The Citi Foundation is expanding its commitment to supporting low-income communities through the Global Innovation Challenge 2025, with a strong focus on youth employability.
The Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge is an open call for applications or requests for proposals (RFP) designed to provide catalytic grant funding to community organizations worldwide.
Recognizing the challenges young people face in securing stable jobs, the 2025 initiative invites community organizations to develop and implement innovative employment solutions for youth aged 15 to 24.
The initiative is targeting the following regions; Africa; Algeria, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, North America.
Organizations are encouraged to propose forward-thinking programs in one or more of the following areas:
Technical and Vocational Training
- Programs designed to upskill or reskill low-income youth.
- Opportunities for paid internships, apprenticeships, or direct employment.
Entrepreneurship Development
- Incubation or scaling of youth-led enterprises.
- Efforts to increase job creation and self-employment opportunities.
Financial Education Integration
- Embedding financial literacy within workforce development programs.
- Expanding access to safe and affordable financial tools for youth.
To help bring these ideas to life, the Citi Foundation will award $500,000 in grants, payable over two years, to 50 community organizations operating in select locations where Citi has a presence.
These grants are designed to be catalytic, helping organizations pilot new initiatives or scale existing efforts that improve youth employment outcomes.
Beyond financial support, selected organizations will benefit from volunteer expertise from Citi professionals and access to learning and networking opportunities that foster collaboration and the exchange of best practices.
Organizations interested in applying must meet specific eligibility criteria;
- Applicants must be able to submit their most recent externally audited financial statements, including auditor’s notes, covering some part of calendar year 2023 or a subsequent year.
- Applicant organizations must be registered as nonprofit entities under local law.
- The applicant’s proposed program must align with the Foundation’s mission of supporting low-income communities as defined by local standards and definitions.
- The applicant’s proposed program must impact one or more of the target geographies.
The application process involves two key deadlines. Organizations must register by March 4, 2025, at noon Eastern Time to be eligible to submit a full application. The final application deadline is March 18, 2025, at noon Eastern Time.
Applicant organizations must submit their completed applications through the Citi Foundation’s online grant portal.
N/B ; Applications are not limited to existing/ongoing programs.
About Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation is dedicated to promoting economic progress and improving the lives of people in low-income communities worldwide. Through strategic investments, the Foundation works to increase financial inclusion, expand job opportunities for youth, and reimagine solutions for economic development.
