Hilton Global Foundation Unveils Record $5.3 Million Commitment Towards Organizations Championing People and Planet
Funding will support 16 nonprofits creating career development and job opportunities, addressing food insecurity, strengthening local biodiversity efforts and uplifting communities around the world
MCLEAN, Va. – In a major step towards its mission to create a better world for travel, the Hilton Global Foundation announced today a record $5.3 million commitment towards 16 nonprofit organizations working to combat poverty, foster career development opportunities and protect the destinations where we live, work, and travel.
The Hilton Global Foundation aims to make a positive social and environmental difference for communities, ensure a sustainable future for generations to come and supercharge Hilton’s progress towards its 2030 Travel with Purpose goals. Since its launch in 2019, funding from the Hilton Global Foundation has provided more than 220,000 people with access to clean water, donated more than 18 million pounds of food to communities in need and created nearly 113,000 learning and career growth opportunities.
Conrad Hilton believed travel could be a force for good, and we’ve been committed to fulfilling this Purpose for more than 105 years. Now more than ever, our communities need meaningful positive impact, and the Hilton Global Foundation is proud to be supporting these remarkable 16 grantees with the largest ever donation in our history,
said Katherine Lugar, EVP, corporate affairs, Hilton and president, Hilton Global Foundation. Together, we are working to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges, and we look forward to making a positive impact and ultimately a better world for travel.
The Hilton Global Foundation’s annual grant process allocates funds to organizations that support its primary funding pillars of environmental sustainability, career development and community resilience. Learn more about this year’s Hilton Global Foundation grantees and the impact the foundation is expected to have on their missions:
Career Development
The Hilton Global Foundation is dedicated to creating an engine of opportunity in our communities by supporting projects that create training, skill building, and career opportunities for all within the hospitality industry.
SPOTLIGHT: International Youth Foundation (Mexico City, Mexico)
Hilton has been partnering with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) since 2012, supporting its global efforts to connect young people with opportunities to transform their lives through training, skill-building workshops and career opportunities.
In 2023, the Hilton Global Foundation began working with IYF’s JuventudES program, which helps vulnerable young adults ages 16-29 gain vital job skills and employment. By focusing on the development of practical skills and facilitating connections with potential employers, the program aims to empower youth to build sustainable careers in Mexico City.
Funding from the Hilton Global Foundation will go towards supporting more than 260 of its youth members and graduates. By providing training and support services for them, at least 50 percent of those who complete the program will be newly employed or will have attained improved employment in the hospitality or tourism industries. In addition to the grant from the Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton properties and team members around the world volunteer their time to empower youth through IYF’s programs and initiatives.
At IYF, we are proud to continue partnering with the Hilton Global Foundation to empower young people in Mexico City through the JuventudES program. With the Foundation’s generous support, we are able to equip vulnerable youth with the skills and opportunities they need to build sustainable careers. Together, we are creating pathways for economic mobility and brighter futures for these young individuals. Christina Sass, President and CEO, IYF
- (London, England) Only A Pavement Away empowers individuals facing homelessness including veterans and prison leavers by offering training, career development and financial support to overcome barriers to employment. Funding from the Hilton Global Foundation will place 300 people into hospitality jobs and provide 900 individuals with access to employment opportunities through employability events and learning and development programs.
- (Istanbul, Türkiye) Türkiye Down Syndrome Association’s Hospitality Career Development Project will provide job coaching and training to individuals with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, allowing them to gain the skills to be active participants in the growing hospitality industry in Türkiye.
- (Madrid, Spain) Fundacion Tomillo empowers young people by developing essential skills for employment in the hospitality sector. With support from the Hilton Global Foundation, the Campus Tomillo Hospitality Project will provide tailored training pathways, connecting disadvantaged youth with job opportunities and preparing them for successful careers in hospitality.
- (Lagos, Nigeria) Wavecrest College of Hospitality will use the support from the Hilton Global Foundation to empower young girls in Nigeria by providing technical and vocational training for careers in the hospitality industry.
- (Da Nang, Vietnam) STREETS International supports vulnerable youth in Vietnam, including orphans and trafficked individuals, by offering residential training programs in hospitality and tourism. With funding from the Hilton Global Foundation, nearly 100 deserving youths will have the opportunity to participate in this transformative program over the next three years, equipping them with valuable skills.
- (Tokyo, Japan) Hands on Tokyo provides Life Skills Programs for youths with developmental and intellectual challenges. Through their ‘LIVES KITCHEN’ food truck, supported by the Hilton Global Foundation, participants will gain essential skills and work experience in the culinary sector, helping them build a path to greater independence. For youths with physical and visual impairments, the program will also offer professional coaching, English presentation skills, and mock interviews to help participants build self-esteem and confidence. These activities aim to empower them to pursue higher career opportunities, including roles in the hospitality industry.
Environmental Sustainability
The Hilton Global Foundation supports projects that reduce waste, increase access to clean water in our communities, and protect the biodiversity in the destinations and communities we serve, ensuring the destinations where we operate remain beautiful for the next generation of travelers.
SPOTLIGHT: Scholars of Sustenance (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Scholars of Sustenance (SoS) Indonesia is a food rescue organization dedicated to fighting hunger and food waste by redistributing surplus food to vulnerable communities in Bali and Jakarta, including low-income villages, orphanages, and organizations supporting the elderly and disabled.
Funds provided by the Hilton Global Foundation will support the aims of SoS Indonesia to distribute more than 1.9 million kilograms of food to 4.72 million people. SoS Indonesia's efforts not only improve nutrition for marginalized groups but also lower greenhouse gas emissions, making a positive environmental impact. The funds raised will expand their operations, employ more staff and increase their capacity to deliver meals to those in need.
Our partnership with Hilton has enabled us to further scale our efforts in rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to the most vulnerable communities in Jakarta and Bali. Together, we are not only reducing food waste but also contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future.Bo H. Holmgreen, Founder and CEO, Scholars of Sustenance
- (Florida Keys, Florida, U.S.) National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys initiative, in partnership with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, empowers visitors and local residents to protect the region's marine environment, promoting sustainable travel and regenerative tourism. With support from the Hilton Global Foundation, 73 dive trips totaling 5,250 hours of divers' time will remove harmful marine debris from coral reef and seagrass habitats, engaging approximately 1,000 annual visitors and locals in preserving the health of this vital ecosystem.
- (Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica) BioSur Foundation works to protect Costa Rica's rainforests and address critical challenges like climate change and wildlife preservation. BioSur will expand the Rio Nuevo Natural Reserve and promote responsible ecotourism, fostering community involvement in conservation efforts with the help of the funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation.
- (Asia Pacific Region) World Wildlife Fund will build on a previous grant from the Hilton Global Foundation to collaborate with stakeholders on projects that focus on conserving and restoring biodiversity across vital landscapes in the Asia Pacific region..
Community Resilience
The Hilton Global Foundation also supports organizations that manage local initiatives, disaster recovery efforts, and create economic opportunities in their communities, including identifying partnerships that enhance responsible business practices and human rights initiatives.
SPOTLIGHT: DC Central Kitchen (Washington, D.C., U.S.)
Hilton has partnered with DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) for more than a decade, supporting volunteer activities, culinary education, and food recovery efforts. DCCK is working to transform the fight against hunger by addressing poverty at its core through job training and job creation. Their innovative social enterprises and programming not only provides thousands of daily meals and access to healthy food options in food-insecure communities but also creates pathways to employment. Over the past three decades, their Culinary Job Training program has equipped more than 2,300 adults and young people who have faced incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and trauma, with vital technical and soft skills necessary to build rewarding careers in the hospitality industry. With support from the Hilton Global Foundation, DCCK will be able to support the development of the culinary careers and professional development of up to 60 more students through this unmatched program.
Hilton’s partnership with DCCK is rooted in a shared mission to uplift local communities and leave a positive impact on communities around the world. With continued funding, DCCK is able to meet the growing needs of its community, expand their workforce development program to serve 250 people annually, and increase daily meal production to 25,000 by the end of 2025.
Together, Hilton Global Foundation and DC Central Kitchen are expanding access to hospitality careers and nutritious food in Washington, DC, delivering measurable results on the ground through philanthropy and volunteerism, and tapping the skills and expertise of Hilton to empower future culinarians to achieve their potential. Now that is a win-win-win scenario. Mike Curtin Jr., CEO, DC Central Kitchen
- (Houston, Texas, U.S.) Second Servings of Houston will use the funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation to expand their efforts to combat food insecurity, increasing food assistance sites from 40 to 60 per month, providing for an additional 50,000 people each year.
- (Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.) Clean Memphis fosters a cleaner and greener Memphis through rescuing surplus restaurant food and tackling food insecurity. Funding from the Hilton Global Foundation will allow Clean Memphis to expand its food donation efforts by partnering with local area hotels, further reducing food waste and combating food insecurity in Memphis and Shelby County.
- (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Kechara Soup Kitchen serves marginalized communities in Malaysia. Funding provided by the Hilton Global Foundation will allow Kechara Soup Kitchen to continue to support more than 700 families who are vulnerable to homelessness and support them in their transition into economic recovery.
SPOTLIGHT: The Felix Project (London, England)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, team members from Hilton London Metropole, Hilton’s largest hotel outside of the U.S., extended their hospitality beyond the walls of their hotel by partnering with The Felix Project, a London-based food redistribution charity. Team members provided over 12,000 meals to vulnerable communities in London like the homeless, children dependent on free school meals, the elderly, and those living in isolation. Since then, Hilton has continued to support, providing a further 40,000 meals to those in need.
The Felix Project rescues surplus food from restaurants, supermarkets, and large-scale food wholesalers to deliver it to over 1,000 community organizations and schools across the city—ensuring that food reaches those who need it most. In 2023, The Felix Project distributed the equivalent of 32 million meals, half of which reached those living in some of London’s most deprived areas. With further financial support, The Felix Project aims to rescue over 215 tons of surplus food, preventing it from becoming waste and turning it into more than 513,000 meal equivalents. These efforts also contribute to reducing waste’s environmental footprint, avoiding the release of 165 tons of CO2e.
We are extremely proud to partner with Hilton and very thankful for the financial support from the Hilton Global Foundation. This donation will enable us to provide over 500,000 meals to the people of London who need it the most. The Hilton team are a breath of fresh air to work with and their multi-pronged approach of donating food, funds and staff time to volunteer will have a huge impact on our communities. I cannot wait to see the growth of this partnership in years to come! Emma Burns, Corporate Partnerships Manager, The Felix Project
In addition to the annual grants distributed by the Hilton Global Foundation, microgrants are being distributed to 100 local organizations nominated by Hilton hotel-based and corporate team members. These funds will be used to support volunteer efforts in communities that are home to Hilton properties around the world.
These announcements coincide with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose Week, an annual week of volunteerism for its nearly half a million team members around the globe.
To read more about the Hilton Global Foundation and this year’s grantees, please visit hiltonglobalfoundation.hilton.com or visit the Hilton Global Foundation 2023 Impact Report.
