The CFE Fund leverages municipal engagement to improve the financial stability of low- and moderate-income households by embedding financial empowerment strategies into local government infrastructure.
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Inc. repeatedly backs city-led financial empowerment work that is built into local government systems, and its recent grants show three recurring moves: launching Financial Empowerment Centers, embedding banking access into youth employment, and adding financial response tools to municipal emergency planning. One of the clearest signals is its support for local office-building and leadership roles, including a $120,000 grant to the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles to support a full-time leader planning a municipal office of financial empowerment and a $100,000 grant to the City of Paterson for the same purpose. The funder also supports direct service models in city settings, with grants such as $300,000 to Orange County Government FL for launching a local Financial Empowerment Center initiative and $150,000 to the City of Jackson Tn for that same type of launch. Its portfolio includes practical program integration rather than standalone charitable relief, with municipal partners, public agencies, and local coalitions carrying out the work. The scale of giving is meaningful but targeted, with many grants clustered around city implementation and staff capacity.
A major theme is youth-focused financial capability inside employment programs. In 2023, the foundation gave $560,000 to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, $446,760 to the City of Chicago, and $230,000 to the City of San Francisco Dept of Children Youth & Their Families, all for integrating banking access and financial empowerment into youth employment programs. The same pattern reached Los Angeles, Miami, and Stl Youth Jobs, showing that youth work is often paired with account access and financial education. The funder also supports emergency financial empowerment. In 2025, it awarded $150,000 to the City of Rochester, $150,000 to the City of Dallas, $150,000 to the City of Gainesville, $150,000 to the City of Saint Paul, and $150,000 to the City of St Louis for incorporating financial empowerment resources into municipal emergency response procedures. A third area is banking access infrastructure, including $130,000 to Economic Awareness Council for identifying and implementing strategies to connect at-risk youth to banking.
$4.9M
$27.1M
$17.3M
$14.3M
Most grants fall between $20K and $90K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$90K
JONATHAN MINTZ
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Typical grant size is centered at $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $28,750 at the median, and $90,000 at the 75th percentile, with several larger municipal awards in the recent-grants list. The pattern is city-based and repeat-oriented: City of Dallas, Louisville Metro Government, City of Jackson Tn, City of Paterson, and Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles all appear more than once across different initiatives and years. That suggests ongoing relationships with municipal partners rather than one-off grants. The funder is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not indicated in the active programs listed, which are structured around selected cohorts, replication sites, and municipal partnerships.
Grantmaking is national and entirely U.S.-based, with 234 grants in the United States. Among recent awards, cities and municipal partners in Tennessee stand out, including Jackson, Nashville-area activity through Stl Youth Jobs' St. Louis grant is outside Tennessee, while Tennessee itself is the top state by grant count. New York appears frequently through New York City and Rochester, and California shows up through Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Orange County. Other recurring recipient locations include Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Louisville, Detroit, Boston, and Saint Paul. Only 8% of grants go to recipients in New York, despite the headquarters being in New York, NY.
Its active programs center on municipal financial empowerment: Financial Empowerment Centers, Bank On coalitions, emergency financial empowerment, youth employment financial education, small business financial counseling, CityStart planning, and SaveUSA matched savings. The common thread is embedding financial services into city government and local partner systems.
Yes. One active program is Emergency Financial Empowerment, which partners local emergency management leadership with government and community financial empowerment resources. Recent grants include $150,000 awards to the City of Rochester, the City of Dallas, the City of Gainesville, the City of Saint Paul, and the City of St Louis for emergency response planning.
The grant-size distribution is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $28,750 at the median, and $90,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger municipal grants such as $560,000 to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and $300,000 to Orange County Government FL.
Recent grants cluster in cities across the country, with Tennessee the top state by grant count. Named recipient locations include New York City, Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami, Jackson, Louisville, Dallas, Rochester, Saint Paul, and Los Angeles.
The active programs listed do not indicate an unsolicited-application route. They are structured as selected initiatives and municipal partnerships, including cohort-based city programs, replication sites, and targeted local coalitions.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to local government partners interested in launching a Financial Empowerment Center; applications must be submitted through the CFE Fund online portal.
Deadline: Applications are due by Tuesday, October 6th at 11:59 PM ET.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS | WASHINGTON, DC | $280,000 | 2026 | FACILITATE A LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO FEC CLIENTS |
| CITY OF CHARLESTON SC | CHARLESTON, SC | $200,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $185,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF SAVANNAH | SAVANNAH, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| POLK COUNTY | DES MONIES, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF KANSAS CITY MO | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| MILWAUKEE COUNTY WI | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF LITTLE ROCK AR | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $100,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY WI | JEFFERSON, WI | $100,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| CITY OF PUEBLO CO | PUEBLO, CO | $100,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF MEMPHIS TN | MEMPHIS, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF SPRINGFIELD MA | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF ST PETERSBURG FL | PETERSBURG, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF SACRAMENTO | SACRAMENTO, CA | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF COLUMBUS | COLUMBUS, OH | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT | LOUISVILLE, KY | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF AURORA | AURORA, IL | $90,000 | 2026 | PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
| MAYOR'S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2026 | INDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO CONNECT AT-RISK YOUTH TO BANKING |
| CITY OF SOUTH BEND | SOUTH BEND, IN | $75,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $70,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| CITY OF SACRAMENTO | SACRAMENTO, CA | $70,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $70,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| MAYOR'S FUND FOR LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $70,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| CITY OF SOUTH BEND | SOUTH BEND, IN | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF JACKSON TN | JACKSON, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF SAN ANTONIO | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF SHREVEPORT | SHREVEPORT, LA | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| ALLEGHENY COUNTY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF LANSING | LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF PUEBLO CO | PUEBLO, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF RACINE | RACINE, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF MOUNT VERNON NY | MOUNT VERNON, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FL | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT | LOUISVILLE, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE |
| ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BASALT, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF GAITHERSBURG | GAITHERSBURG, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| POLK COUNTY | DES MONIES, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| SHELBY COUNTY | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| CITY OF PATERSON | PATERSON, NJ | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| WASHTENAW COUNTY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
| ALLEGHENY COUNTY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL |
FACILITATE A LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO FEC CLIENTS
CITY OF CHARLESTON SC
$200,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
$185,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF SAVANNAH
$100,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
POLK COUNTY
$100,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF KANSAS CITY MO
CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
MILWAUKEE COUNTY WI
$100,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF LITTLE ROCK AR
$100,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
JEFFERSON COUNTY WI
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY
$100,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CITY OF PUEBLO CO
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF MEMPHIS TN
$100,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD MA
$100,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF ST PETERSBURG FL
$100,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF ROCHESTER
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF SACRAMENTO
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF AKRON
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF COLUMBUS
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF AURORA
$90,000PILOTING MUNICIPALLY-LED FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
INDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO CONNECT AT-RISK YOUTH TO BANKING
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
$75,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF DALLAS
$70,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CITY OF SACRAMENTO
$70,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE
$70,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF JACKSON TN
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF SHREVEPORT
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
$50,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF DETROIT
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF LANSING
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF PUEBLO CO
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF RACINE
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON NY
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF ROCHESTER
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FL
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF TULSA
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF AKRON
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI
$50,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC) INITIATIVE
CITY OF GAITHERSBURG
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
POLK COUNTY
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
SHELBY COUNTY
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
CITY OF PATERSON
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
WASHTENAW COUNTY
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
$50,000INCORPORATING LEGACY PLANNING INTO THE FEC MODEL