Philanthropic Focus

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.

We focus our resources on partners working in the following three focus areas:

Youth Economic Opportunities

The Citi Foundation supports efforts that help boost the employability of low-income young people around the world. In particular, we seek to increase the number of low-income youth, primarily aged 16-24, who become employed or start an income-generating business through leadership and skills training, experiential learning, and access to professional networks. Further, we believe that consistent and meaningful engagement of young people in the design and execution of programs that are intended to benefit them can help ensure that those programs are addressing their priorities and aspirations and improving their economic prospects.

Financial Inclusion

The Citi Foundation supports efforts to develop a more inclusive financial system that provides greater access to financial products, services and capital to low-income communities and individuals. Access to capital and financial products empowers adults and young people to build financial assets, enables entrepreneurs to grow or launch businesses that create jobs, and helps community-based organizations strengthen and transform communities. However, we believe access to capital and products alone is not enough. Financial capability—the ability to establish financial plans and develop strategies for preserving a strong financial position during times of both economic prosperity and instability—is critical to the financial well-being and upward economic mobility of individuals and communities.

Community Solutions

The Citi Foundation supports efforts that break down silos and bring stakeholders together to develop and scale solutions to the most pressing challenges confronting low-income communities. By strengthening nonprofit organizations and building partnerships and networks, we seek to transform communities into sustainable and thriving epicenters of economic opportunity. We support collaborations among stakeholders such as local government, community-based organizations and residents, the private sector, and research institutions and invest in efforts that spur innovation in key areas, including affordable housing, environmental sustainability, job training and small business development.

Hearst Foundations' Mission

The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

Hearst Foundations' Goals

The Foundations seek to achieve their mission by funding approaches that result in:

• Improved health and quality of life
• Access to high quality educational options to promote increased academic achievement
• Arts and sciences serving as a cornerstone of society
• Sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
• Stabilizing and supporting families

Funding Priorities

The Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of interests – culture, education, health and social service – and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Culture

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those which enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Education

The Hearst Foundations fund educational institutions demonstrating uncommon success in preparing students to thrive in a global society. The Foundations’ focus is largely on higher education, but they also fund innovative models of early childhood and K-12 education, as well as professional development.

Types of Support: Program, scholarship, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Health

The Hearst Foundations assist leading regional hospitals, medical centers and specialized medical institutions providing access to high-quality healthcare for low-income populations. In response to the shortage of healthcare professionals necessary to meet the country’s evolving needs, the Foundations also fund programs designed to enhance skills and increase the number of practitioners and educators across roles in healthcare. Because the Foundations seek to use their funds to create a broad and enduring impact on the nation’s health, support for medical research and the development of young investigators is also considered.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, endowment support

Social Service

The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.

Types of Support: Program, capital and general support

NOTE: Eligible nonprofits aligned to our giving priorities with an invitation to apply for funding from Wells Fargo will use the invitation code provided to access the online application portal to complete a grant application. 

Nonprofits that have not been invited to apply but align with our strategic focus areas and meet eligibility and outcomes reporting requirements may register and submit a Grant Interest Form.

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of national and local nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities: financial health, housing affordability, small business growth, and sustainability to address these complex societal issues and help create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.

Our community giving and engagement is primarily focused on areas we see as critical for building more resilient and inclusive communities:

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

Background

Over the next three years, AWS is committing $40M to harness the power of the cloud to advance health equity globally. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is offering AWS Promotional Credit and technical expertise to selected institutions and companies addressing health disparities that impact underserved or underrepresented communities around the world.

The program will support applications that develop culturally responsive solutions to: 1) increase access to health services, 2) reduce disparities by addressing social determinants of health, and 3) leverage data to promote equitable and inclusive systems of care.

We have the opportunity to harness the power of health-related data in the cloud to address longstanding social and structural disparities that were amplified by the differential impact of COVID-19 on underserved populations. Cloud innovation can help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing by supporting more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive recovery efforts.

Addressing health inequities requires a multi-faceted approach and a variety of solutions due to its complexities. Though technology is not a silver bullet, it can be a force multiplier for organizations building innovative cloud-based solutions to remove barriers and reduce disparities in health. Examples of cloud interventions for underserved populations can include conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance community engagement, enable access to integrated health and social services, and target disparities in health outcomes. Underserved or underrepresented communities can include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, neurodiversity, geography, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Funding Areas

We invite applications by organizations who are leveraging the cloud to reduce inequities in care and enhance health outcomes in any of the following four areas:

• Increase access to health services
  • Access to health services is essential to improving health outcomes. Digital health has the potential to be a valuable—if not critical—tool to increase access to health. Technology has the potential to let patients consult with health services practically anywhere in the world, help overcome distance barriers, and facilitate critical care in emergency situations.
• Reduce disparities by addressing social determinants of health
  • Reducing health disparities also requires addressing its underlying root causes. Research shows that non-medical drivers of health, otherwise known as social determinants of health (SDoH), are key to reducing inequities and improving health. Where people are born, grow, work, live, and age influence SDoH, which can be more important than healthcare or lifestyle choices in influencing health.
• Leverage data to promote equitable and inclusive systems of care
  • Another contributor to health disparities are gaps in health data. A global assessment showed that only 51 percent of countries include disaggregated data in their published national health statistics reports. This means the health status of diverse groups are not represented in national averages and, as a result, are invisible when decisions are made based on this data. This can lead to health systems focusing support on certain demographics and not others.
• Advance equity in diagnostics and screening
  • Access to diagnostics is an essential element of healthcare, however, much of the world has limited to no access to diagnostics. The diagnosis of easily diagnosable tracer conditions (such as diabetes and tuberculosis) however, is often difficult to access for people of low socio-economic status, youth, traditionally underserved or underrepresented populations, and those with low levels of education. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can have a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. In tandem with health system strengthening and other coordinated public health efforts, diagnostic technology has the power to improve global health outcomes by democratizing access to health and healthcare, and advancing health equity.

Funding Request

The maximum request per application should not exceed $250,000 in AWS Promotional Credit. We will consider applications that exceed this on a case-by-case basis, and such applications must be accompanied by a justification for the additional request.  

AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year.

Flagship Grants

The flagship AARP Community Challenge grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. Since 2017, AARP has funded projects ranging from $500 to $50,000 with an average grant amount of $11,900 (83 percent of grants have been under $20,000.) AARP reserves the right to award compelling projects of any dollar amount.

We are accepting applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older. Projects can:

• Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities
• Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability, and access to public and private transit
• Support housing options that increases the availability of accessible and affordable choices
• Ensure a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion while improving the built and social environment of a community;
• Increase digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents
• Support community resilience through investments that improve disaster management, preparedness and mitigation for residents
• Increase civic engagement with innovative and tangible projects that bring residents and local leaders together to address challenges and facilitate a greater sense of inclusion
• Improve community health and economic empowerment in support of financial well-being and improved health outcomes

NEW! Capacity-Building Microgrants

By combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, AARP Livable Communities publications, cohort learning opportunities and/or up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national organizations — this new grant opportunity will benefit residents (especially those age 50 or older) in the following categories:

• Walkability: Implement a walk audit to assess and enhance the safety and walkability of a street or neighborhood with support from America Walks, using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
• Community Gardens: Start or enhance a community garden with support from 880 Cities, using the new AARP publication Creating Community Gardens for People of All Ages.

NEW! Demonstration Grants

By supporting demonstration efforts that encourage the replication of promising local efforts, this new grant opportunity will benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) by:

• Advancing solutions that build capacity towards transportation systems change. This opportunity for grant funding of approximately $30,000 to $50,000 per project is sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
• Implementing accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design competitions that increase public understanding of this housing option and encourage the implementation of ADU supportive policies. This opportunity for grant funding will provide approximately $10,000 to $15,000 per project.

NOTE: Interested organizations must register to apply before the Letter of Inquiry deadline above.

Yield Giving

Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, our network of staff and advisors has yielded over $14,000,000,000 to 1,600+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others.

Open Call

The $250 million Yield Giving Open Call is an initiative focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States: communities, individuals, and families with access to the fewest foundational resources and opportunities.

This initiative seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Organizations best suited to this initiative will enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. This includes, for instance, organizations providing access to health care, stable and affordable housing, education and job training, support for sustained employment, asset ownership, civic engagement, and other pathways. They may also be engaged in data collection and communication to amplify the voices of people and communities struggling against inequities.

Background

New Profit, the national venture philanthropy organization, will invest in 16 innovative organizations driving economic mobility results across the country, with an emphasis on supporting Black, Indigenous, and Latinx leaders. Support for this cohort is made possible by generous funding from the Ballmer Group and an anonymous donor, and builds on recent investments in eight high-impact organizations building an economy that works for all.

New Profit supports both organizations and ecosystem-building efforts aimed at advancing economic opportunity in America. New Profit has a deep track record of investing in innovations in this space, especially those advancing equity in the education to employment pipeline. We believe organizations that practice proximity are best positioned to catalyze responsive, sustainable change. Meaning, those organizations that center, learn from, and adapt to the needs of their core constituencies as a continuous practice. Further, we are committed to investing in true economic mobility – prioritizing solutions that hold a more expansive view of what it means to deliver results that repair deeply entrenched harms of the past and present, while also working to ensure future economic vitality for all Americans. Our vision is to support a variety of organizational models including direct, widespread, and systemic change through our core portfolio investments and ecosystem-building approaches.

About the Economic Mobility Catalyze Cohort

For this upcoming selection cycle, sixteen innovative nonprofit organizations will receive a $100,000 unrestricted investment, in-kind capacity-building support, and participation in a peer learning community over the course of one year.

At this time, we are particularly interested in making investments toward transformative strategies occurring along a spectrum of economic mobility interventions:

• Social Drivers of Employment Outcomes
  • Examples include increasing access to high-quality, affordable childcare, transportation, and housing to support economic opportunity.
• Pathways to Income Generation
  • Examples include equitable innovations in the labor market, such as developing solutions that promote skills-based hiring, living wage jobs, and worker power.
• Financial Health & Wealth Creation
  • Examples include driving reparations and guaranteed income solutions, increasing access to capital for entrepreneurship, and exploring ideas of community ownership.

Catalyze Support Model

New Profit offers a collaborative support model to support visionary social entrepreneurs and their organizations, creating value across several dimensions. Our support model includes participation in a peer learning community, 1:1 adaptive leadership coaching, connection to consultations with external content experts, New Profit’s tested capacity-building framework and tools, and $100,000 in unrestricted support.

While each cohort of social entrepreneurs requires tailored supports to meet their unique needs, the base of our capacity-building program includes the following:

• Refining impact model to advance systems change outcomes and connecting it to a compelling story of impact
• Assessing organizational strengths, capabilities, and opportunities for growth
• Building an effective, high-performance boards of directors
• Developing equitable and results-driven practices for managing teams and stakeholders
• Identifying effective practices for operational excellence in order to execute against organizational strategy (fundraising, finance, HR, and communications)
• 1-2 additional topics identified by cohort members as areas of support

Justice40 Accelerator Program

Communities at the frontlines of climate, environmental, and social injustices have the wisdom and the solutions to create transformational change. Historic structural racism and bureaucratic inadequacies have often led to a lack of access to the capacity and resources needed to implement their community-driven solutions. With the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 commitment and the unprecedented public funding flowing from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and other federal initiatives, the Justice40 Accelerator aims for organizations from under-invested communities to be informed, inspired, and equipped to navigate the public funding space so that public money can flow to communities who need it.

We are looking for applications from groups that:

• Have identified a project that addresses Justice40 Initiative covered programs (climate change resilient infrastructure, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transportation, affordable and sustainable housing, sustainable agriculture and food systems, the remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, critical clean water and waste infrastructure, and training and workforce development related to any of the preceding areas);
• Have majority Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leadership and serve BIPOC-majority communities;
• Have interest and intent to apply, with Accelerator assistance, for public funds during that time.

Funding

The Accelerator is a 12-month long learning community of projects accountable to communities and committed to delivering climate-related solutions. The Accelerator is designed to be a cohort experience to meet projects where they are at in their journey to become eligible for public funding. The Accelerator will provide project development support and technical assistance to cohort members in order to competitively apply for grant funding.

Accelerator participants will receive the following:

• Training on public grant requirements, federal proposal requirements, and management/reporting
• Digest of relevant federal, state, and local government funding opportunities
• Invitations to calls with federal agency staff to learn about opportunities and to share feedback
• Support with federal grant registration and requisite policies
• Support needed to formulate identified projects with pre-project development, including research and data, capacity-building partners, project design, and evaluation planning
• Assessment of internal capacity and matching to technical assistance offerings
• Grant writing and grant submission support
• Peer spaces to share learnings, challenges, and resources
• Post-award management systems guidance
• A $25,000 unrestricted grant intended to help support the organization’s staff participation during the Accelerator