Tag: 3BL

At Cisco and Splunk, we believe technology becomes truly transformative when it reaches the people solving our world’s toughest problems. That’s the principle behind the annual Splunkie Awards, where we recognize the partners and users across multiple categories — including those who push Splunk technology beyond business metrics into work that genuinely transforms how social impact organizations operate and serve their communities.

This year, bitsIO was named Splunk’s Social Impact Partner of the Year, marking the third time they have won a Splunkie Award. This recognition reflects years of dedicated work closing what we call the data divide: the gap that prevents nonprofits from accessing the same data-powered technology that major enterprises use to protect their operations and advance their missions.

“This award validates our team’s passion for using Splunk’s platform to create meaningful change. We remain committed to helping nonprofits and communities achieve their missions.”

– Kalpana Krishnamurthi, bitsIO Co-Founder and CEO

Delivering technical solutions tailored to nonprofit needs

Nonprofits operate complex systems that require managing sensitive donor data, coordinating services across multiple locations, and responding to evolving security threats. Most do so with minimal IT staff and constrained budgets. The challenge is particularly acute because the threats and compliance requirements nonprofits face are just as sophisticated as those confronting major enterprises.

bitsIO has built their practice delivering enterprise-grade Splunk services to corporations around the world, but they have also created a dedicated program to address the disparity facing the nonprofit sector. Under this program, bitsIO offers pro bono and discounted services to nonprofits, from initial setup and configuration to upgrades and ongoing technical support — all designed for organizations operating with constrained resources.

The technical work spans Splunk’s full ecosystem:

Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) and Security Essentials: Many nonprofits bitsIO works with gain real-time threat detection capabilities for the first time. Splunk transforms their security posture overnight, giving small teams the ability to detect, investigate, and respond to threats as they emerge.

Splunk IT Service Intelligence (ITSI): For resource-constrained IT teams, unified monitoring becomes essential for operational continuity. ITSI provides comprehensive environment visibility with intelligent alerts that enable proactive response.

Data Integration and Custom Dashboards: bitsIO builds custom data pipelines and dashboards that connect disparate sources into coherent insights, giving nonprofit leaders the visibility needed to make strategic decisions about programs, funding, and impact.

Every deployment prioritizes what matters most to these organizations — security, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability — and the results are evident across the organizations bitsIO has supported:

• bitsIO supported one nonprofit’s open-source platform that accelerates drug discovery for infectious diseases affecting underserved populations, building dashboards that save hundreds of research hours annually.
• For another partner that coordinates organ and tissue donation, bitsIO unified security data from 12 sources and automated regulatory evidence packaging, streamlining healthcare cybersecurity operations.
• At a workforce development organization, bitsIO centralized logs and automated threat detection, freeing IT resources for mission-critical work.
• Working with a community healthcare coordination organization, bitsIO deployed proactive monitoring and real-time alerts across their Windows environment, accelerating threat detection and response.

Expanding access to next-generation AI

We’re at an inflection point where AI is reshaping what’s possible across every sector, but access remains unequal. bitsIO is working to change that trajectory, bringing Splunk’s latest AI capabilities — generative AI that enables faster incident response, machine learning models that can quickly parse insights from massive datasets, automated compliance systems that adapt to evolving regulations — to nonprofits as they’re developed.

“Our new AI solutions will help us scale services and empower more nonprofits than ever before,” said Suman Gajavelly, CTO and Co-Founder at bitsIO. “Being named Splunk’s 2025 Global Social Impact Partner of the Year is a tremendous recognition of our commitment to social impact.”

Cisco and Splunk are proud to partner with bitsIO in building toward a more equitable, data-driven world. Their work demonstrates how investment in mission-driven organizations creates the conditions for breakthroughs — and why closing the data divide matters for everyone.

Learn more about how we’re turning data into action — and action into impact — through bitsIO’s nonprofit services work here.

View original content here.

Complimentary Webinar:

From Diamonds to Gemstones: Important Proposed Updates to the SCS-007 Certification Standard

Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:00 AM PST (1:00 PM EST)

Register Here

The SCS-007 Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Gemstones, originally introduced in 2020 as the Certification Standard for Sustainability Rated Diamonds, provides a uniform basis for assessing and certifying environmentally and socially responsible gemstone production and handling. Draft version 2.0 encompassing significant updates is now available for public review through January 30, 2026.

Join Victoria Norman, Executive Director and Rachel Boothby-Hentschel, Senior Associate, of SCS Standards and Assurance Systems on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1PM ET (10AM PT) for a comprehensive update on this timely certification standard.

Key topics to be discussed:

• Additional gemstones covered under the revised standard
• Recognition of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) certification for mined gemstones within the scope of the standard
• Proposal to replace requirements for fingerprinting conformity testing with blockchain technology for gemstone traceability
• Trailblazer categories for indicators that promote best practices, such as the use of 100% renewable electricity

Register Here

Complimentary Webinar:

From Diamonds to Gemstones: Important Proposed Updates to the SCS-007 Certification Standard

Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 10:00 AM PST (1:00 PM EST)

Register Here

The SCS-007 Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Gemstones, originally introduced in 2020 as the Certification Standard for Sustainability Rated Diamonds, provides a uniform basis for assessing and certifying environmentally and socially responsible gemstone production and handling. Draft version 2.0 encompassing significant updates is now available for public review through January 30, 2026.

Join Victoria Norman, Executive Director and Rachel Boothby-Hentschel, Senior Associate, of SCS Standards and Assurance Systems on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1PM ET (10AM PT) for a comprehensive update on this timely certification standard.

Key topics to be discussed:

• Additional gemstones covered under the revised standard
• Recognition of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) certification for mined gemstones within the scope of the standard
• Proposal to replace requirements for fingerprinting conformity testing with blockchain technology for gemstone traceability
• Trailblazer categories for indicators that promote best practices, such as the use of 100% renewable electricity

Register Here

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2026 /3BL/ – At CES^® 2026, LG Electronics reaffirmed its global circularity goals, outlining measurable progress and underscoring its commitment to embedding circular economy principles across the entire product lifecycle. Supporting its “Better Life for All” ESG vision, LG is focusing on innovation, partnerships and consumer engagement to help reduce environmental impact while delivering long-term value to customers and society.

LG’s circularity mission was spotlighted today at a CES circularity session that explored the future of sustainable design, responsible resource use and cross-industry collaboration. The lively panel discussion reflected LG’s belief that meaningful progress toward a circular economy requires coordinated action across technology, policy, business and consumer behavior.

“Circularity is not a single initiative; it’s a system-wide transformation,” said LG Electronics USA Senior Vice President John I. Taylor, reinforcing the company’s role as a catalyst for change in building a more sustainable, circular future. “Through innovation, collaboration and transparent goals, LG is committed to the transition to a circular economy while delivering on our ESG commitments and our Better Life for All vision.”

Addressing Barriers to Circularity

While momentum around circularity is accelerating globally, LG recognizes that challenges remain. Among the most significant barriers is cost. Depending on material type, recycled or next-generation materials are typically 10-20 percent more expensive than conventional alternatives, impacting competitiveness. LG is investing in technology development and scaling up to help close this gap and make sustainable choices more accessible.

Consumer awareness also plays a critical role. LG is strengthening education and communication to encourage customers to take part in used product and packaging collection initiatives, providing clear guidance on how and where products can be returned and recycled responsibly.

Clear Targets, Measurable Progress Toward 2030

LG has set ambitious, transparent goals to advance circularity by 2030. The company aims to apply 600,000 tons of recycled plastics across its products by 2030, building on strong momentum with 188,000 tons already utilized as of 2024. In the same timeframe, LG targets the collection of 8 million tons of waste globally, having already surpassed 5.01 million tons cumulatively since 2006.

These commitments are supported by a comprehensive resource circulation system spanning four stages—Production, Use, Distribution and Disposal—each delivering tangible result:

• Production: Scaling Recycled and Eco-Friendly Materials. In 2024, LG used 74,079 tons of recycled plastics, representing a 36 percent year-over-year increase. To achieve its 2030 target, the company is expanding the use of recycled plastics to include exterior product components, supported by material innovation and quality assurance.

  LG is also accelerating the adoption of pulp mold packaging to replace conventional expanded polystyrene. An industry-first pulp mold technology developed by LG can withstand loads exceeding 44 pounds and is now used as cushioning for medium-sized products such as air purifiers and soundbars, reducing plastic consumption while maintaining product protection.

• Use: Extending Product Lifespan Through New Business Models. LG’s growing subscription business in South Korea is redefining product use by combining convenience with sustainability. Beyond rental, professional care managers provide regular maintenance, cleaning and replacement of consumable parts, extending products’ lifespan.

  Complementing this approach, LG’s “ThinQ UP” appliances, which allow customers to add new features via software updates after purchase, have recorded more than 20 million cumulative global upgrade actions. This innovation reduces premature replacement, enhances customer satisfaction and maximizes product value over time.

• Distribution: Sustainable Packaging and Closed-Loop Logistics. Across distribution, LG is transitioning to plastic-free packaging for small appliances, with internal cushioning materials being converted to pulp and corrugated cardboard to improve recyclability. The company is also expanding closed-loop recycling at logistics sites, collecting waste stretch film and recycling it into new logistics film, reducing virgin plastic use and operational waste.
• Disposal: Advancing Global E-Waste Collection and Responsible Recycling. LG continues to expand its global e-waste collection efforts. In 2024 alone, the company conducted collection campaigns in 56 countries, gathering 532,630 tons of waste electronics. Initiatives such as the “Battery Turn” campaign enable the recovery of valuable metals, including nickel and lithium, from used cordless vacuum batteries, while partnerships with organizations such as E-Circulation Governance provide free home collection services.

Taylor said the establishment of a circular economy is essential—and expected to become even more critical—for addressing resource depletion, protecting the planet and securing sustainable economic growth. In 2026 and beyond, the company’s Circularity Team is advancing high-strength pulp molds, high-content EPS alternatives, material-specific circular systems and component collection campaigns to support long-term impact.

# # #

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR^® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com

Media Contact:

LG Electronics USA
Kimberly Regillio
kim.regillio@lge.com
+1 815 355 0509

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2026 /3BL/ – At CES^® 2026, LG Electronics reaffirmed its global circularity goals, outlining measurable progress and underscoring its commitment to embedding circular economy principles across the entire product lifecycle. Supporting its “Better Life for All” ESG vision, LG is focusing on innovation, partnerships and consumer engagement to help reduce environmental impact while delivering long-term value to customers and society.

LG’s circularity mission was spotlighted today at a CES circularity session that explored the future of sustainable design, responsible resource use and cross-industry collaboration. The lively panel discussion reflected LG’s belief that meaningful progress toward a circular economy requires coordinated action across technology, policy, business and consumer behavior.

“Circularity is not a single initiative; it’s a system-wide transformation,” said LG Electronics USA Senior Vice President John I. Taylor, reinforcing the company’s role as a catalyst for change in building a more sustainable, circular future. “Through innovation, collaboration and transparent goals, LG is committed to the transition to a circular economy while delivering on our ESG commitments and our Better Life for All vision.”

Addressing Barriers to Circularity

While momentum around circularity is accelerating globally, LG recognizes that challenges remain. Among the most significant barriers is cost. Depending on material type, recycled or next-generation materials are typically 10-20 percent more expensive than conventional alternatives, impacting competitiveness. LG is investing in technology development and scaling up to help close this gap and make sustainable choices more accessible.

Consumer awareness also plays a critical role. LG is strengthening education and communication to encourage customers to take part in used product and packaging collection initiatives, providing clear guidance on how and where products can be returned and recycled responsibly.

Clear Targets, Measurable Progress Toward 2030

LG has set ambitious, transparent goals to advance circularity by 2030. The company aims to apply 600,000 tons of recycled plastics across its products by 2030, building on strong momentum with 188,000 tons already utilized as of 2024. In the same timeframe, LG targets the collection of 8 million tons of waste globally, having already surpassed 5.01 million tons cumulatively since 2006.

These commitments are supported by a comprehensive resource circulation system spanning four stages—Production, Use, Distribution and Disposal—each delivering tangible result:

• Production: Scaling Recycled and Eco-Friendly Materials. In 2024, LG used 74,079 tons of recycled plastics, representing a 36 percent year-over-year increase. To achieve its 2030 target, the company is expanding the use of recycled plastics to include exterior product components, supported by material innovation and quality assurance.

  LG is also accelerating the adoption of pulp mold packaging to replace conventional expanded polystyrene. An industry-first pulp mold technology developed by LG can withstand loads exceeding 44 pounds and is now used as cushioning for medium-sized products such as air purifiers and soundbars, reducing plastic consumption while maintaining product protection.

• Use: Extending Product Lifespan Through New Business Models. LG’s growing subscription business in South Korea is redefining product use by combining convenience with sustainability. Beyond rental, professional care managers provide regular maintenance, cleaning and replacement of consumable parts, extending products’ lifespan.

  Complementing this approach, LG’s “ThinQ UP” appliances, which allow customers to add new features via software updates after purchase, have recorded more than 20 million cumulative global upgrade actions. This innovation reduces premature replacement, enhances customer satisfaction and maximizes product value over time.

• Distribution: Sustainable Packaging and Closed-Loop Logistics. Across distribution, LG is transitioning to plastic-free packaging for small appliances, with internal cushioning materials being converted to pulp and corrugated cardboard to improve recyclability. The company is also expanding closed-loop recycling at logistics sites, collecting waste stretch film and recycling it into new logistics film, reducing virgin plastic use and operational waste.
• Disposal: Advancing Global E-Waste Collection and Responsible Recycling. LG continues to expand its global e-waste collection efforts. In 2024 alone, the company conducted collection campaigns in 56 countries, gathering 532,630 tons of waste electronics. Initiatives such as the “Battery Turn” campaign enable the recovery of valuable metals, including nickel and lithium, from used cordless vacuum batteries, while partnerships with organizations such as E-Circulation Governance provide free home collection services.

Taylor said the establishment of a circular economy is essential—and expected to become even more critical—for addressing resource depletion, protecting the planet and securing sustainable economic growth. In 2026 and beyond, the company’s Circularity Team is advancing high-strength pulp molds, high-content EPS alternatives, material-specific circular systems and component collection campaigns to support long-term impact.

# # #

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR^® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com

Media Contact:

LG Electronics USA
Kimberly Regillio
kim.regillio@lge.com
+1 815 355 0509

AEG’s Season of Giving, now in its 15th year, continues as a nationwide initiative empowering employees to give back and uplift families across the country. What began as a simple idea has grown into a tradition of service, generosity, and community impact.

This year, AEG’s Season of Giving reached more cities than ever, with employees volunteering and supporting local communities through a focus on addressing hunger relief hosting volunteer service days, and hosting food, toy and essential item drives. Their efforts reflect a shared commitment to spreading cheer and supporting our local communities, one act of kindness at a time.

“AEG’s Season of Giving is a reflection of who we are as a company,” said Anette Padilla, Sr. Director of AEG’s Community Foundation and Social Impact. “Every meal served, every item collected, and hour volunteered made a difference. Our employees didn’t just give; they created moments families will cherish long after the holidays.”

Highlights from this year’s Season of Giving include:

• Hunger Relief Efforts: 10 cities participated in supporting their local food banks, serving meals and hosting food collection drives that collected hundreds of pounds of food.
• Holiday Celebration at L.A. LIVE: More than 350 children and family members enjoyed ice skating at the LA Kings Holiday Ice rink and a private screening of Zootopia® 2 at Regal Cinemas.
• Toy Drives: Bi-costal toy drives at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, and Forrest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY, collected over 3,000 new toys for local youth.
• Adopt-a-Family Program: Holiday support extended to more than 30 Los Angeles-area families.

Through Season of Giving, AEG continues to amplify its social impact by empowering employees to support causes close to home. Learn more about AEG’s community initiatives here.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 7, 2026 /3BL/ — Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) announced the launch of electronic direct deposit switching capabilities to the Truist client digital onboarding process, further enhancing the ease and speed of opening new accounts.

Developed in partnership with Atomic, this new capability is fully embedded into Truist’s digital account opening process, allowing clients to easily transfer direct deposits from other accounts. Since its launch in August, 19% of new digital account applicants that engaged with the feature officially made the switch.

“With a faster and more intuitive onboarding experience, we’re empowering clients with the flexibility to quickly and easily choose Truist as their primary financial partner,” said Truist Head of Digital, Client Experience and Marketing Sherry Graziano. “Whether clients prefer digital, in-branch or over-the-phone, we’re providing the flexibility and tools to pursue financial goals in a way that works for them.”

The announcement builds on Truist’s ongoing series of investments to create an experience that is digitally empowered and deeply relational to help clients achieve financial success. Some of these include:

• New insights-driven branches: As announced in August, over the next five years, Truist is building 100 new insights-driven branches, renovating more than 300 branches in high opportunity markets and hiring additional Premier advisors to serve clients with more complex financial needs.
• Enhanced digital tools and capabilities: These include smarter scheduling for appointments, a more intuitive account opening process with onboarding self-service capabilities and access to digital planning and tracking tools for financial empowerment.
• Truist Assist: An AI-enhanced digital assistant that helps clients quickly get answers to the most asked questions with the option of being seamlessly transferred to a teammate, now averaging up to 440,000 conversations per month.
• Truist Insights: An AI-enhanced tool providing clients with more than 550 million personalized, real-time financial insights per year to help with cash-flow summaries, income and expense analysis, proactive balance monitoring and more.
• LightStream: Offering the award-winning LightStream unsecured lending solution through Truist.com and as part of the branch experience.
• Payments enhancements: Additional client capabilities for real-time payments, Zelle^®, Bill Pay and digital money transfers.
• Truist Client Pulse: A patent-pending AI tool currently being piloted to aggregate client feedback across millions of conversations to deliver holistic insights and trend analysis to quickly identify and address client behaviors and challenges.

To learn more about Truist’s banking solutions, visit www.truist.com/checking/truist-one-banking.

About Truist

Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist has leading market share in many of the high-growth markets in the U.S. and offers a wide range of products and services through wholesale and consumer businesses, including consumer and small business banking, commercial and corporate banking, investment banking and capital markets, wealth management, payments, and specialized lending businesses. Truist is a top-10 commercial bank with total assets of $544 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Learn more at Truist.com.

SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation

For further information: Media@Truist.com

A collaborative pilot creates an ecosystem of support advancing health equity in underserved communities.

For one Atlanta mother, Erika, there was no celebration when she discovered she was pregnant.

She had no family support. No one to call with questions. She navigated it alone while working and managing medical appointments she couldn’t always afford — or get to.

“I was battling really, really, really, really hard,” said Erika. “I didn’t have anywhere to turn.”

Her experience isn’t unique. Across the United States:

• More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable
• Nearly 1 in 5 pregnant women experience mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy, which can increase the risk of preterm birth by up to 50%

But the crisis isn’t just medical. It’s a breakdown in how we think about care itself.

Health care operates in silos. A doctor treats medical symptoms. A social worker might offer referrals. Things like transportation, food security, housing stability and mental health support, while essential to individual health and wellbeing, aren’t typically included. Yet these needs shape whether someone can access and follow through on care in the first place. When they aren’t addressed, the burden falls on individuals, leaving them to navigate a maze of fragmented services alone while facing the very barriers those services are meant to solve.

“Some people just need a hand up,” Miryah, an Atlanta mother enrolled in the program, said simply.

What if health care could be something different?

A coordinated ecosystem of support

A groundbreaking two-year pilot launching in Atlanta is working to answer that question. Developed by the AbbVie Foundation and CARE in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, Lyft and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the initiative creates something health care rarely achieves: a coordinated ecosystem of support.

Continue reading the full article on care.org.

Originally published on AbbVie.com

The Drought Crisis in Somalia 

Somalia is facing a catastrophic drought emergency, with millions of people at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and preventable death. Consecutive poor rainy seasons have left communities struggling to access food and water, pushing the country into one of its most severe humanitarian crises in recent years. The Federal Government of Somalia has declared a national drought emergency due to the scale and urgency of the situation.

According to the latest IPC analysis, approximately 4.4 million people are projected to face severe acute food insecurity between October and December 2025. Of these, an estimated 1.85 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through July 2026. With the next rainy season not expected until April 2026, the months ahead are critical to preventing avoidable loss of life.

Humanitarian Consequences of Drought 

Drought events have nearly tripled over the last thirty years, according to the Somali government, due to climate change impacting La Niña weather patterns. La Niña carries significant importance for Somalia’s agricultural sector, which makes up 80% of the country’s employment. When extended dry seasons delay harvests and harm soil health, the entire country’s economy and food security is damaged. Families are left with impossible choices like skipping meals or drinking from unclean water sources to get by until the delayed rains finally arrive

The humanitarian consequences are severe. Malnutrition rises, especially among vulnerable populations like children under the age of five. Malnutrition can have lasting impacts on children’s physical and cognitive development, while widespread food insecurity can destabilize entire communities and exacerbate the challenge of chronic hunger. Waterborne diseases also increase, and many families are forced to travel long distances in search of water, increasing the risk of illness and other dangers. With health needs rapidly climbing, health services become overwhelmed and struggle to meet the needs of the millions of families. Between 2022 and 2024, UNICEF estimated that 71,000 people in Somalia died due to drought-related causes.

If urgent interventions are not scaled up, the coming months could see preventable deaths among children and vulnerable populations, as well as displacement that disrupts communities and strains social systems.

Action Against Hunger’s Response 

Action Against Hunger has been working in Somalia since 1992, building strong relationships with the communities and local partners that enable us to quickly respond to the greatest needs in times of emergency. Our teams are on the ground, providing water, nutrition, and health support, and working closely with local partners to maximize impact.

1. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

Access to safe water is critical in a drought, and Action Against Hunger is prioritizing emergency water provision. Our teams are trucking water to communities facing acute shortages and investing in sustainable water systems to ensure longer-term access.

In addition, hygiene kits are being distributed, containing essentials such as soap and water purification tablets, helping prevent disease outbreaks that often accompany water scarcity. By ensuring both availability and safety of water, these interventions help prevent dehydration, illness, and further vulnerability.

2. Health and Nutrition

Malnutrition is an emergency within the drought crisis. Action Against Hunger supports local health facilities and works closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to deliver life-saving nutrition services.

Interventions include the treatment of severe acute malnutrition and the provision of primary healthcare services, addressing both immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition. By combining treatment with system strengthening, the organization helps communities not only survive the crisis but also build resilience against future shocks.

3. Partnership and Consortium Work

No organization can respond alone. Action Against Hunger leads a wide network of partners to scale impact and reach as many families as possible. Through initiatives such as the Caafimaad Plus consortium, joint programming enables the delivery of coordinated services, from health care to nutrition support, ensuring that aid reaches those most in need efficiently and effectively.

Funding Gap and the Call for Urgent Action 

Despite the massive scale of need, funding for the humanitarian response remains dangerously low. Only a quarter of Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has been funded, limiting the ability of organizations to deliver life-saving interventions. Without rapid and substantial funding, the risk of avoidable deaths rises exponentially.

The next four months are crucial. With rains not expected until April 2026, strong action is needed to prevent a catastrophic spike in hunger and malnutrition. Action Against Hunger’s interventions are already saving lives, but these efforts must be matched with adequate funding and global attention to avert widespread tragedy.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

A new report by the 21st Century School Fund, the International WELL Building Institute, and the National Council on School Facilities reveals massive, chronic underinvestment in school facilities and grounds, while offering a roadmap for turning the tide toward safer, healthier, and more modern schools.

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 5, 2026 /3BL/ – The 2025 State of Our Schools report, released by the 21st Century School Fund, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), and the National Council on School Facilities (NCSF), shows that the U.S. now faces a $90 billion shortfall in school facility funding every single year, despite significant progress local school districts have made to ramp up their investments.

Since its earlier releases in 2016 and 2021, the report has tracked a steep and alarming rise in the nation’s school facilities funding deficit. What was a $46 billion gap in 2016 grew to $85 billion in 2021 and has continued to widen as school construction costs climb, building inventories expand, and aging facilities require more extensive maintenance, modernization, or replacement.

“Even as local districts have stepped up by increasing their annual spending on school facilities from $95 billion in 2016 to more than $150 billion now, they are still falling behind,” said Mary Filardo, Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund and lead author of the report. “As the funding gap for our critical school infrastructure grows, it becomes even harder to climb out of this hole unless we begin to better share the load across levels of government and embrace a dynamic solution set that ensures every public dollar delivers a stronger return on investment.”

In the United States, PK-12 school facilities represent the second largest sector of public infrastructure investment, surpassed only by highways. These buildings are where nearly 60 million students, teachers, and staff spend their days, making them among the most essential pieces of community infrastructure we have. Yet unlike transportation infrastructure, where federal and state governments shoulder most of the costs, school facilities are primarily left to local districts. The report finds that local districts bear 80 percent of school facility funding, with states contributing 17 percent and the federal government just 3 percent.

“With a $90 billion annual shortfall, the magnitude of this crisis is undeniable and utterly unacceptable. It’s simply impossible for local districts to continue to shoulder this burden disproportionately,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, International WELL Building Institute. “Without greater responsibility across all levels of government, particularly the federal government, our country will continue to underfund the very infrastructure that determines the health, safety, and educational outcomes of millions of children. Where our children learn matters, and access to safe, healthy, and modern learning environments should be a right, not a privilege.”

The report also underscores how deeply uneven and unequal school facility investment remains across the country, with the most significant burdens falling on disadvantaged and rural districts. High-poverty districts had 30 percent less capital invested in their school buildings than low-poverty districts, and rural districts received less than half the per-student capital investment of their suburban and city counterparts. The findings point to persistent gaps that continue to leave rural and high-poverty communities bearing a disproportionate share of the burden and facing far greater challenges in achieving safe, healthy, and modern school facilities.

“For all of us who care about our communities, we know that our schools are their beating hearts. Closing these funding gaps should be a top priority for every one of us,” said Brandon Payne, Executive Director, National Council on School Facilities. “This is a moment to unite to ensure our public schools meet modern standards for health, safety, learning, and educational adequacy.”

Furthermore, according to the report, as school districts struggle to fill this widening gap, they are also sinking deeper into debt. By the end of fiscal year 2023, local districts carried more than half a trillion dollars in long-term debt and paid $22 billion in interest alone.

As stated in the report, the $90 billion annual investment gap reflects what is required for responsible stewardship and modern school facilities and grounds, covering both capital needs and operations and maintenance. Each year, the U.S. spends an average of $82 billion on capital improvements, leaving a $56 billion shortfall. Similarly, the total outlay for facility operations and maintenance is $70 billion, $34 billion less than needed. Together, these deficiencies in capital investment and ongoing maintenance constitute the total gap of $90 billion.

This year’s report does more than diagnose the scale and severity of the crisis; it also lays out a bold, actionable path to achieve modern schools by 2050. It calls for new approaches and more shared investment across all levels of government, alongside a stronger focus on building the capacity needed to deliver improvements. Central to its recommendations is securing a stable, reliable federal incentive funding program of $25 billion per year, which the report finds would reduce annual requirements by $75 billion – a 34 percent return on investment. The report also urges expanding federal support for state capacity grants for facility data, planning, technical assistance, and training to all states to ensure that states and districts are equipped for the modernization work ahead. (The Supporting America’s School Infrastructure).

What Other Leaders Are Saying about the 2025 State of Our Schools Report

“Public schools are public infrastructure.  And we should invest in them just as we invest in roads and bridges. With annual shortfalls growing despite increased state and local investment, it is clear that a federal partnership is needed,” said Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the author of the Rebuild America’s Schools Act which would target new federal infrastructure investments to help local school districts address building and modernization needs. “Congress must come together to solve this crisis and deliver the federal investment our schools need to keep students healthy, safe, and equipped to meet the challenges of the future.”

“As a former Surgeon General, I had the honor to serve as the ‘Nation’s Doctor,’ and what I find particularly concerning are the serious health implications from poor conditions of school buildings and grounds. As I’ve said before, our facilities are not just walls, roofs, and blacktop – they are health-critical environments,” said Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States. “It’s time to take decisive action to ensure our schools are adequately funded so they are healthy, sustainable, safe, and secure, becoming places where learning thrives and dreams take hold.”

“Students need clean air, sufficient caring and competent staff to meet their needs, and enough room to do more than sit in rows and stand in lines. Many districts are being stretched too thin to provide these foundational facility characteristics for all their students,” said David Sturtz, Founder and CEO, Sturtz and Company. “We need at least as much thought, if not more, in how to adequately fund and design a school district’s facilities and operations as we do individual school buildings. If districts do not have sufficient budgets to keep all their buildings in good working condition and staff them sufficiently to meet their students’ needs, then focusing on the particulars of architectural design misses the mark.”

“Modern, thoughtfully designed public schools are not luxuries – they are essential to student success,” said Pamela Loeffelman, senior principal at DLR Group, an integrated design firm specializing in future-focused learning environments for K–12 schools. “Well-designed, dynamic learning environments empower students, support well-being, and are foundational for them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We need federal leadership and sustained funding to ensure that all students, in every community, benefit from the power of modern, high-performing school facilities.”

About The 21st Century School Fund
21CSF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building the public will and capacity to modernize public school facilities so they support high-quality education and community revitalization. It is dedicated to helping local, state, and national stakeholders create a country where every child learns in an educationally appropriate, healthy, and safe school that serves as a community anchor and is built and maintained in an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

About the National Council on School Facilities
The National Council on School Facilities is a membership organization of state facilities officials that supports states in their varied roles and responsibilities for elementary and secondary public school facilities. It advocates for support mechanisms, innovations, and processes that equitably deliver safe, healthy, and educationally appropriate public school facilities that are sustainable and fiscally sound.

Media contacts:
media@wellcertified.com
SODonnell@21csf.org
Brandon.Payne@facilitiescouncil.org

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