Citi Foundation Grants a Collective $5 Million to Five South Florida 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 South Florida 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 across South Florida through flexible, trust-based funding.”

“This philanthropic investment in community organizations across the U.S. is one of the many ways that the Citi Foundation supports economic growth and progress,” said Ed Patterson, Central Southeast Region Head, Citi. “I can’t wait to see how these organizations accelerate impact across South Florida in the areas of financial health, economic development 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 South Florida.

“I know first-hand that an investment at this scale is transformational for organizations working on-the-ground in neighborhoods like Allapattah,” said City of Miami Commissioner for District 1 Miguel Angel Gabela. “With this influx of flexible funding, the changemakers in this cohort are set to have a tremendous impact on the lives of residents in my community and across South Florida.”

These are the community organizations selected to the fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers in South Florida:

• Branches
• Habitat for Humanity of Broward
• Pathway Capital Funding
• The Allapattah Collaborative Community Development Corporation
• Urban League of Broward County

"As we join this new cohort of Community Progress Makers, Branches is thrilled to be recognized as a changemaker working to improve the financial well-being of students and hardworking families in South Florida,” said Brent McLaughlin, President & CEO, Branches. “Citi Foundation's support is game-changing for Branches, giving us the opportunity to exchange ideas with and learn from other impactful organizations from around the country and giving us the resources to achieve our goals."

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