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The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved individuals and families in the communities where we work throughout the world. Globally, the Citi Foundation is focusing its giving on Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship, which helps individuals become economically self-sufficient; Small and Growing Businesses leading to economic expansion and job creation; Education, which prepares young people for personal and professional success; Financial Education, which helps individuals make informed financial decisions; and the Environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate economic growth while preserving the environment.
For more information about the Citi Foundation's areas of focus, please follow the links below:
Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship
Globally, a microenterprise is generally defined as a business with 10 or fewer employees and total assets of up to $10,000 or annual sales of up to $100,000. Typically, microenterprises have no access to the commercial banking sector due to a lack of collateral or credit history. Microfinance institutions provide microentrepreneurs with access to credit and other financial services that they could not otherwise obtain.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Build institutions through capacity building and management training activities for staff of microfinance networks and microfinance institutions (MFIs);
- Develop microfinance products and services for clients through market research, testing and financial education;
- Provide microentrepreneurship training including business plan development, business development skills, management skills, accessing capital, mentoring, and networking;
- Support the development of local microfinance standards and practices including MFI rating programs, best practices in MFI governance and transparency, and advocacy for local policies that facilitate microfinance; or
- Build awareness of microentrepreneurs, MFIs or networks through awards or other forms of recognition.
Small and Growing Businesses
Globally, the Citi Foundation defines small and growing businesses as enterprises that employ 5 to 100 individuals, generating up to $1 million in revenues. The Citi Foundation will consider funding nonprofits whose programs support the development of small business and growing businesses.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Build institutions through capacity building and management training activities for staff of small business intermediaries;
- Provide training for small business owners including business plan development, business development skills, management skills, accessing capital, mentoring, and networking;
- Engage in research or data collection to initiate local needs assessments or market assessments in support small and growing business development; or
- Build awareness of small business owners through awards or other forms of recognition.
Education
In today's knowledge-based global economy, investing in basic education is one of the most important contributions Citi Foundation can make to help young people develop the skills to be successful in the workplace, contribute to the economy and lead productive lives. Citi Foundation's grantmaking will focus on elementary and secondary education programs that address critical barriers to low-income students achieving personal and professional success. We will also support access to higher education programs that enrich the educational offerings at undergraduate and graduate schools of business.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Improve access to basic education and build the skills of low-performing students with a focus on literacy;
- Prepare students for post secondary education and careers by supporting programs that build both academic and workplace skills, increase student awareness of university and career opportunities and increase student enrollment in higher education.
- Enhance teacher quality by supporting teacher training and innovative teaching strategies that increase student achievement;
- Enrich the educational experience of undergraduate and graduate business students through leadership development programs, lecture series, case competitions and curriculum development; or
- Improve access to higher education for low-income university and graduate business school students through scholarships.
Financial Education – Youth
Citi Foundation is committed to helping young people develop the skills to manage their personal finances responsibly, make informed financial decisions, build assets and achieve their financial goals.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Provide personal financial education to young people through in-school and after school programs that develop students money management skills by increasing their knowledge about the importance of budgeting, spending wisely, saving and investing and managing credit and debt responsibly; or
- Increase young people's knowledge and interest in economics, entrepreneurship and the financial services industry.
Financial Education – Adult
The Citi Foundation is committed to ensuring that adults and entrepreneurs understand how to use financial resources to help them achieve their personal and business goals. We accomplish this through education in such topics as basic financial services, saving, credit, financial planning and budgeting, asset building, investing and homeownership.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Provide personal financial education for adults through workshops and/or counseling;
- Provide pre- and post-purchase homeownership through workshops and/or counseling;
- Provide business-focused financial education to microentrepreneurs and small business owners;
- Support asset building through savings initiatives; or
- Train nongovernmental organizations, financial institutions, intermediaries and networks to teach financial education to members of the communities they serve.
Environment – Sustainable Enterprise
Sustainable enterprises can be either micro or small and growing enterprises that act as the catalysts for economic and environmental change to improve our communities for future generations through monetary benefits to low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs, increased employment opportunities, reduced energy and resource consumption, land conservation, and improved air and water quality.
We will consider supporting programs that:
- Build institutions through capacity building and management training activities for staff of local intermediaries;
- Provide entrepreneur training including business plan development, business development skills, management skills, accessing capital, mentoring, value chains, and networking in such areas as forestry, sustainable agriculture, or ecotourism;
- Engage in research or data collection to initiate local needs assessments or market assessments that support the development of sustainable businesses and assess their environmental benefits;
- Build the field through education and training of potential stakeholders, participants, and policymakers in addition to network development;
- Develop financial instruments and tools that support sustainable enterprises; or
- Build awareness of sustainable enterprises through awards or other forms of recognition.
Funding Limitations
The Citi Foundation does NOT accept grant applications for:
- Advertising, special events, dinners, telethons, benefits or fundraising events
- Capital or endowment campaigns
- General operating support
- Individuals
- Religious, veteran, or fraternal organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
- Political causes, campaigns or candidates
- Requests deemed as "pass-through" funding
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