Global Shapers is a project of the World Economic Forum that seeks to create a network of people under the age of 30 to create solutions to problems in their communities. The project has approximately 14,000 members across 150 countries. ¹

Background

Global Shapers is a program of the World Economic Forum (“WEF”), a business league that organizes annual meetings of international business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland under the direction of its founder and executive director, former University of Geneva business professor Klaus Schwab. ²

The Global Shapers program is a network of people under the age of 30 who organize and create projects that will find solutions to problems in their community. There are an estimated 14,000 Global Shapers in 456 “city-based hubs” across 150 countries. ³

Global Shapers takes left-of-center positions on environmentalism, education, civic engagement, health care, and human rights. ⁴

Financials

Global Shapers is a program of the World Economic Forum, which provides the program with “significant financial and in-kind contributions,” for operational support. ⁵

WEF had a total revenue of $338 million in 2019. WEF received approximately $18.5 million from contributions and grants, just under $300 million from program services, and around $20 million from investments and other revenue. In total, WEF had $316 million in expenses in 2019, just under $140 million of which was spent on salaries, compensation, and other employee benefits. WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab earned more than $1.1 million in 2019 from reportable compensation from the organization. ⁶

According to its 2020-2021 annual report, Global Shapers received a total of $6.5 million in revenue with $4.1 million coming from external grants and just under $2.5 million coming through grants and in-kind contributions from WEF. The report also states that Global Shapers had a total expense amount that equaled its total revenue, with $2.6 million being spent on program services, and just under $4 million being spent on in-kind expenses. ⁷

1. “Building a movement.” Global Shapers. Accessed June 13, 2022. www.globalshapers.org/story.
2. Masterson, Victoria. Global Shapers. February 10, 2021. Accessed June 13, 2022. www.globalshapers.org/.
3. “Building a movement.” Global Shapers. Accessed June 13, 2022. www.globalshapers.org/story.
4. “Building a movement.” Global Shapers. Accessed June 13, 2022. www.globalshapers.org/story.
5. “Building a movement.” Global Shapers. Accessed June 13, 2022. www.globalshapers.org/story.
6. ^[1] “World Economic Forum Tax Return – 2018/2019.” Accessed June 13, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/980459408/202131049349301308/full
7. ^[1] “Global Shapers Community Annual Report – 2020/2021.” World Economic Forum. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://weforum.ent.box.com/v/gsc-annual-report-20-21.