15 more nonprofits join Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator, working with employers to tackle the U.S. skills gap

The Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education) has announced the 15 nonprofits selected to join the 2026 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator, an annual program that brings together youth-serving nonprofits and business leaders to prepare young people for the future of work.

The Accelerator connects employers with a national network of 58 youth-serving organizations across 24 states, to shape pathways from training into employment, collectively reaching more than 250,000 young people.

Right now, one in five young Americans is not in school or work. At the same time, employers are struggling to find the skills they need. As artificial intelligence reshapes the labor market, this skills gap is set to widen.

Through the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator, the private sector joins youth-serving nonprofits to strengthen and scale their programs, while helping co-create pathways to fill critical job vacancies.

This year, business leaders from across industries will join Dell Technologies and Stellantis at the Leadership Lab – a three-day, in-person working session in New York City where nonprofit and business leaders will come together to explore workforce challenges, share perspectives and develop practical plans.

Alongside the all-expenses–paid Leadership Lab, the latest cohort will benefit from: 

• Ongoing learning and development sessions and one-to-one coaching 
• Reimbursement for teams to attend relevant industry events 
• Access to the Accelerator Toolkit, including resources, pro-bono tools and two Dell AI PCs per organization 

McKinsey.org, Atlassian, Tata Consultancy Services, and others will support participants with offerings that may include digital tools, pro-bono services and more to help organizations build capacity and scale their impact. 

Meet the 2026 cohort 

The 15 nonprofits chosen for this year’s Accelerator are: 

• NPower Inc, Dayton, Ohio: offers tuition-free, virtual-led IT training to young adults (18–26)  
• Future Plans, Newbury, Ohio: transforming opportunities for first-generation college students  
• Dress for Success Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona: empowers young people to achieve long-term financial wellness and economic independence by providing a network of support and professional attire  
• The Skills center, Inc, Tampa, Florida: utilizing the power of sports to level the playing field in education, health, and workforce training 
• Merit America, Washington DC, Columbia: combines high-quality workforce training for in-demand fields with personalized career coaching and professional development 
• Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida: builds a bridge between education, business and philanthropy to ensure every child in Duval County, Florida, graduates prepared for success 
• Better Youth, Inc, Los Angeles, California: provide access, equity and validation to foster and system-impacted youth creatives ages 16-24 through media arts programming 
• FilmNorth, Saint Paul, Minnesota: dedicated to empowering youth through media arts education and career development in the entertainment industry 
• Diversity Cyber Council, Houston, Texas: unites people, processes, and technology to build a more representative workforce in cybersecurity 
• Bronx Tech Hub, Bronx, New York: focuses on workforce development, skills training, entrepreneurship and continuing education, aiming to empower local residents with technology and business skills 
• The SoLa Foundation, Los Angeles, California: works to end intergenerational poverty in under-invested and under-resourced communities of Los Angeles by preparing hundreds young people for careers in technology, media, and other high-growth industries 
• National AHEC Organization (NAO), Alachua, Florida: prepares healthcare students to serve effectively in rural and underserved communities 
• Maydm, Madison, Washington: provides girls and youth of color in grades 6 -12 with the skills, experiences and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM 
• African American Youth Harvest Foundation, Austin, Texas: initiatives include STEM education in cutting-edge fields like robotics, coding, and engineering mentoring; social-emotional learning; and wraparound services tailored to meet the needs of youth from diverse backgrounds 

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

For media inquiries, contact:  

Darika Ahrens  
Director of Communications  
Darika@theirworld.org  
+447960528480

About the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator 

The Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator is a national network and leadership program that supports youth-serving organizations through training and capacity building – working alongside the private sector – to shape pathways to employment. 

Each year, a cohort of leaders from youth-serving organizations is selected to take part in the Accelerator. They focus on strengthening their organizations and improving how their programs move young people from training into employment, informed by real-world insight and expertise from employers. 

About Stellantis  

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is a leading global automaker, dedicated to giving its customers the freedom to choose the way they move, embracing the latest technologies and creating value for all its stakeholders. Its unique portfolio of iconic and innovative brands includes Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com 

About the Global Business Coalition for Education 

Theirworld’s Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC- Education) is a movement of businesses committed to ending the global education crisis and unleashing the potential of future generations. 

Established in 2012 by the global children’s charity Theirworld, GBC-Education is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leverages the collective power of business, government, NGOs, and today’s youth to achieve the goal of education and opportunity for all.