Citizens focuses on two specific funding areas, Workforce Development and Financial Empowerment.  

Workforce Development - We fund programs that help build the workforce of the future through job training, career education and career coaching programs.

• Application deadline May 22, 2026 for funding notifications in September 2026.

Financial Empowerment – We fund programs that provide low to moderate income individuals and small businesses with financial education so they have the tools needed to be fiscally healthy. Citizens prioritizes partnerships that provide opportunities for Citizens colleagues to teach healthy financial practices.

• Application deadline December 1, 2026 for funding notifications in April 2026.

Champions in Action - Citizens’ Champions in Action program supports nonprofit organizations that address pressing social challenges in our communities. Two topics of focus selected annually. Application periods open in February and August.

We focus our funding on projects that serve diverse, underserved populations and neighborhoods and demonstrate strong results. We look to partner with established 501(c)(3) organizations with programs that strongly align with one or more of the above funding priorities. Grant requests should demonstrate funding priority alignment and impact and should highlight opportunities to showcase the proposed partnership through collaboration and colleague engagement.

All grant applicants must complete an eligibility quiz. The eligibility quiz is designed to provide insight into whether your organization or program is closely aligned with our focus areas of Financial Empowerment and Workforce Development.

Organizations seeking funding from the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation must submit a preliminary application. At this time, the CPF focuses the majority of its giving in the Metro New York and New Jersey areas.  All applications will be reviewed, and those that are most closely aligned with our goals will advance to the next stage of the application process.