50 U.S. non-profits will each receive $1 million in unrestricted funding over three years to catalyze positive change in low-income communities

The Citi Foundation today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the fourth cohort of its Community Progress Makers initiative. With this announcement, the Citi Foundation is doubling down on its support for local communities across the U.S. by committing an additional $50 million to Community Progress Makers, representing a sustained belief in the power of catalytic, trust-based philanthropy to accelerate the pace of progress.

First launched in 2015, the Community Progress Makers initiative is designed to power the work of leading local non-profit organizations connecting low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunity by providing them with unrestricted, capacity building funding. The program is open to community-based organizations located in and working on the ground in one of six eligible geographies: Greater Chicago, Greater Washington, D.C, New York Tri-State, Northern California, Southern California and South Florida.

Through an open RFP process, 50 community organizations will be selected to each receive $1 million in unrestricted funding over three years (up from $500,000 over two years in 2021) to help scale their efforts to address some of their communities' most pressing challenges. Additionally, all award recipients will have access to a learning community where they can collaborate and share best practices, as well as take advantage of technical assistance delivered by national experts and leading researchers.

“The Citi Foundation recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the complex economic and social issues of our time. We aim to support non-profit community innovators that are responding to the current needs of today while also developing solutions for tomorrow,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation and Head of Citi Community Investing and Development. “Over the years, we’ve listened to our non-profit grantees on their own challenges and what’s going to move the needle for them. The Community Progress Makers initiative reflects these learnings as we double down on support for the organizations whose work will have a multiplier effect – connecting more people in low-income communities to greater economic opportunity.”

This latest expansion of Community Progress Makers will prioritize community-based organizations that have proven track records and innovative visions in one of the following areas of work:

• Affordable Housing and Access, such as efforts to promote housing affordability; home ownership; and resident support services to help people more easily access employment, education, health care, and childcare.
• Economic Development, including the provision of technical assistance to small businesses; commercial corridor revitalization efforts; and green economy strategies that promote job creation.
• Financial Health, such as efforts in delivering financial coaching; integrated financial capability services; and savings and asset building strategies.
• Workforce Readiness, including organizations preparing young people and/or adults for careers and entrepreneurship.

“Initiatives like Community Progress Makers ensure our non-profits have access to capital, resources, and expertise they need to best support our residents,” says Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida. “The Citi Foundation's funding will have an outsized impact, helping to prioritize affordable housing, financial health and workforce preparedness, and increasing social and economic opportunity for all.”

“At America on Tech, we’ve seen first-hand the power that unrestricted funding can have on the ways in which we’re able to serve our communities,” says Jessica Santana, Co-Founder & CEO, America on Tech. “When you have the trust of a private sector supporter, such as the Citi Foundation, and the collective knowledge and expertise of a national cohort, the solutions you’re able to offer at the local level are that much more creative and impactful.”

“As Urban supports the data and evaluation efforts for the Community Progress Makers initiative, we appreciate Citi Foundation’s commitment to helping these grantee organizations get the relevant resources and learning opportunities they need to maximize their long-term impact,” says Sarah Rosen Wartell, President of the Urban Institute.

Interested organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to register to apply by 4:00 p.m. New York Time on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

For more information, please visit citifoundation.com/rfp.

Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.

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