Citi Foundation Launches Report on Global Innovation Challenge to Expand Food Security
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Citi Foundation launched the 2023 Global Innovation Challenge as a catalytic funding model, committing $25M to 50 organizations worldwide to pilot and scale innovative solutions for expanding food security
- Over two years, grantees collectively impacted 30+ million people, delivering impactful programs—from advancing agricultural techniques to reducing food waste and developing entrepreneurship skills
- Beyond funding, the Challenge provided capacity-building support and global connectivity through volunteerism and a learning community
- Since the inaugural cohort, the Challenge has evolved with future cohorts expanding to new issues including homelessness (2024) and youth employability (2025)
The Citi Foundation has long believed in the power of philanthropy to seed new ways of addressing community challenges. We are often willing to be a first-mover, investing early dollars in novel ideas. In 2023, we launched a new flagship initiative called the Global Innovation Challenge (the Challenge) to bring this approach to life and elevate game-changing solutions to pressing social and economic issues.
We designed the Challenge as a model of catalytic funding. Local organizations can use grants to take risks and pilot or scale bold approaches in their communities. Our ambition was to create momentum and begin moving the needle from talking about persistent global issues to implementing groundbreaking solutions that can build community resilience.
For the inaugural Challenge, we tackled a pervasive global issue: food insecurity. The Citi Foundation committed a collective $25 million to 50 community organizations around the globe working to expand food security, a pillar of physical and financial well-being. Citi Institute published a report in 2022 highlighting that a staggering one in 10 people worldwide were undernourished. We recognized that improving access to and availability of affordable, nutritious food was important to furthering the Citi Foundation’s mission of advancing economic opportunity in the communities we serve.
As the cohort’s two-year programming period comes to a close, we are proud to showcase the incredible work of our grantees. During this time, they have collectively impacted more than 30 million individuals globally. It is their transformative programs that help farmers in the Philippines access new technologies that fortify crops against pests and adverse weather; train indigenous women in Mexico to diversify food production and earn an income; and rescue surplus produce in the U.K., which become meals for those in need.
The Citi Foundation applied our core “more than philanthropy” approach to the Challenge,
incorporating beyond-the-grant support. The cohort had access to a unique learning community platform, where they could join expert-led webinars, connect with fellow grantees and receive financial assistance to attend international conferences. We further leveraged Citi’s vast reach to support these organizations, with colleagues around the world volunteering with grantees and Citi executives passionately championing the grantees in their countries.
Looking ahead, the Challenge continues to grow and address new frontiers. In 2024, we focused the Challenge on addressing the complex issue of homelessness, and our most recent iteration in 2025 is dedicated to accelerating innovative employment solutions for low-income youth. As I reflect on our first cohort and the evolution of the Challenge, I am inspired by the dedication of our grantees and the fortitude of the individuals and families they serve. Their strength and tireless efforts remind us that for innovators, the work does not end at a single discovery — instead, it energizes the next great achievement. I hope that for all of us in the community development field, this idea can be a driving force as we continue working together for a more prosperous future.