The Citi Foundation’s 2025 Global Innovation Challenge focuses on accelerating youth employability across the globe. This initiative addresses persistent employment challenges faced by young people, including mismatched skills and limited access to quality jobs. With over 65 million youth unemployed worldwide, this grant opportunity seeks innovative, community-led solutions to support low-income youth, primarily between the ages of 15 and 24. The initiative builds on Citi Foundation’s decade-long commitment through its Pathways to Progress initiative, which has already invested more than $300 million in youth development programs. The Challenge specifically targets community organizations delivering impactful and innovative employment strategies.

The primary objective of this grant program is to support scalable and high-impact programs that enhance job readiness and employment access for low-income youth. The Challenge invites proposals that focus on technical and vocational training, youth entrepreneurship, and financial education. These solutions may include internships, apprenticeships, business incubation, and workforce development programming integrated with financial literacy. The goal is to provide young people with the necessary skills, experiences, and tools to secure meaningful employment or generate self-sustained income.

Each awarded organization will receive a restricted grant of $500,000 disbursed over two years. A total of 50 community-based organizations will be selected from eligible geographies where Citi has a presence. Funding can be used for a broad range of purposes including salaries, technology, materials, training, events, and overhead costs. However, funds cannot be used for political or lobbying activities. Grants are meant to catalyze the piloting or scaling of programs that directly support youth employability in low-income communities.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit entities under local law, such as 501(c)(3) public charities in the United States. They must submit externally audited financial statements covering some part of calendar year 2023 or later. Programs must impact one or more of Citi’s target geographies, which include select countries and U.S. states where Citi operates. Applications must be submitted in English, and fiscal sponsorship arrangements are not permitted. While organizations do not need to be headquartered in the eligible regions, their proposed programs must serve those areas.

The application process includes a two-stage review. Registration to access the application portal closed on March 4, 2025, and final applications were due by March 18, 2025. The review process will occur from March through August 2025, with finalist selections and award announcements expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. Selected organizations will undergo site visits and additional due diligence as part of the second-round evaluation.

Grantees are expected to submit interim and final reports through Citi Foundation’s online grant portal. While feedback will not be provided to applicants who are not selected, those seeking more information or wishing to provide feedback to the Foundation can contact them directly at citifoundationRFP@citi.com.