Philanthropy
Our commitment to community
GE Vernova’s philanthropy reflects a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities where our employees live and work. We are bringing the energy to change the world—from our newly formed foundation, our company and our employees. Our resources are channeled into initiatives focused on championing the global workforce needed for the energy transition as well as building stronger and more resilient communities.
These efforts are a key element of how GE Vernova will animate the company's sustainability framework which includes four pillars: electrify, decarbonize, conserve, and thrive.
GE Vernova volunteers participate in a local rubbish clean-up at the Cherbourg Plant in France.
Image credit: GE Vernova
The GE Vernova Foundation
Building on the 100+ year legacy of the GE Foundation, the GE Vernova Foundation was launched on Earth Day 2024, shortly after GE Vernova spun-off from GE as a standalone company. The newly created GE Vernova Foundation, a charitable organization funded by GE Vernova, is committed to putting our purpose – The Energy to Change the World – into practice across the global communities where we live and work.
We also launched the GE Vernova Foundation with a focus on building the skilled workforce needed to drive the energy transition forward, while supporting stronger and more resilient global communities.
our focus areas
Building the future workforce
Within the next decade, one of the greatest challenges for the energy sector will be the increasing demand for skilled workers. To address this growing global skills gap, it is critical to invest in both the future and current workforce. Encouraging young people to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), skilled trades, and manufacturing careers is vital to helping bridge the global skills gap to ensure a sustainable energy future. Similarly, providing reskilling and upskilling training to the current workforce helps ensure no worker is left behind.
GE Vernova Fellows
GE Vernova Fellows is an endowed scholarship program inspiring more students to pursue renewable energy careers and building workforce capacity in offshore wind. Funding supports exploration programs for middle and high-school students, scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and an offshore wind training and certification program to upskill the incumbent workforce with a focus on skilled trades and technicians. The program awards up to $150,000 in scholarships annually.
Next Engineers
Next Engineers is a global college and career-readiness program providing students, ages 13 to 18, with first-hand experiences in engineering concepts and careers. Funded by the GE Foundation in 2021, the program awards partial scholarships to pursue higher education in engineering or engineering apprenticeships, and is supported by GE Vernova volunteer teams in Greenville, South Carolina; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Staffordshire, UK. In those three cities, Next Engineers has reached more than 16,500 students since its inception.
RENEW Skills Vietnam
The RENEW Skills program, launched in November 2024, is a three-year skilling and upskilling program with the goal of addressing the skilled labor needs across Vietnam’s energy industry. The RENEW Skills program focuses on both the current workforce and the future generations of university and technical vocational college students, by providing access to new curricula and practical training focused on wind energy technology operations and maintenance, grid integration, and workplace safety.
As Vietnam works to meet its 2050 Net Zero commitment, skilled workers and technicians will play a vital role in building a sustainable energy future. And because of that, and in alignment with the Just Energy Transition Partnership agreement announced in 2022, the GE Vernova Foundation recognizes the importance of investing in new training and educational programs and drive awareness of these critical careers as Vietnam implements its Resource Mobilization Plan.
GE Vernova Future of Energy Scholarship
Students pursuing skilled trades training often encounter significant financial barriers that can impede their ability to complete their education. Unlike traditional academic paths, skilled trades programs may require specialized tools, equipment and materials, which can be costly for students. Additionally, these programs often have fewer scholarship and financial aid opportunities available compared to conventional college courses, leaving students to rely more heavily on personal or family resources. These financial challenges can lead to increased dropout rates or delayed program completion, ultimately affecting the availability of skilled workers in critical industries such as manufacturing and energy.
In collaboration with the Atlanta-based SkillPointe Foundation, the GE Vernova Future of Energy SkillPointe scholarship aims to address these financial barriers by offering 100 scholarships to support students in achieving their educational and career goals in the skilled trades. The program has launched in five U.S. locations – all home to GE Vernova facilities – Charleroi, PA; Greenville, SC; Houston, TX; Schenectady, NY; and Pensacola, FL.
Massachusetts Technical Skills Development
GE Vernova is proud to have its global headquarters based in Massachusetts, and through robust partnerships and local community investments, we are committed to ensuring that both the current and future workforce are equipped with the necessary skills to support the burgeoning energy industry. In partnership with the Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet, GE Vernova Foundation launched a two-year skills program with the aim of supporting technology and instructional lab spaces at Career Technical Institutes across the state to bolster the workforce training programs, with a focus on skilled trades.
GE Vernova STAR Scholarships
The GE Vernova STAR Scholarship program recognizes employees, celebrates their children’s achievements, and helps defray the cost of post-secondary education by providing competitive scholarships. The program awards students based on their academic record, extracurricular activities and community service, and experiences and goals. Since 2023, nearly $400,000 has been awarded, recognizing more than 100 students from over 20 countries.
Growing stronger, more resilient communities
We believe supporting communities enhances social responsibility, fosters sustainable development, and promotes connectedness which, in turn, contributes to a more prosperous and equitable world for all. Programs supporting our employee workforce and the communities where we live and work continue to be a crucial component of the GE Vernova Foundation.
Matching Gifts
The GE Vernova Foundation provides a year-round matching gifts program to support global employees in their personal philanthropy and charitable giving. Having created the concept of a corporate matching gift program in 1954, the GE Vernova Foundation is building upon the GE Foundation’s legacy by providing a match.
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
This relief program responds to global disasters and humanitarian crises, drawing on our people, technology, and foundation resources to reduce suffering and hasten recovery. In 2024, the GE Foundation committed $1,000,000 in relief aid to those impacted by global disasters. Grants were funded to CARE to support those affected by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam, the country’s strongest typhoon in three decades, and Storm Boris, which caused extensive flooding in central Europe. Grants were also issued to the American Red Cross and Team Rubicon to aid recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton which devastated large areas across the southeast United States, and to the Spanish Red Cross to help recovery efforts in Spain following severe flooding in the province of Valencia.
Community Giving
GE Vernova’s community giving reflects company charitable donations, as well as contributions employees make in support of their local site fundraising campaigns. Through strategic community investments aligned with our focus areas and the generosity of our employees, we are proud to reach thousands of non-profits in dozens of countries around the globe.
United Way
GE had a long-standing relationship with local United Way organizations and many GE Vernova locations in North America have chosen to continue this tradition. These collaborations allow GE Vernova to make meaningful impact through the local United Way’s extensive network and expertise, ensuring contributions are effectively directed to areas of greatest need.
Employee Engagement
GE Vernova’s volunteers include employees, Employee Resource Groups, friends and family members who are passionate about improving the communities where our employees live and work. These volunteers put a single face on GE Vernova’s volunteer activities, donating more than 23,000 volunteer hours in 20+ countries around the world. These efforts not only benefit the community, they also provide personal and professional development for our volunteers and project leaders.
Earth Week
During Earth Week, GE Vernova demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement by mobilizing a global week of service. This initiative unites employees across various locations to participate in activities that promote sustainability and environmental awareness. From local clean-up efforts to educational workshops on renewable energy, the week is filled with opportunities for employees to contribute to the planet's well-being. By engaging in these activities, GE Vernova not only reinforces its dedication to sustainable practices but also fosters a culture of corporate social responsibility. This collective effort not only strengthens community bonds but also aligns with GE Vernova's mission to create a stronger, more sustainable future.
2024 Global Impact: 5,800 employees donated nearly 12,000 hours to volunteer projects and other activities.
STEAM Girls Camps
Building on a decade legacy under GE, the GE Vernova’s Women’s Network has proudly continued STEAM Girls, an immersive camp experience offered at several GE Vernova sites worldwide. This free camp for middle school girls aims to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Participants engage in hands-on, STEM-based learning experiences, follow a dynamic curriculum that includes physics, technology, construction, math, computer science, electronics, and chemistry, and gain insights specific to the local GE Vernova business. In 2024, the program reached over 360 students across 16 camps in 4 countries. This camp's success is made possible by dedicated GE Vernova employees who volunteer countless hours each year to bring it to life.
Announcements
For more news on the Philanthropy at GE Vernova, visit our news room.
Disclaimer
To ensure GE Vernova’s philanthropy has the greatest impact, our team collaborates with experts and organizations on focused initiatives aligned with our mission that benefit our communities as well as the broader global community. Please note that we do not accept unsolicited proposals. Inquiries can be directed to GEVernova.Philanthropy@gevernova.com.
On April 2, 2024, GE Vernova completed its spin-off from GE, to become an independent, publicly traded company. These statistics for “GE Vernova” in 2023 correspond to the data from businesses which became wholly owned subsidiaries of GE Vernova following the spin-off as well as their employees.