$500,000 Citi Youth AI Innovation Grant

The Citi Foundation's fourth Global Innovation Challenge will give up to 50 nonprofits US$500,000 each to pilot or expand programmes that prepare low-income young people, mostly aged 15 to 24, for work in an economy shaped by AI. Organisations apply first with a short Letter of Inquiry, and those invited through submit a full application in December 2026.

What you get:

• A restricted grant of US$500,000, paid as US$250,000 in 2027 and US$250,000 in 2028
• A 24 month grant term starting no sooner than June 1, 2027
• Funds can cover salaries, technology, programme materials, training, events, research, communications, evaluation and overhead
• Citi employee volunteering and a learning community with the other grantees

What you'll do:

• Run or expand a programme that builds AI and human-centric skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving for low-income youth
• Or widen digital access, for example community hubs with shared devices and offline or low-connectivity tools
• Or strengthen existing youth employability programmes with AI tools and cross-sector partnerships
• Submit interim reports and a final report through the Foundation's grant portal

• Must be registered as a nonprofit under local law; in the US, a 501(c)(3) public charity
• Fiscally sponsored organisations, private foundations, individuals and sole proprietorships are not eligible
• Mission or strategy must specifically focus on serving low-income people
• The programme must reach at least one target geography: 16 African, 14 Asia Pacific, 24 European, 11 Middle East and 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, plus Canada, Mexico and named US counties
• Your organisation does not have to be headquartered in those countries, and non-US organisations may apply directly
• If invited to Round 2, you must provide externally audited financial statements covering part of 2024 or later
• One Letter of Inquiry per organisation, in English