In a large, diverse and sometimes divided world, moving the needle towards progress and social good can seem, at times, daunting and difficult. At the Ares Foundation, we have an understanding and appreciation for the urgency around the issues that we focus on and believe that a concerted effort to ensure positive change is more important than ever.

In our view, an unwavering commitment to the grantmaking priorities that we champion — career preparation and reskilling, entrepreneurship and personal finance — creates endless opportunities to invest in human flourishing and shared prosperity.

As this report illustrates, the many nonprofits with which we partner marry audacity with authentic caring, as evidenced by our most recently funded initiatives and our impactful multiyear collaborations. The lessons that both they and we jointly learn inform not just how we do the work, but how those of us doing that work can personally strive to make the world a better place.

Solving for causes rather than symptoms of economic disparities, we believe, distinguishes how and what we fund, and we are honored that you are taking the time to learn more about our approach to doing so.