08/04/2025

Citizens Announces $450,000 in Grants to Expand Employment Pathways for Individuals with Diverse Abilities

Applications Open for 2026 Champions in Action for Uplifting Resilient Nonprofits

Providence, RI (August 4, 2025) – Nine nonprofit groups focused on helping individuals with diverse abilities thrive in the workforce received a total of $450,000 in new funding under the Champions in Actions grant program announced by Citizens today. The recognition events coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, serving as a timely reminder of the ongoing importance of workforce inclusion and accessibility. 

“At Citizens, we believe that creating a more inclusive workforce starts with recognizing the strengths and talents of individuals of all abilities,” said Michelle Hecht, Head of Corporate Affairs at Citizens. “Neurodivergent individuals offer valuable perspectives that enhance our workplaces and communities. Many still face barriers to employment, which is why we’re proud to support organizations that are expanding access to job training, inclusive hiring, and long-term career growth through our Champions in Action program and colleague volunteer efforts.”

Each nonprofit received $50,000, plus promotional and volunteer support to expand their reach. As part of the recognition events, Citizens’ colleagues volunteered with each nonprofit to provide resume support, workplace coaching, and skills-based mentorship, while others rolled up their sleeves to paint murals that and supported harvesting products that directly contributed to the organization's mission.

2025 Champions in Action for Building Employment Pathways for Diverse Abilities:

Easterseals Northern California

San Francisco, CA

Builds community-based employment and life skills for adults with developmental disabilities through its Kaleidoscope program. Champions in Action funding will support KCAP’s continued growth, expanding access to pre-employment training and community integration.

Hope Clubhouse

South Florida

Offers a supportive community where adults living with mental illness can build employment and independent living skills through meaningful work in culinary, horticulture, and business units. Champions in Action funding will support the launch of a Culinary Food Handler Certification program, opening new pathways for young adults to gain confidence, wellness, and job readiness.

Evolve Coaching

Western Pennsylvania

Provides neurodivergent individuals with personalized coaching, social groups, and mentorship that support independent living, college success, and career readiness. Champions in Action funding will support employment coaching, employer trainings, and stipends for participants in their Film Apprenticeship Program and Future Camp.

Opportunity Networks

New Hampshire

Empowers individuals with diverse abilities through personalized career training, mentorship, and on-the-job support. Champions in Action funding will enable the relaunch of NHET-Works, an after-hours supported employment program offering career training, job placement, mentorship, and individualized planning for long-term success.

Partners for Youth with Disabilities

Massachusetts

Expands career readiness and mentoring programs that help young people with disabilities transition to adulthood. Their programs foster disability pride, build confidence, and prepare youth for meaningful employment and education opportunities. Champions in Action funding will support the expansion of their Career Readiness program, helping more youth transition successfully into adulthood and thrive in inclusive communities.

Spectrum Works

New Jersey

Bridges the school-to-work gap for autistic youth through real-world training and partnerships with inclusive employers. By partnering with major employers, Spectrum Works integrates real-world training into corporate environments, creating pathways to meaningful employment. Champions in Action funding will enhance their post-high school program, expanding access to job exploration, workplace readiness, and individualized support that empowers more neurodiverse individuals to succeed.

The Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council

Rhode Island

Supports individuals with disabilities through self-employment, transforming lives and communities by fostering independence and economic inclusion. Champions in Action funding will support 25–40 new entrepreneurs through RIDDC’s Business Development Series, offering mini-grants, a statewide pitch contest, and data tracking to showcase the economic contributions of business owners with disabilities.

Tech Kids Unlimited

New York City

Empowers neurodiverse students through technology, creativity, and social-emotional learning, helping them build confidence and work-readiness skills in a supportive environment. Champions in Action funding will support the Career Ladder’s four signature programs, including paid internships, after school digital agency work, and boot camps that prepare students for entry-level roles in today’s tech-driven workforce.

Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley

Eastern Pennsylvania

Promotes vocational training for youth with disabilities, offering a robust pipeline of services from childhood through adulthood. Champions in Action funding will expand services for out-of-school young adults, enhancing weekday programs and one-on-one job coaching that change lives and strengthen communities.

Call for Application: 2026 Champions in Action for Uplifting Resilient Nonprofits

Citizens is now accepting applications for the 2026 Champions in Action for Uplifting Resilient Nonprofits. As community needs evolve and shifts in funding create uncertainty, nonprofit organizations are rethinking their approaches to deliver mission-driven services and making thoughtful, strategic choices around their impact. This round will highlight organizations that are innovating and demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness by streamlining operations, improving efficiency, and adapting services to meet evolving community needs.

“We’re seeing nonprofits rise to meet today’s challenges with creativity and resilience,” said Hecht. “This next round will recognize those who are adapting with clear intention and measurable impact, finding new ways to meet evolving community needs.”

Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply and demonstrate how their innovative approaches are making a measurable difference and driving long-lasting impact across the communities they serve. Applications can be completed online at www.citizensbank.com/champions and must be submitted by August 15, 2025.   

To be eligible for consideration, an organization must:

  • Be a nonprofit organization based in California (Los Angeles or San Francisco), Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania (Greater Philadelphia or Greater Pittsburgh), Rhode Island, or Southern Florida primarily focused on financial empowerment or workforce development that is reimagining programs, services, or operations to meet changing community needs and economic conditions
  • Have a total operating budget between $250,000 and $5 million.
  • Be able to provide 1 – 2 volunteer projects, including at least one skills-based* volunteer project, for Citizens colleagues to engage in. 
    *Skills based volunteerism is a type of volunteerism where our colleagues lend their professional expertise to help solve organizational challenges. 

Citizens’ Champions in Action program celebrates high-impact organizations with annual budgets under $5 million that deliver measurable, lasting change. Twice a year, the bank selects one nonprofit in each of its nine major markets to receive support aligned with its Sustainability and Impact priorities: Fostering Strong Communities, Building the Workforce of the Future, and Supporting Positive Climate Impact.

Since the program’s launch 23 years ago, Citizens has awarded more than $12 million in grants and promotional and volunteer support to more than 400 Champions in Action nonprofit winners across the bank’s footprint.

For more information about the Champions in Action program, visit Champions in Action | Be Inspired | Citizens (citizensbank.com). To learn more about Citizens’ Sustainability and Impact strategy, visit Sustainability and Impact (citizensbank.com). 

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $218.3 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X, LinkedIn or Facebook.