Community Progress Makers Fund Grant

Community Progress Makers Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Citi Foundation
Amount: US $1,000,000
Last Updated: September 24, 2025

Summary

The Community Progress Makers Fund, an initiative by the Citi Foundation, aims to empower local organizations by providing $50 million in unrestricted funding. This program, established in 2015, will support 50 selected community organizations over three years with grants of $1 million each, alongside technical assistance and opportunities for collaboration. The fund prioritizes organizations with strong community ties and a proven impact in areas such as affordable housing, economic development, financial health, and workforce readiness.

Overview

NOTE:  Currently, there are no open RFPs. Community Progress Makers Fund Community Progress Makers is a Citi Foundation initiative aimed at supporting local community organizations connecting low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunity. The Foundation first launched the Community Progress Makers initiative in 2015 with a vision of empowering local community organizations to grow their transformative impact through unrestricted, trust-based funding. The Foundation is committing an additional $50 million to support a fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers. Through an open request for proposals (RFP) process, the Foundation will select 50 community organizations to receive the following over three years: $1 million in unrestricted grant support Access to technical assistance from national experts and leading researchers Opportunities to connect and share learnings through webinars and local and national gatherings Selection Priorities For this funding opportunity, the Citi Foundation will prioritize organizations that demonstrate: Deep connections to the communities served Track record of partnering with other community organizations and stakeholders to achieve positive changeUtilization of data to inform planning and the capacity to collect, analyze, and share data, results, and learningsTrack record and innovative vision 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, 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must:Applicants must be tax-exempt public charities as per Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Applicants must submit their most recent externally audited financial statements, including auditor’s notes, covering some part calendar year 2021 or a subsequent year.Applicants must have a mission and track record of serving low-income communities.Applicants must be located and working in one of the eligible geographies noted below: Greater Chicago: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will CountiesGreater Washington, D.C.:Maryland: Montgomery, Prince George’s CountiesVirginia:Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church CityWashington, D.C. - District of ColumbiaNew York Tri-State:Connecticut:Fairfield CountyNew Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic CountiesNew York: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester CountiesNorthern California:Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Marin, Merced, Sacramento, San Francisco,San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus CountiesSouthern California:Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura CountiesSouth Florida:Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach Counties

Ineligibility

Organizations that will not be considered:Private foundations Religious or fraternal organizations (unless they are engaged in projects that benefit the entire community)Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity or expression, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or other legally protected personal characteristic or statusIndividuals Lobbying, political causes, campaigns, or candidates Organizations that require the use of a fiscal sponsor or agent Organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria noted in this documentNo portion of the funds may be used, directly or indirectly, for political or lobbying purposes, including, without limitation: participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office; voter registration or get-out-the-vote activities (unless conducted in a nonpartisan manner); making independent expenditures in support of, or in opposition to, any political party or candidate for elective public office; or attempting to influence legislation or any act of a legislative body at the federal, state, or local levels.