The Citi Foundation Global Innovation Challenge 2027 for nonprofit organisations (US$500,000 grant)

Application Deadline: October 6, 2026

Applications are actually open for the 2026 Citi Foundation Global Innovation Challenge. The Global Innovation Challenge gives philanthropic assist to neighborhood organizations which might be creating progressive options to social and financial challenges dealing with low-income communities world wide.  Citi Foundation is accepting purposes from nonprofit organisations creating options to assist low-income younger individuals put together for an economic system more and more formed by synthetic intelligence.

Through the fourth version of the Global Innovation Challenge, the Citi Foundation plans to supply as much as US$25 million in restricted grants to 50 organisations, with every chosen organisation receiving US$500,000.

Programme Details

The 2026 problem, titled “Preparing Youth for AI,” will assist organisations engaged on programmes that assist low-income youth develop the talents, entry and employment Opportunities wanted in an AI-driven economic system.

The Foundation is especially considering options that mix AI and digital abilities with human-centred skills equivalent to vital pondering, creativity, problem-solving, resilience and adaptableness.

The programme is aimed primarily at younger individuals between 15 and 24 years outdated, though the grant is awarded to the nonprofit organisation working the programme relatively than on to particular person beneficiaries.

Eligible Projects

The problem focuses on three broad areas.

• AI and Human-Centred Skills
• Expanding Digital Access
• Strengthening Youth Employment Programmes

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should:

• Be registered as a nonprofit entity below native regulation.
• Have a mission or strategic priorities targeted on serving low-income people.
• Propose a programme that impacts at the least one of many Citi Foundation’s goal geographies.
• Be in a position to present externally audited monetary statements masking part of 2024 or a subsequent 12 months if invited to the total application stage.
• Submit the application in English.

Benefits

• Each chosen organisation will obtain a restricted US$500,000 grant.
• The grant interval will run for 24 months, starting no sooner than June 1, 2027.
• The funding is meant to assist the piloting or growth of programmes that put together younger individuals for employment in an AI-driven economic system.
• Selected organisations may also be part of a studying neighborhood, with the Citi Foundation in search of Opportunities to assist grantees by way of volunteerism and shared studying.

The US$500,000 grant is restricted to the programme and bills described within the application.

Potential eligible bills embrace:

• Staff salaries
• Technology
• Programme supplies
• Training
• Events
• Research
• Communications
• Marketing
• Monitoring and analysis
• Convenings
• Overhead

How to Apply

The application course of has two levels.

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry

Eligible organisations should first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by way of the Citi Foundation’s grant portal.

The Letter of Inquiry deadline is: October 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. New York Time (Eastern Time).

Stage 2: Full Grant Application

The Citi Foundation expects to inform organisations by the finish of November 2026 about whether or not they have been invited to submit a full grant application.

The full application deadline is predicted in early December 2026.

Final funding selections are anticipated to be communicated no later than May 2027.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Citi Foundation Global Innovation Challenge