This Giving Tuesday, we’re reflecting on a powerful truth: the most transformative gift corporations can give isn’t always monetary—it can be access, mentorship, and opportunity. Through our Building Pathways series with CECP, we’ve learned that when businesses invest their time and expertise in education, they don’t just build workforce pipelines; they help educators accelerate student learning and empower future leaders.

Q: Why should corporations think about education partnerships as part of their giving strategy?
A: The skills crisis and the race for AI talent have made one thing clear: we can’t wait until college to start developing our future workforce. Sixty-seven percent of students worry that education isn’t evolving to meet workforce needs, yet 70% say career exploration is critical to their success. Companies are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. When your employees mentor students or teachers, volunteer in classrooms, reconnect with their alma maters, or host facility tours, you’re providing something schools can’t offer alone—real-world connections When you show an elementary student that data science exists or help a high schooler picture a day in manufacturing, you spark curiosity that evolves into career aspirations and ultimately expands the talent pipeline.

Q: What’s the most effective way for companies to make an impact?
Impact starts with connection, and companies don’t have to look far to change lives. Partner with your local school districts, share your company’s workforce pathways and the skills needed to align with their education and lesson plans—whether that’s cybersecurity, healthcare, or advanced manufacturing—and focus on your efforts accordingly. You could have employees provide students with overviews of their careers and pathways in virtual zoom sessions on Career Connect, or you could have your organization join in a career fair, whether in person with a local school, or nationwide, such as through Futures Fair. Another idea is to connect with district leaders to support existing Career and Technical Education Pathways or ideate new areas to engage students in careers. These partnerships offer students practical experience and exposure while showcasing a clear path to employment. Beyond technical expertise, these programs also nurture adaptability, communication, and problem-solving, the essential skills that bridge classroom learning and workplace success

Q: What about smaller companies without formal internship programs?
Every company has something valuable to offer. It doesn’t require a Fortune 500 budget—it requires intention. Can your employees serve as career-day speakers? Can you host virtual Q&As about your industry? Can you sponsor a community cohort through a “save for college” program? Small businesses can often have the greatest impact because they’re rooted in the community and can provide consistent, meaningful engagement. One mentorship relationship, one scholarship, one student who sees themselves in your employee’s story; these all can transform a student’s pathway.

Q: What metrics should companies track to demonstrate real impact?
Get creative with your measurement framework because education partnerships align with multiple business goals simultaneously. Track employee engagement scores among employees. Research shows that employers with volunteer programs consistently have a more pleasant work environment. You could also measure community trust indicators and brand perception in the regions where you’re investing. Count the students who complete internships and convert to full-time hires but also track the teachers you’ve trained, and the exponential reach they have. Document how many students gained industry credentials, how many explored careers they’d never heard of, and critically, ask the students themselves to evaluate what’s working. Their feedback is data. This isn’t about quick returns; it’s about aligning workforce development, community investment, belonging, economic mobility, and employee purpose under one strategic umbrella. Think generationally, measure holistically, and recognize that today’s classroom visitor might be tomorrow’s hire.

Q: What’s your call to action for Giving Tuesday and beyond?
This Giving Tuesday, give what money can’t buy: your expertise, your networks, your doors. Commit to one partnership, one mentorship program, one teacher training initiative. Help schools market career pathways better—because students can’t aspire to careers they’ve never seen. Focus on elevating pathways for every student: rural communities need access to corporate job opportunities, too, not just big cities; urban youth need access to corporate partners and mentors. Build systems that pair credentials with essential skills and plug into existing solutions or join up with education partners to make a real impact.

The future of work will be built by the students in classrooms today. The question is whether we’ll invest in making that future inclusive, skilled, and ready—or whether we’ll keep wondering where the talent went.