work and travel there. The 2023 Hilton Global Foundation grant recipients have shown the positive impact that people and organizations can have when they work together. Understanding the importance of building a sustainable future, the Hilton Global Foundation is proud to support organizations doing great work in our communities, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will continue to make. Katherine Lugar, president, Hilton Global Foundation

The Hilton Global Foundation was founded in 2019 on the belief that it can create a better world to travel by partnering with people and organizations that foster positive change. Grant funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation will support various organizations that benefit the environmental sustainability of travel destinations, support the career development of youth and other underrepresented groups and fund projects that support the resilience of vulnerable communities around the world.

This year’s grantees include:

Career Development: Organizations and initiatives developing hospitality training, skill building or career opportunities with a specific focus on youth and other underrepresented groups:

DC Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training Program

  • (United States) supports nearly 200,000 struggling Houstonians by redirecting surplus perishable food from over 400 food donors through 140 nonprofit community partners. The Hilton Global Foundation will help Second Servings nourish low-income families, seniors, the disabled and veterans while increasing their transportation capacity, allowing them to rescue an additional 400,000 pounds of food annually and identify 20 new community partner sites.
  • (Indonesia) enhances rainforest protection, responsible ecotourism and ecological economic opportunities in the region of Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica, which is home to over two percent of the world’s biodiversity. Funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation will allow BioSur Foundation to expand and preserve the vital ecosystems, springs and wildlife in the Rio Neuvo Nature Reserve.

Environmental Sustainability: Organizations and initiatives reducing waste, increasing access to clean water and advancing Hilton’s destination stewardship goals to preserve and conserve travel destinations:

Whakatipu Reforestation Trust

  • (Costa Rica) BioSur Foundation enhances rainforest protection, responsible ecotourism and ecological economic opportunities in the region of Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica, which is home to over two percent of the world’s biodiversity. Funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation will allow BioSur Foundation to expand and preserve the vital ecosystems, springs and wildlife in the Rio Neuvo Nature Reserve.
  • (Asia) World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, including by conserving and restoring biodiversity. Through funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation, WWF will support biodiversity efforts in key landscapes in Asia.
  • (New Zealand) Whakatipu Reforestation Trust works to restore the native biodiversity of the Whakatipu Basin in New Zealand. Through support from the Hilton Global Foundation, the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust will restore 20 acres of the reserve with 22,000 indigenous trees and shrubs, preserving and conserving the unique local ecosystem and biodiversity that call the basin home.

In addition to the annual grants distributed by the Hilton Global Foundation, microgrants are being distributed to local organizations nominated by Hilton team members from Hilton’s nearly 7,300 properties around the world. This funding will go towards organizing volunteer efforts in communities that are home to Hilton properties.

The announcement corresponds with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose Week, an annual week of service across Hilton’s global corporate, managed and franchised locations. Travel with Purpose Week is dedicated to supporting Hilton’s Travel with Purpose Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and the Hilton Global Foundation, while celebrating the positive impact created by more than 450,000 Hilton team members around the world.

To learn more about the Hilton Global Foundation and this year’s grantees, please visit hiltonglobalfoundation.hilton.com.

About Hilton Global Foundation

The Hilton Global Foundation is Hilton’s primary philanthropic arm. The Foundation is a nonprofit established in the U.S. and is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Foundation awards grants, in alignment with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, that have a positive impact on travel destinations around the world. Foundation grants are awarded throughout the year in accordance with tax and legal requirements. Learn more about the Hilton Global Foundation at HiltonGlobalFoundation.hilton.com. 

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,800 properties and more than 1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2021 World's Best Workplaces list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. In 2021, in addition to opening more than one hotel a day, Hilton introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the nearly 128 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.