$500,000 Citi Youth AI Innovation Grant
- Organization: Citi Foundation
- Type: Grant
- Location: Global
- Deadline: October 6, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
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 **Key dates:** - Letters of Inquiry close October 6, 2026 at 12:00 noon New York time - Invitations to the full application by the end of November 2026 - Full applications due, anticipated, early December 2026 - Final funding decisions by the end of May 2027 - Grants start no sooner than June 1, 2027 **More information:** - Summary and FAQ, including the full list of target countries and US counties: https://www.citigroup.com/rcs/citigpa/storage/public/Summary_and_FAQ_Fourth_Global_Innovation_Challenge_Final.pdf - Letter of Inquiry drafting form (PDF): https://www.citigroup.com/rcs/citigpa/storage/public/LOI_Form_Preparing_Youth_for_AI.pdf - Questions: citifoundationRFP@citi.com
