SmartRecruiters Launches $5 Million Grant Program to Support Workforce Access and Economic Mobility

The program will fund organizations aligned with SmartRecruiters' mission to make hiring easy for everyone.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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SmartRecruiters, an SAP company, has announced a $5 million philanthropic grant program to support organizations focused on expanding workforce access, advancing skills development, and enabling financial independence. The grants will be distributed through the SmartGiving Fund, managed by Tides Foundation, and will target nonprofits working to remove barriers to employment and help people participate in the global economy.

Why it matters

SmartRecruiters views its philanthropic efforts as a natural extension of its business mission, believing that hiring is one of the most powerful levers for economic opportunity and social mobility. By backing organizations that deliver measurable outcomes in workforce readiness, job access, and economic mobility, the company aims to demonstrate that business success and social impact are not separate goals, but shared ones.

The details

The $5 million grant program will be distributed across 20 nonprofit organizations selected through a collaborative process that engaged SmartRecruiters' employees and board members. One of the organizations receiving funding is Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by equipping girls, women, and nonbinary people with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in computing and emerging technologies.

  • The SmartGiving Fund grants are being deployed in early 2026.

The players

SmartRecruiters

An SAP company that has reaffirmed its commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible world of work through its philanthropic efforts.

Rebecca Carr

The CEO of SmartRecruiters, who believes that hiring can change lives and that the company has a responsibility to support organizations that remove barriers to work.

Dr. Tarika Barrett

The CEO of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that will receive funding from the SmartGiving Fund to continue inspiring, educating, and championing more young people to see themselves as creators and leaders in tech.

Jerome Ternynck

The Founder of SmartRecruiters, who believes that access to work is fundamental to opportunity and has committed the company to the 1% pledge to back organizations that expand access to work and open pathways to employment.

Tides Foundation

A partner organization that will manage the SmartGiving Fund and ensure ethical grantmaking according to strict governance and compliance standards.

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What they’re saying

“This grant program reflects who we are as a company. We believe hiring can change lives, and with that belief comes responsibility. Our philanthropic efforts are about using our success, resources, and voice to support organizations that remove barriers to work and help people participate fully in the global economy.”

— Rebecca Carr, CEO of SmartRecruiters (GlobeNewswire)

“If we want the future of work to reflect the world we live in, we have to broaden access to technology careers. That starts with early education, skills in emerging technologies, and knowledge of pathways into the workforce. We're incredibly grateful for SmartRecruiters' generous donation, which will enable Girls Who Code to continue inspiring, educating, and championing more young people to see themselves as creators and leaders in tech.”

— Dr. Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code (GlobeNewswire)

“At SmartRecruiters, access to work has always been fundamental to opportunity. That belief is why we committed to the 1% pledge in 2019, with the intent of backing organizations that expand access to work and open pathways to employment at scale. SmartRecruiters is the result of that commitment in action, turning purpose into tangible support for those delivering outcomes that matter.”

— Jerome Ternynck, Founder of SmartRecruiters (GlobeNewswire)

What’s next

SmartRecruiters will work with partner organizations to amplify the impact of the initiative through coordinated outreach and ongoing engagement.

The takeaway

By aligning its philanthropic efforts with its core business mission, SmartRecruiters is demonstrating that companies can achieve both business success and meaningful social impact, using their resources and influence to support organizations that are expanding access to employment and economic opportunity.