Arik Armstead: Changing the culture around learning and work

The Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) congratulates Arik Armstead, recipient of the NFL’s Man of the Year award. This award recognizes outstanding citizenship and is given to the player in the league who is doing the most for his community.  CKF is proud to partner with Armstead, his wife Mindy, Jared Muela, and the whole team … Continued

No-interest loan program reduces barriers to lifelong learning

To keep up in an ever-evolving economy, workers need access to training programs that will help them gain experience and acquire in-demand skills. Lack of direct-to-student financial support for non-traditional degree programs is a barrier for millions of people who want to take advantage of the growing number of such programs, however. With support from … Continued

Michael Horn: Want workers who are engaged and stay? Talk to them

Michael Horn strives to create a world where every person can fulfill their potential and live a life of purpose. He is co-founder of, and distinguished fellow at, the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a think tank that helps policymakers, entrepreneurs, and leaders radically improve entire industries through research and community empowerment. In addition … Continued

Charles Koch Foundation partner impact update (2024)

History shows the most reliable path toward creating greater opportunity for all people is to apply key principles to society’s most pressing challenges. That is why the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) supports organizations and changemakers who share a commitment to what we refer to as the Principles of Human Progress, which include:  Bottom Up: People with personal … Continued

How Creighton’s Menard Center for Economic Inquiry helped one student find her calling

Creighton University’s Menard Center for Economic Inquiry creates the space for students to engage in robust discussions about the relationship between economic freedom and human flourishing. It supports programs that analyze economic and social outcomes from a variety of academic perspectives, including economics, ethics, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Clara Piano, now a visiting assistant professor of … Continued

Burning Glass Institute highlights companies that prioritize employee growth

Americans want to work for organizations that believe in each employee’s potential — and that foster that potential through continuous learning and upskilling opportunities. Indeed, The Harris Poll found eight in 10 Americans believe professional development and training offerings are important when considering a new job. The Burning Glass Institute’s 2024 American Opportunity Index (AOI) reveals which large U.S. … Continued

ICYMI: Ryan Stowers on rethinking opportunity in America

Earlier this year, the American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt released a book that examines why young people in the United States are anxious. Haidt focuses on technology and social media. In a new op-ed at RealClearEducation, Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director Ryan Stowers offers another contributing factor: the pressure to not only go to college, but … Continued

VIEWPOINT: AI will help workers and employers

When innovation emerges, fear is the first reaction. Prosperity is the long term consequence. It has been that way for millennia. Socrates warned putting quill to parchment would “create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls, because they will not use their memories.” (We are glad Plato ignored this Socratic skepticism and scribbled down some words.) Today it is the rapid … Continued