1,000 Dreams Fund Announces Global AI-Powered Expansion of MentorHER Initiative at Clinton Global Initiative 2026

Announced from the Leaders Stage, the three-year Commitment to Action will break down geographic barriers by connecting 300,000 young people worldwide with professional mentors and access to workplace pathways.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a national nonprofit dedicated to investing in the dreams of talented young women and students in need, today unveiled a major Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2026 Annual Meeting. Featured during CGI's Leaders Stage session, "Steering AI Innovation towards Impact," 1DF committed to scale its MentorHER Initiative into a global mentorship platform that will directly reach 300,000 young people by January 2030.

Globally, young people face severe structural barriers to economic mobility due to a lack of professional networks, industry mentors, and access to global markets. According to the International Labour Organization, the global youth Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) rate has reached a staggering 20%, signaling a critical global jobs crisis. Young women remain disproportionately affected by this stagnation, facing unique obstacles stemming from network isolation, cultural constraints, and a historical lack of mentorship in high-growth industries.

Young people face structural barriers to economic mobility when they lack professional networks, industry mentors, and a path into work. The International Labour Organization reports a global youth NEET rate — not in employment, education, or training — of 20 percent. Young women remain disproportionately affected by this stagnation, facing unique obstacles stemming from network isolation, cultural constraints, and a historical lack of mentorship in high-growth industries. World Bank gender-and-jobs analysis points to the same pattern across South Asia and other regions.

Traditional mentoring models, which rely heavily on localized networks and slow manual administration, cannot scale internationally to meet this urgent demand. To solve this challenge, 1DF is engineered to build an inclusive digital infrastructure that specifically dismantles regional barriers.

With foundational financial support from longtime MentorHER partner Colgate-Palmolive, 1,000 Dreams Fund will scale its signature MentorHER Initiative into a global, AI-driven digital platform to be implemented by IT solution provider, Thathal Information and Technological Solutions (Thathal ITS). Originally created to foster workplace mentorship for underserved young women in the U.S., the expanded digital platform will give high-potential students and early-stage professionals instant access to global corporate leaders, an open career resource library, and remote work pathways they otherwise could never reach.

"Our work has always been anchored in the power of meaningful connection," said Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1,000 Dreams Fund. "We bridge the gap between resources and ambition, ensuring that investments land exactly where they can change a life. With this commitment, we are leveraging AI to bring our core mentoring program to 300,000 people globally who have historically been shut out of the networks that open professional doors. In the age of AI, mentorship has become more essential than ever to career success, and no one should be left behind because of their zip code."

The rollout will take place over 36 months across three distinct phases, transitioning from an initial pilot program to expanded matching and career-readiness resources, followed by scaled recruitment through global university partnerships, corporate employee networks, and regional ambassadors. Progress will be measured continuously, with outcomes reported annually to the Clinton Global Initiative.

To learn more about MentorHER and this commitment, visit https://1000dreamsfund.org/programs/mentorher-initiative/.

About 1,000 Dreams Fund
1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF) is a nonprofit that empowers talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources that help them reach their dream careers. 1DF believes that big obstacles should never stand in the way of big dreams. Since its launch in 2016, over $1 Million in funding has been granted to students, helping them pay for the "extras" in school like study abroad, tech devices for the classroom and travel to conferences and seminars. 1DF has been featured in NBCNews.com, USA Today, MarketWatch, Forbes, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Entrepreneur, TODAY and others. To learn more about 1DF, visit http://1000dreamsfund.org/. 

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross-section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Through CGI's model, more than 13,000 organizations have launched more than 4,300 Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects and programs — that are making a difference in the lives of more than 500 million people in 180 countries.

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SOURCE 1,000 Dreams Fund