Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk)

Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk) is a non-profit organization specializing in providing education to youth and developing their capabilities in education, entrepreneurship, technology, and sciences. It achieves this through the launch of specialized programs and courses, establishing partnerships with local and global organizations, and launching business incubators and accelerators. It was founded in 2011 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince and prime minister, in his personal capacity. He also chairs its Board of Directors.

Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk) oversees several entities, such as Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh, announced by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in 2021, the Misk Art Institute, established in 2017 to support artistic talents and arts in collaboration with global partners such as the Louvre Museum in Paris, Manga Productions, which specializes in creating animated content and video games, Misk International Schools for students of all educational levels, established in 2016 and implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Riyadh Schools, and the Ilmi Center for Science Discovery and Innovation.

Misk supports several initiatives and programs, including the Misk Global Forum (MGF), which brings together youth from over 120 countries worldwide; the Human Capital Development Initiative, which offers fellowship, preparatory, and training programs; the Misk Innovation Initiative, aimed at qualifying talents and supporting start-ups; the Misk Values Initiative, a social initiative focused on promoting religious and national values through various types of content production; the Misk Stories Initiative, which focuses on content creation in writing, drawing, animation, and production; the Misk Talk Program, a platform where youth share their inspiring stories and experiences; the 2030 Leaders Program, dedicated to developing Saudi leaders at a global level; and the Youth Council Program, a forum that brings together decision-makers and youth to discuss global challenges and solutions.

Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk) offers various programs through the following tracks: the Leadership Track, the Community Track, the Entrepreneurship Track, and the Skills Track.

Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk) has established several global partnerships with entities such as Google, Siemens, Hyperloop, UNESCO, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It has also formed local partnerships with organizations such as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Saudi Telecom Company, and the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI).

On November 14, 2021, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announced the launch of Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City project, the first nonprofit city in the world. The city plays a role in achieving Misk’s objectives of supporting innovation, and entrepreneurship, and preparing future leaders through the opportunities and training programs it offers to young men and women.

Following the launch of its updated operational strategy in July 2020, Misk announced on January 2, 2022, the unveiling of its updated visual identity. The new identity simplifies the visual elements of the logo, making it more visually recognizable, and replaces commas with sequential lines to symbolize continuity in giving and growth. Additionally, the identity redefines and customizes the colors of Misk’s four tracks.

Misk received the Social Media Pioneers Award in the Community Service category from the United Arab Emirates in 2016, in recognition of its programs and initiatives aimed at empowering and developing talents and creative energies in culture, media, communication, and technology. The foundation was also awarded the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award in 2017.