Citi Foundation Grants a Collective $5 Million to Five Greater Washington, D.C. Nonprofits Working Locally to Increase Economic Opportunity in Latest Expansion of the Community Progress Makers Initiative

Each of the five organizations is set to receive $1 million in unrestricted funding over three years as well as access to a learning community and network of Community Progress Makers across the country

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Citi Foundation (“the Foundation”) today announced that five nonprofits based in the greater Washington, D.C. area have been selected as part of the fourth cohort of the Community Progress Makers initiative.

First launched in 2015, Community Progress Makers provides unrestricted funding to visionary organizations that work locally to connect low-income communities to greater economic opportunity. With this latest cohort, the Foundation has now committed $115 million in grants to Community Progress Makers since its inception.

The current cohort of Community Progress Makers has been selected through an open request for proposals (RFP) process announced this past fall, which focused on organizations working in the areas of affordable housing and access, economic development, financial health and workforce readiness.

"Unrestricted grant support is in high demand and low supply and we have witnessed how transformational this type of funding can be for community organizations,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation and Head of Citi Community Investing & Development. “This is why we are pleased to support the innovative solutions and deep community work that the organizations in this fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers are leading in the greater Washington, D.C. area through flexible, trust-based funding.”

“At Citi, we aim to have a positive impact in the communities where we live and work,” said Jason Fedash, Head of North America Emerging Corporates for Citi Commercial Bank. “Through its Community Progress Makers initiative, the Citi Foundation is making a philanthropic investment in the greater Washington, D.C. area and inspiring organizations that are committed to improving the lives of underserved communities on the local level through their efforts in economic development, financial health and affordable housing and access.”

All recipients will have access to a learning community where they can collaborate and share best practices with a network of Community Progress Makers across the country, as well as receive technical assistance delivered by national experts and leading researchers. Combining their local expertise and track record of community impact with a national network of resources and changemakers, these nonprofits are poised to accelerate their community-based work in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

“We know that when we work together across the public, private and philanthropic sectors, we can bring about real and lasting change,” said Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We thank the Citi Foundation’s Community Progress Makers initiative for supporting these incredible organizations and their efforts to make positive economic impacts throughout D.C. and our region.”

These are the community organizations selected to the fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

• 1863 Ventures
• Capital Area Asset Builders
• Community Lodgings
• HomeFree-USA
• Montgomery Housing Partnership

“The impact of becoming a Citi Foundation Community Progress Maker reaches beyond the grant itself,” said Milan Griffin, EVP & Chief Operations Officer, HomeFree-USA. “As a part of this national cohort of visionary organizations, we look forward to putting the resources gained and lessons learned to expand affordable homeownership in the greater Washington, D.C. region.”

For more information, please visit citifoundation.com/cpm and follow the impact these organizations are making at #ProgressMakers on social media.