Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI), a leading workforce readiness nonprofit that has helped more than 20,000 young people launch professional careers around the world, has received a 2026 Data for Good grant from the Nielsen Foundation to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for its new AI Fluency Certification Program.
The grant will help GMI build the data and evaluation infrastructure needed to measure program outcomes, learn from participant experiences, and continuously improve AI career readiness training for first-generation, low income and refugee students navigating evolving employer expectations. The initiative will reach 2,500 students across 10 countries, with 750 students in its first year alone.
While GMI’s Career Readiness Program already incorporates AI fluency into its curriculum, graduates have identified a growing need for more structured, personalized guidance. Faced with a rapidly expanding landscape of AI tools and training resources, early-career professionals often struggle to determine which tools to use, how to apply them effectively, and how to demonstrate their skills to prospective employers.
GMI’s six-module AI Fluency Certification Program is designed to address these challenges through a credentialed, cohort-based learning experience. Groups of ten students will work with an AI expert facilitator to develop practical skills, complete a capstone project, and earn a credential that employers can verify. The pilot will test both virtual and in-classroom delivery formats through in-country cohorts, helping GMI understand how learning approaches perform across different contexts and career readiness needs.
“AI is changing what employers expect from new graduates, and students from underserved communities need guidance on how to use AI tools well and how to adapt as jobs continue to change,” said Jon Browning, Founder and CEO of GMI. “This certification pairs practical AI training with a mentor, so graduates show up to interviews with the skills and the confidence to compete. We’re grateful to the Nielsen Foundation for investing in these young professionals.”
The Nielsen Foundation’s support will fund the monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities that enable GMI to assess the program’s effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and apply evidence to future program decisions. By strengthening its use of data beyond basic program monitoring, GMI aims to build a stronger understanding of how AI fluency training can expand access to employment opportunities for students who may otherwise lack access to emerging technology resources.
As AI continues to reshape industries and career pathways, GMI’s support from the Nielsen Family Foundation for its AI Fluency Certification Program represents an important step toward helping students develop practical, demonstrable skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
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About Global Mentorship Initiative
Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) is a workforce readiness organization dedicated to ensuring that talented young people are not left behind in a rapidly evolving economy. Founded by Jon Browning in 2019, GMI provides mentorship-driven career readiness programs that connect students and young professionals with global networks, professional guidance, and employer-aligned training. Today, the Bellevue, Washington based nonprofit serves participants across more than 150 countries and eight refugee camps, helping graduates develop the confidence, skills, and connections needed to succeed in the workforce. Through its new AI Fluency Certification Program, GMI is expanding that mission to ensure talent, not privilege, determines who succeeds in the AI economy
Learn more at www.globalmentorship.org.
About the Nielsen Foundation
The Nielsen Foundation is a private foundation originally funded by Nielsen, a global data and analytics company. The Foundation envisions a world, enabled by media and technology, where everyone has a voice and opportunities to succeed. The Foundation’s mission is to power and advance inclusive innovation in the media and technology industries, especially through the use of data and research. Through the Data for Good grants program, the Nielsen Foundation supports projects that use data in innovative ways and help bridge divides to catalyze long-term change.
Learn more at nielsen-foundation.org.
