Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made the company's mission statement quite clear — empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
But everything from poverty to lack of education, limits to accessibility, and displaced or remote communities have prohibited the benefits of technology from being felt by all.
On Tuesday, Microsoft announced the launch of Microsoft Philanthropies to help facilitate and accomplish that mission statement, bringing the tech company closer to achieving its goals.
Already, Microsoft has pledged $75 million through its YouthSpark initiative to computer science education worldwide over the next three years, as an example of its initiatives.
The dedicated Philanthropies organization, which will preside under Microsoft president Brad Smith, vows to contribute in new and impactful ways to deliver growth to the global economy.
"We will strive to bridge gaps within and across communities through more widespread access to technology that enhances the productivity and quality of life for the people of those communities," Smith wrote as part of the company's announcement Tuesday. "The opportunity to do this is greater than ever with the power of cloud computing and the potential of data science."
Part of Microsoft Philanthropies' efforts will have it investing in digital inclusion programs and partnerships in addition to integrating and leveraging assets to drive greater inclusion, empowering those who don't have access to technology. Those efforts, Smith said, include providing access and connectivity to the public cloud, digital skills training to help people get jobs and start businesses, and educating young innovators through computer science education programs.
To accomplish that, Microsoft Philanthropies will invest in technology in nonprofit partnerships that work to deliver technology to disconnected communities.
The initial blueprint for Microsoft Philanthropies can be seen here.
