Last month, my colleague Jennifer Samson and I attended the Community Progress Maker Convening hosted by Citi Foundation in Washington, D.C. This three day event was the third convening for Community Progress Maker Grantees to learn from and network with fellow social good organizations. It was an inspiring gathering of pragmatic idealists committed to making real and lasting impact in their communities. 

What a Community Progress Maker Is

The Community Progress Maker initiative supports high-impact organizations that are driving economic opportunities in their communities. The fund supports change agents that address a range of challenges, from economic development and affordable housing to environmental sustainability to urban infrastructure. We were honored to be selected as a member organization of the 2015 cohort! 

The Perks

This incredible grant awarded us $500,000 over two years in flexible funding in tandem with media trainings, mentorship, and networking. It has been a truly remarkable opportunity for this organization.

How This Opportunity Moved Our Work Forward

Citi Foundation’s recognition, expertise, and flexible funding created capacity for River LA to align partnerships around an inclusive approach to public engagement. The momentum catalyzed by Citi Foundation’s support led to high levels of engagement across LA County, from the Board of Supervisors, the County Department of Public Works, and other agencies to community members and local leaders committed to make the LA River an amenity and resource for everyone.

In addition to this, the technical assistance provided through their Communications Coaching Initiative provided us with an incredible amount of support and resources to move our work forward, including the creation of this great video below:

We are so grateful for the support of Citi Foundation Community Progress Makers grant! You can learn more about this program here.