{"id":81438,"date":"2024-09-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?post_type=sf_press_release&p=81438"},"modified":"2024-09-16T05:47:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T12:47:18","slug":"ai-education-grants-dreamforce-24","status":"publish","type":"sf_press_release","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/press-releases\/2024\/09\/16\/ai-education-grants-dreamforce-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Salesforce Gives $23M to Education to Help the AI Generation Unlock Critical Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New grants will support high schools and middle schools in cities across the United States <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than $6 million will go toward AI education and literacy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marc and Lynne Benioff will donate an additional $3 million to schools in Hawai\u2019i<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 September 16, 2024 \u2013 <\/strong>Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the #1 AI CRM, ahead of the company’s annual Dreamforce<\/a> conference, today announced $23 million in new grants to U.S. school districts and global education nonprofits to equip students with the skills needed for future success. Salesforce\u2019s 12-year commitment to education has now reached $150 million in grants to schools across the country. And, Marc and Lynne Benioff will donate an additional $3 million to DonorsChoose<\/a> to support public education in Hawai\u2019i, building on two decades of philanthropic giving in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI<\/a> is transforming the way we work, but only 15% of workers<\/a> say that they have the education and training necessary to use AI effectively. The funding will provide students with career readiness opportunities and help them learn new skills \u2014 like AI and STEM \u2014 to prepare for the future, while providing educators with the latest technology in the classroom. The new grants will also support nonprofits that are helping widen access to AI training and increase pathways to meaningful careers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Together with our partners, Salesforce is helping give schools the tools they need to keep up with the pace of innovation and prepare students for an AI future to make sure that no one is left behind.<\/p>\nSuzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo succeed in today\u2019s workforce, people must build the skills to use technology effectively \u2013 and that starts in school,\u201d said Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce. \u201cTogether with our partners, Salesforce is helping give schools the tools they need to keep up with the pace of innovation and prepare students for an AI future to make sure that no one is left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce\u2019s ongoing commitment to public education  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The company is directing $13 million of this year’s grants to middle schools and high schools across the country, including San Francisco Public Schools<\/a>, Oakland Public Schools<\/a>, New York City Public Schools<\/a>, Chicago Public Schools<\/a>, and Indianapolis Public Schools<\/a>. The grants will support programs that increase STEM access, bring real-world work experiences into the classroom, and introduce AI literacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce has made the single largest investment from any private entity to San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) \u2013 and those communities are seeing the impact. At SFUSD, the number of female and underrepresented students of color taking Computer Science classes has doubled<\/a> in the last decade. And, OUSD educators reported increased demand for Computer Science coursework in high school as a result of middle school programming, with 65% of computer science middle school enrollment being Black or LatinX students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019m grateful for Salesforce\u2019s pursuit of equality through technology access and helping students and teachers be prepared for the AI future.<\/p>\nLondon Breed, Mayor of San Francisco<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmerging technologies like AI will continue to impact our schools, workplaces, and society,\u201d said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. \u201cNot only is San Francisco the AI capital of the world, we are a city that has long been committed to education and career development. I\u2019m grateful for Salesforce\u2019s pursuit of equality through technology access and helping students and teachers be prepared for the AI future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSalesforce\u2019s support of our schools has made a profound impact on San Francisco public school students, preparing them for an AI future by focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education,\u201d said Dr. Matt Wayne, Superintendent of SFUSD. \u201cWe are incredibly grateful for Salesforce\u2019s unwavering commitment to public education and the students of San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Agentforce is here.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Agentforce<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Introducing Agentforce 2.0: The Digital Labor Platform for Building a Limitless Workforce
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How an Advanced Reasoning Engine Is Powering the Next Generation of AI Agents<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Marc Benioff Weighs In On The AI-Powered Future<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How Agentforce Is Redefining Productivity and Customer Experience in the AI Era
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Accelerating AI education, skills, and literacy <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce will also grant $10 million to 14 nonprofits in the U.S, France, and Australia, with more than $6 million allocated to nonprofits focused specifically on AI skilling and literacy. These investments will help students explore career opportunities, foster AI education, and alleviate education inequities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations include AI4All<\/a>, aiEDU<\/a>, Aurora Education Foundation<\/a>, Boston Private Industry Council<\/a>, CareerVillage<\/a>, Code The Dream<\/a>, Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN)<\/a>, Enterprise For Youth<\/a>, Fast Forward<\/a>, Forum des images<\/a>, The Hidden Genius Project<\/a>, Launch Pathways or Launch: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All<\/a>, Re:Coded<\/a>, and Rivet School<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Salesforce also launched an AI accelerator<\/a> to multiply its impact by supporting nonprofits creating AI-powered tools and technology, nurturing ideas like Teacher Agents to assist teachers with administrative tasks, and Advisor Agents to help advisors personalize learning for their students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAI is rapidly transforming our world, and it’s crucial that we prepare all students to thrive in this new reality,” said Alex Kotran, Co-Founder and CEO at aiEDU. “With Salesforce’s support, we can advance AI literacy and readiness across the education system, ensuring every student has the opportunity to develop the enduring skills needed for success in an AI-driven future. Together, we’re not just teaching about AI tools; we’re empowering a generation to become informed creators, consumers, and citizens in a world where AI is everywhere.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marc and Lynne Benioff\u2019s Commitment to Education in Hawai\u2019i<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Marc and Lynne Benioff will donate $3 million in matching funds to DonorsChoose<\/a> to support teachers and students in Hawai\u2019i. This funding will help provide mental health resources for teachers, classroom supply needs for students with disabilities, care and hunger supplies, and STEM education resources. This builds on a two-decade-long commitment by the Benioffs to giving philanthropically<\/a> in Hawai\u2019i, totalling more than $250 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n