26 Apr THE MIAMI FOUNDATION SELECTED BY CITI FOUNDATION’S COMMUNITY PROGRESS MAKERS FUND

The Citi Foundation announced that The Miami Foundation was selected as the recipient of a $500,000 grant as part of the 2018 Community Progress Makers Fund. The Fund is a $20 million, two-year initiative by the Citi Foundation to support high-impact community organizations that are driving economic opportunities in our communities by bringing together residents, nonprofits, businesses, and municipal agencies. The Foundation joins a group of 40 change agents who are playing a key role in coordinating the efforts of multiple partners toward common goals and working in new ways to address urban challenges in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area and Washington D.C.

Through the fund, The Miami Foundation and Radical Partners will collaborate to establish a capacity-building hub to serve as a focal point for strengthening high-impact social and civic purpose organizations in Greater Miami. The hub aims to develop open-source resources and community programming to strengthen Greater Miami’s nonprofit eco-system and better serve the unique needs in this market

“We launched this program in 2015 as our version of ‘venture philanthropy’ – a chance to invest in the vision and mission of these organizations who are helping positively transform their communities,” said Brandee McHale, president of the Citi Foundation. “We’re pleased with the results from our inaugural Community Progress Makers and are looking forward to implementing the lessons we’ve learned with this next, impressive group of community leaders as they scale, innovate and drive impact.”

“Prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable and creating equitable opportunity is central in all our work,” said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “As a Community Progress Maker, we will boost our civic leadership and partnerships to launch a capacity-building hub for the nonprofit sector we rely on to transform lives.”

“Through this partnership, we will create a new accelerator for high-potential organizations, develop open-source resources and community programming to strengthen Greater Miami’s nonprofit eco-system and better serve the unique needs in this market,” added Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, founder and CEO of Radical Partners.

In 2016-2017, the inaugural cohort of Community Progress Makers helped more than 14,700 low-income people secure financial assets; built over 10,500 affordable housing units; strengthened more than 1,100 small businesses; and connected 1,800 young people to jobs in their communities.

Click here to see a full list of Community Progress Makers.

About the Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.