Global Innovation Challenge Grant

Citi Foundation
Last updated: February 12, 2026

Summary

The Citi Foundation's Global Innovation Challenge invites proposals from community organizations worldwide developing innovative employment solutions for low-income youth aged 15 to 24. This initiative aims to enhance youth employability, addressing global unemployment challenges faced by millions. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to support programs such as vocational training, entrepreneurship, and financial education to empower young people. The deadline for application registration is March 4, 2025, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.

Find grants like Global Innovation Challenge

View deadline, focus areas, and more

Overview

Organizations must first register and confirm they meet the eligibility requirements to gain access to the Citi Foundation's grantmaking portal. Eligible applicants will receive access to the portal within three business days. The deadline to register to apply is 12 p.m. New York time (Eastern Time) on March 4, 2025.

Background

The Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge is an open call for applications or request for proposals (RFP) designed to provide catalytic grant funding to community organizations across the world. This year, the Foundation invites proposals from community organizations developing innovative employment solutions for low-income youth primarily between the ages of 15 and 24.

Funding Overview

Despite recent progress, young people globally continue to experience challenges in their pursuit of employment, including skills mismatch and gaining access to quality jobs. According to the International Labour Organization, 65 million young people globally are unemployed. The Citi Foundation invested more than $300 million over the last decade alone in programs that supported over one million young people in expanding their skills, experience, and networks through its Pathways to Progress initiative.

These innovative solutions could include:

• Technical and vocational training programs that upskill or reskill low-income youth, including paid internships, apprenticeships, or formal employment.
• Entrepreneurship programming focused on the incubation or scaling of youth-led enterprises to increase job creation and access to self-generated income.
• Financial education integrated into workforce development initiatives, equipping low-income youth with essential financial skills.

This is an active grant from Citi Foundation.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

• Applicant organizations must be registered as nonprofit entities under local law.
• Applicants must submit their most recent externally audited financial statements.
• The proposed program must align with the Foundation’s mission of supporting low-income communities.
• The proposed program covers one or more specified target geographies.
• Organizations do not have to be headquartered in the listed geographies.
• Each nonprofit organization may submit only one application.
• Funds can cover a range of items, including salaries, technology, program materials, trainings, events, and more.

Ineligibility

• Organizations working with fiscal sponsors.
• Private foundations, lobbying causes, individuals, and other specified ineligible projects.

Contact Information

For further inquiries, please refer to the related documentation provided in the grant's individual links.