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07/27/2026

Nine Nonprofits Receive Citizens Champion in Action Awards for Putting AI to Work in Their Communities

Organizations will receive $50,000, volunteer engagement, and promotional support to strengthen operations, expand services, and increase community impact

Providence, Rhode Island (July 27, 2026)– Nine nonprofits across Citizens’ footprint are using technology to strengthen healthcare access, youth mentorship, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, earning recognition as Citizens’ 2026 Champions in Action. Citizens has recognized the organizations as its 2026 Champions in Action for Building AI Readiness and Capacity, honoring efforts to strengthen operations, improve service delivery, and expand access to essential services.

According to TechSoup’s State of AI in Nonprofits research, more than 85% of nonprofits are exploring or experimenting with artificial intelligence, yet only 24% have a formal strategy in place. As nonprofits face growing demand for services and increasing pressure to operate efficiently, many are exploring how artificial intelligence can strengthen operations, expand services, and better support the communities they serve. This year's Champions in Action recipients are applying technology in practical ways that help them better serve patients, students, entrepreneurs, families, and community organizations across Citizens' footprint.

Highlights

• Nine nonprofits selected across Citizens’ nine major markets.
• Organizations will receive $50,000 in funding, volunteer engagement, and promotional support.
• Recipients are using AI and technology to address healthcare access, workforce development, entrepreneurship, food security, youth mentorship, and basic-needs challenges.
• Since launching 24 years ago, Citizens’ Champions in Action program has awarded more than $13 million to more than 420 nonprofits.

“Across our footprint, nonprofits are exploring how technology can help them respond to growing community needs, strengthen operations, and expand the reach of their work,” said Michelle Hecht, Head of Corporate Affairs at Citizens. “We’re proud to support this year's Champions in Action recipients that are applying AI in practical ways, helping more patients access healthcare, connecting more young people with mentors and educational opportunities, strengthening support for entrepreneurs, and improving access to essential resources.”

As part of the recognition, Citizens’ colleagues supported the award recipients through volunteer projects aligned with each organization’s mission. Across the bank’s footprint, colleagues helped advance youth mentoring initiatives, supported food-access efforts, contributed to STEM and workforce development programs, and assisted organizations working to expand access to healthcare and essential resources. These projects reflect the Champions in Action program’s commitment to pairing financial support with hands-on volunteer engagement that helps deepen community impact.

2026 Champions in Action for Building AI Readiness and Nonprofit Capacity:

Citizens’ Champions in Action program celebrates high-impact organizations with annual budgets under $5 million that deliver measurable, lasting change in their communities. Twice a year, Citizens selects one nonprofit in each of its nine major markets to receive funding and resources aligned with the bank’s Delivering Impact focus area. 

Since launching 24 years ago, Citizens Champions in Action program has awarded more than $13 million in grants and promotional and volunteer support to more than 420 nonprofits 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 $233.8 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail, private banking, wealth management 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. Consumer Banking includes Citizens Private Bank and Private Wealth, which integrate banking services and wealth management solutions to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. 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.

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