The Truist Foundation Inspire Awards

Truist Foundation has launched its fourth Inspire Awards, a capacity-building grant program for nonprofit organizations across the markets Truist serves. This year’s challenge aligns to Truist Foundation’s focus on creating career pathways to economic mobility and aims to upskill adult workers navigating rapid technological change in the new era of artificial intelligence (AI).

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Transcript

00:00:03:10 - 00:00:32:13

Speaker 1

Hi, my name is Lynette Bell, and I serve as Head of Philanthropy and President of Truist Foundation at Truist. Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities. And at Truist Foundation, we bring that to life by focusing on two key areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. We know that for many adults, navigating career changes along fast-paced technological advances can be challenging, but also full of possibility.

00:00:32:14 - 00:00:57:23

Speaker 1

That's why Truist Foundation is proud to collaborate with MIT Solve to launch this year's Inspire Award challenge. We're looking for nonprofit solutions delivering innovative direct services, training programs and career navigation support for adult workers in the age of AI, helping individuals gain the skills, guidance and support needed to access those quality jobs, advance in their careers, and build long-term stability

00:00:57:23 - 00:01:20:22

Speaker 1

In an evolving world of work, we are bringing together partners across sectors to strengthen workforce solutions that guide individuals toward the right opportunities through career navigation. If you're a nonprofit doing this kind of work in a community we serve, we encourage you to apply and share your innovative solution. Visit MIT Solve at the link below to learn more.

Big Ideas. Big Impact.

This year’s Inspire Awards seeks nonprofits supporting the career navigation and workforce development needs of workers across the United States. The challenge seeks applications that help individuals gain the skills, guidance, and support needed to access quality jobs, advance in their careers, and build long-term stability in an evolving world of work.

Focus on career navigation opportunities

Teams should demonstrate how their career pathways programming align with the following dimensions:

Training and Upskilling Programs – Providing holistic, accessible programming that equips workers with essential skills, industry-validated credentials, and technical literacy for the modern workplace.
AI Readiness and Literacy – Offering high-quality training that helps workers understand generative AI and agentic technologies as augmented intelligence tools, helping to build practical skills like effective prompting, domain expertise application, and ethical use.
Additional Wraparound Services and Basic Needs Support – Supporting unemployed and underemployed workers on their journey to economic mobility through comprehensive, integrated resources including childcare, transportation support, mentorship, mental health services, benefits navigation, and more.
Career Navigation in the AI Economy – Enabling workers to navigate career choices with clarity and confidence by providing accessible information about how AI is reshaping job roles and industries, facilitating informed decisions about high-quality career trajectories that align with individual circumstances, and connecting workers to industry-validated credentials or trainings.

Building a program of opportunity

The six finalists will take part in a six-month wraparound support and development program to help transform their groundbreaking ideas into tangible solutions. The program includes:

A comprehensive needs assessment to determine what resources and support will most likely accelerate impact,
Access to a network of resource partners, mentors, and coaches across industries and sectors,
Learning and development modules aimed at refining the business model, theory of change, and plans for scaling,
A peer-to-peer network to build a community with dedicated spaces to convene during the support program,
A two-day Truist Leadership Institute retreat,
Workshops focused on helping finalists prepare for the presentation and awards event, and
An invitation to participate in the annual flagship Solve at MIT event, held in May each year.

Here’s a look at the timeline:

June 10, 2026: Challenge opens
August 7, 2026: Deadline for applicants to submit a solution
October 14-21: Semifinalists announced
November 9-10: Semifinalists invited for interview session with Truist Foundation and advisory council members
December 2026: Finalists announced
December 2026 – June 2027: Finalist support program

The Truist Foundation Inspire Awards

Big Ideas. Big Impact.

Focus on career navigation opportunities

Building a program of opportunity

Here’s a look at the timeline:

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