Charitable GivingDecember 2026

Citizens Foundation – Financial Empowerment Grant (2026)

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Supporting Financial Education and Economic Mobility

Organization: Citizens (Citizens Charitable Foundation & Citizens Philanthropic Foundation)
Support Type: Charitable grants
Geographic Focus: Communities served by Citizens (with strong focus in the Northeast, including New York and New Jersey for CPF)

About the Funder

Citizens is a leading financial institution committed to expanding economic opportunity through strategic philanthropy. Through its two foundations, Citizens invests in nonprofit organizations delivering measurable impact in workforce development and financial empowerment, with a strong emphasis on programs that engage employees and strengthen local communities.

What This Program Supports

The Financial Empowerment Grant supports programs that help individuals and small businesses build financial stability and long-term economic health.

Funding priorities include:

Financial Empowerment

  • Financial literacy and education programs
  • Budgeting, saving, and credit-building initiatives
  • Small business financial education and support
  • Programs serving low- to moderate-income populations

Employee Engagement Focus:

  • Programs that create opportunities for Citizens colleagues to teach or support financial education

Eligible Support Types

  • Programmatic funding for financial empowerment initiatives
  • Community-based programs with measurable financial outcomes

Eligibility & Preferences

Applicants must:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
  • Align with Citizens’ Financial Empowerment funding priority
  • Serve communities within Citizens’ footprint

Preferences:

  • Programs serving low- to moderate-income individuals or small businesses
  • Strong measurable outcomes (e.g., improved financial literacy, savings, or credit outcomes)
  • Opportunities for employee volunteer engagement
  • Established organizations with demonstrated impact

Ineligible Requests

Citizens does not currently fund:

  • Sponsorships
  • Requests not aligned with financial empowerment or workforce development priorities

Funding Amounts

Citizens does not publish standard grant amounts. Awards vary based on program scope, alignment, and available funding.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Deadline: December 1, 2026
📅 Funding Notification: April 2027

Application / Request Process

Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the full application.

Application pathways include:

  • Citizens Charitable Foundation: Eligibility quiz required
  • Citizens Philanthropic Foundation: Preliminary application required (primarily NY/NJ focus)

Applicants should ensure:

  • Strong alignment with financial empowerment priorities
  • Clear, measurable outcomes
  • Opportunities for collaboration and employee engagement

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://www.citizensbank.com/about-us/community/corporate-giving.aspx

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

  • Provide financial literacy, coaching, or small business support
  • Serve low- to moderate-income populations
  • Can demonstrate measurable financial outcomes
  • Operate within Citizens’ geographic footprint

Citizens’ Financial Empowerment Grant is especially valuable for nonprofits helping individuals and families build long-term financial stability.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Fixed deadline (annual cycle)
Typical Lead Time: 2–3 months before deadline
Best Suited For: Nonprofits focused on financial literacy, economic mobility, and small business support

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

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