Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® Grant: $200,000 Funding for U.S.-Based Community and Economic Development Nonprofits
The Neighborhood Builders® program is Bank of America's flagship philanthropic grant initiative, designed to support high-impact nonprofit organizations across the United States. Since 2004, it has invested substantial resources into enhancing economic mobility, community development, education, stable housing, and overall community empowerment.
Each selected nonprofit receives a US$200,000 grant spread over two years, along with a two-year leadership development program (for the nonprofit's executive director/CEO and a designated "emerging leader") and entry into a nationwide network of peer nonprofits.
The funding is intended to be flexible and unrestricted, allowing recipient organizations to use it to strengthen operations, expand capacity, scale programs, cover overhead, or invest in strategic growth — making it especially valuable for nonprofits seeking to build long-term impact. Grant Pathfinder
Who has received this grant before
| Organization | Year Awarded | Amount Awarded | Program Purpose | Why They Received Funding (Key Reasons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Nobis Center (Atlanta) | 2024 | US$200,000 over 2 years | Providing training, education, and employment support for youth and adults with disabilities | For expanding services to more individuals, opening a new facility, and offering job training/career services for people with disabilities |
| Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (Atlanta) | 2024 | US$200,000 over 2 years | Affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, community development | To support the organization's strategy for acquiring single-family homes, expanding affordable housing/rental housing production, and neighborhood revitalization |
| Junior Achievement North (Twin Cities, Minnesota) | 2025 | US$200,000 over 2 years | Education and youth career-readiness (financial literacy, career prep) | To expand educator training and their "JA BizTown" program to reach additional underserved students, improving career readiness equity |
| Growing Inland Achievement (Riverside / San Bernardino Counties, CA) | 2025 | US$200,000 over 2 years | Building a Business Education Network (BEN) connecting education & workforce systems | To launch and scale a cross-sector initiative that aligns education with career pathways, especially for low-income and historically underrepresented youth |
| Project Hope Alliance (unspecified U.S. location) | 2025 | US$200,000 over 2 years | Homelessness prevention, child welfare, family stability, youth support | Recognized for mission to end the cycle of homelessness for children and families; grant supports expansion of services and capacity strengthening |
How to apply for the Neighborhood Builders® grant
To apply for Neighborhood Builders, an organization must go through Bank of America's online application process.
- Visit the Bank of America "Grant Funding for Nonprofits & Sponsorship Programs" page
- Confirm that your organization meets the eligibility criteria (see below)
- When the application window is open (typically early in the year through June 1), submit your application via the provided online form
- Provide required documentation: past IRS filings, financial statements, leadership bios, and a strategic plan describing how the grant will be used for impact
- If selected, the organization will receive the grant and participate in a two-year leadership development program; if not, consider reapplying in a future cycle (and ensure eligibility conditions remain met)
Because the application is competitive and invitation-only, not all applicants are guaranteed selection.
What organizations must meet to be eligible for the grant
To qualify for Neighborhood Builders, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S.-registered nonprofit under IRS 501(c)(3)
- Operate in a community/market served by Bank of America — i.e., in a region where the bank runs its Neighborhood Builders program
- Have active and sound finances: must have filed IRS returns for the two preceding years; for nonprofits in major/metro markets, the last reported revenue must exceed 10% of the proposed grant amount (for a $200,000 grant, revenue must exceed US$20,000)
- Have stable leadership: the Executive Director / President / CEO should have been in position for at least two years by the time of application
- Present a credible three-year strategic plan outlining how grant and capacity investments will advance the organization's mission and impact
- Be willing to commit senior and emerging leaders (e.g., CEO + a second "emerging leader") to participate in the two-year leadership development program
- Not have received a Neighborhood Builders (or predecessor "Neighborhood Champion") grant in the prior seven years
Additionally, the organization's mission and work should align with Bank of America's community priorities: economic mobility, community empowerment, stable housing, income creation, stable communities, equity, education, and related social issues.
When you can expect to hear back once you apply
While Bank of America does not publish exact dates for when applicants will learn their results, the known pattern and guidelines suggest the following timeline:
- The application window for 2026 may run from May 1 to June 1
- Given that award decisions typically follow soon after the application window closes, applicants might expect selection results in late summer to early fall (though the bank does not guarantee specific feedback dates)
- Once selected, grantees receive unrestricted funding (spread over two years) and enrollment in the leadership development program; the timing of the first disbursement and the program start will follow Bank of America's grant agreement process
Because the program is invitation-only and highly competitive, many eligible nonprofits may apply — but only a limited number are selected each cycle.
How GridPolaris could help your organization leverage a Neighborhood Builders grant
If your nonprofit uses GridPolaris, for example, to manage projects, data, reporting, operational workflows, or community outreach, winning a Neighborhood Builders grant could significantly amplify what you can do. Here's how:
- Flexible funding + robust operations: The $200,000 unrestricted grant provides breathing room — with GridPolaris, you can use that flexibility to organize and manage new programs more efficiently (tracking outcomes, budgets, timelines)
- Program expansion and scaling: For nonprofits scaling up services (e.g., youth mentoring, workforce training, education-to-career pathways), GridPolaris can help coordinate complex workflows, including enrollment, case management, reporting, and stakeholder coordination
- Data-driven impact measurement: Neighborhood Builders expects meaningful impact; GridPolaris can help you collect, aggregate, and visualize data (service reach, demographics, outcomes) to demonstrate effectiveness — critical for transparency, evaluation, and future fundraising
- Leadership & team coordination: Given that the grant includes a leadership-development component, GridPolaris can manage internal capacity-building plans, staff training schedules, task assignments, and communication — helping leaders and emerging leaders stay aligned
- Sustainability and strategic planning: With a 3-year grant requirement, GridPolaris offers tools for strategic planning, milestone tracking, risk management, and long-term capacity building — helping ensure that grant funds lead to lasting growth
In short: if your nonprofit wins funding from Neighborhood Builders, using GridPolaris can help you turn unrestricted grant dollars into structured, sustainable, high-impact programs — maximizing both efficiency and social impact.