Supporter Spotlight: M&T Bank

Building Pathways for Vermont Youth

For M&T Bank, supporting the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont is a natural extension of its long-standing commitment to empowering young people and strengthening communities across Vermont.

“At M&T, we’re especially inspired by GIV’s focus on helping students explore their passions and discover meaningful career pathways here in Vermont,” shared Kathy Schirling, Vice President and Senior Regional Program Officer at the M&T Charitable Foundation. “That mission closely mirrors our own belief in investing early and intentionally in the next generation.”

Most recently, M&T Bank has been a proud supporter of GIV’s Health & Medicine Institute, a program designed to help address Vermont’s critical shortage of healthcare workers. By introducing students to careers in medicine, public health, and healthcare innovation, the Institute builds both aspiration and access—two values that strongly resonate with M&T’s philanthropic approach.

M&T’s broader commitment to youth education and career development is evident across its work. From paid, work-based learning opportunities through youth apprenticeship partnerships, to K–12 financial literacy initiatives and campus-based internship and rotational programs, M&T invests in helping young people gain the skills, confidence, and exposure they need to succeed.

Through the M&T Charitable Foundation, the bank also aims to be a catalyst for equitable change and community resilience. In Vermont alone, M&T awarded nearly $3 million in grants to 179 organizations in 2024, supporting initiatives across education, health, civic engagement, and human services. Its Amplify Fund, a $25 million investment, further advances equity by supporting underserved communities through homeownership, small business development, and financial empowerment.

What sets M&T apart is its deeply local, relationship-driven approach. “We don’t just fund programs,” Schirling noted. “We listen to communities, build lasting partnerships, and work to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard.”

Through its generous support of GIV—and countless other Vermont nonprofits—M&T Bank is helping young people imagine brighter futures and ensuring our communities remain strong, resilient, and full of opportunity.

Thank you, M&T Bank, for your continued leadership and commitment to Vermont’s youth.