At the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park, MetLife announced a major three-year partnership with Global Citizen, the world’s largest movement dedicated to ending extreme poverty. The collaboration is designed to harness MetLife’s financial expertise, employee volunteerism and global presence to drive impactful initiatives focused on education and economic empowerment.
MetLife, one of the world’s leading providers of insurance and employee benefits, highlighted its long-standing mission of fostering economic security, resilience and opportunity for individuals and communities worldwide. The new partnership marks a significant expansion of MetLife’s corporate social responsibility efforts and aligns closely with Global Citizen’s campaigns to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
As part of the collaboration, MetLife Foundation will contribute $9 million as a founding donor to the newly launched FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The initiative aims to raise $100 million to improve access to quality education and sports programs for children globally. Education has been a cornerstone of MetLife Foundation’s work for nearly five decades, with ongoing investments in financial literacy, STEM learning, mentoring and skills training designed to prepare students for future success.
“At MetLife, we believe in being there for people and communities in the moments that matter, guided by our clear purpose of building more confident futures for all,” said Michel Khalaf, president and CEO of MetLife. “Our partnership with Global Citizen will drive positive change by promoting financial health, advancing educational opportunities and fostering strong and confident communities. Together with MetLife Foundation, we’re excited to partner with Global Citizen, and this partnership builds on MetLife Foundation’s legacy of more than $1 billion in giving since 1976.”
The collaboration extends beyond philanthropy. MetLife will actively support Global Citizen’s campaigns, including the Global Citizen NOW action summits and the annual Global Citizen Festival, which convenes world leaders, artists and activists to push for policy change and investment in global development.
Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, underscored the importance of such alliances. “We believe wholeheartedly in the power of partnership to tackle the most complex issues our world is facing,” he said. “This new partnership between MetLife, MetLife Foundation and Global Citizen will be instrumental in growing our impact and serve as a critical catalyst in our shared vision to accelerate progress toward a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
The announcement comes at a pivotal time, as the global community continues to confront challenges ranging from economic inequality to education gaps and climate-related risks. By leveraging MetLife’s expertise in financial health and its global workforce, the partnership aims to scale efforts that equip communities with the tools they need to overcome systemic barriers and build resilient futures.
MetLife and Global Citizen invited partners, leaders and individuals worldwide to join the movement by taking action, reaffirming the belief that collaboration across sectors is essential to solving the challenges of poverty, education and opportunity in the 21st century.
