This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Citi Foundation’s commitment to fostering economic advancement in underserved communities worldwide. Since its inception, the foundation has remained focused on a core mission: expanding financial inclusion and improving livelihoods for individuals in low-income areas. Over the years, it has adapted to global shifts, responding to crises such as the 9/11 attacks by funding educational scholarships for affected families and supporting small businesses during the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond emergency relief, the organization has prioritized long-term innovation, investing in initiatives that break down institutional barriers and scale impactful solutions. n nEarly funding helped strengthen community development financial institutions in the U.S. and microfinance networks abroad, increasing access to credit for marginalized populations. Support for research and infrastructure laid the groundwork for the nationwide adoption of Children’s Savings Accounts. The foundation also pioneered a new model of financial education aimed at improving household financial stability by encouraging savings and reducing debt. More recently, it has advanced cross-sector dialogue and research on financial well-being, analyzing trends that influence future economic mobility. n nCollaboration remains central to its strategy. By partnering with other funders and subject-matter experts, the foundation ensures its investments are evidence-based and community-informed. Programs like Community Progress Makers provide flexible grants and technical support to local nonprofits driving change. Initiatives such as Pathways to Progress and the Global Innovation Challenge have funded transformative projects—from youth-led enterprises producing affordable prosthetics in Vietnam to platforms reducing food waste across multiple countries by connecting surplus suppliers with community organizations. These efforts reflect a sustained dedication to building resilient, opportunity-rich communities globally.
— news from Citigroup
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Thirty Years of Leadership: Catalyzing Economic Opportunity
This year, the Citi Foundation proudly celebrates three decades of community impact through philanthropy. Our journey has been defined by an unwavering commitment to our North Star – promoting economic progress and improving the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. This focus has compelled us to continually listen, learn and adapt to ever-changing needs, meeting the moment for the communities we serve. n nLike others, our path has not been linear and through every headwind and tailwind we have evolved. In the aftermath of the devastating September 11 attacks in New York City, we funded scholarships for survivors and families of victims. When the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted the global economy into profound uncertainty, we infused nonprofits with philanthropic capital to support small business survival and recovery. And today, as natural and humanitarian crisis events occur with ever-growing frequency, we stand ready to support preparedness, response and recovery efforts across our footprint. n nBut our story is about more than responsive action. It is also about catalyzing innovation. It is about breaking down siloes, building bridges, incubating new ideas and scaling solutions that unlock opportunity. Our philanthropy has helped visionary community organizations reach individuals and families across more than 80 countries and territories, changing the trajectories of their lives and livelihoods. n nAn Enduring Approach: Shaping the Field, Building Bridges and Driving Innovation n nThe Foundation has long been a first mover, deploying philanthropy to seed new ways of addressing deeply rooted challenges. We are willing to invest early dollars in novel ideas and to stay the course by helping scale solutions that work. With this mindset, our early support propelled the efforts of U.S. Community Development Financial Institutions and international micro-finance institutions working to increase access to credit for low-income households. Our investment in research, capacity-building and infrastructure created a foundation for the nationwide expansion of Children’s Savings Accounts. We were one of the first funders to adopt a new approach to financial education, promoting positive consumer practices to fundamentally improve households’ balance sheets by reducing debt and increasing savings. And more recently, we built on this groundwork by continuing to support cross-sector conversations and field-shaping research on financial health, examining trends that will shape future generations’ economic outcomes. n nThis pioneering spirit is complemented by our fierce belief in the power of partnership. Our work has been shaped by collaboration with other grant-makers and by funding subject matter experts to research what works and why. And, perhaps most important of all, it is guided by the experience of our grantees who serve as a bridge to the communities we aim to reach. Community Progress Makers, which launched ten years ago in the U.S., embodies this approach with flexible funding and technical assistance to visionary nonprofits driving progress in their local communities. n nOther initiatives like Pathways to Progress and the Global Innovation Challenge exemplify how philanthropic dollars—bolstered by deep partnership and the flexibility to pursue bold ideas—can catalyze innovation across pressing issues like food insecurity, homelessness and youth employability. It’s capital that can unlock a career in software development for a young mother in Peru; shelter a family in crisis after an earthquake in Morocco; launch a youth-led enterprise in Vietnam to get amputees affordable prosthetic products; and propel a platform to combat food waste by connecting community organizations with businesses holding a surplus in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, the U.K., Kenya and Indonesia. We invest in solutions that stand to launch and scale, building more resilient communities around the world.