Leverage 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.
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.
$4.5M
$23.6M
$4M
$12.3M
Most grants fall between $20K and $90K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$90K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in TN.
JONATHAN MINTZ
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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.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FL | ORLANDO, FL | $300,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $150,000 | 2025 | INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES |
| CITY OF GAINESVILLE | GAINESVILLE, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES |
| THE CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES |
| CITY OF SAINT PAUL | SAINT PAUL, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES |
| CITY OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | INTEGRATE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS. |
| MAYOR'S FUND FOR LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BASALT, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF COLUMBUS | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF MOUNT VERNON NY | MOUNT VERNON, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| ALLEGHENY COUNTY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE |
| CITY OF JACKSON TN | JACKSON, TN | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| KENTUCKY FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT COMMISSION | FRANKFORT, KY | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP HOUSING SERVICES | RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| THE CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| CITY OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| PROSPERITY WORKS | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| CITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| DRESS FOR SUCCESS PHOENIX | PHOENIX, AZ | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| UNITED WAY OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA | MONROE, LA | $82,526 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION |
| CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $75,000 | 2025 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF LITTLE ROCK AR | LITTLEROCK, AR | $75,000 | 2025 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75,000 | 2025 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF BUFFALO | BUFFALO, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT |
| CITY OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | CREATING A SELF-PACED E-LEARNING COURSE FOR FEC FINANCIAL COUNSELORS & PROGRAM MANAGERS. |
| ROCHESTERWORKS | ROCHESTER, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| BOSTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | ASSISTING RESIDENTS WITH CRITICAL FINANCIAL ISSUES RESULTING FROM COVID-19 ECONOMIC DISRUPTION |
| GREENVILLE COUNTY | GREENVILLE, SC | $32,500 | 2025 | STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION CORPORATION | DETROIT, MI | $27,500 | 2025 | INTEGRATING BANKING ACCESS AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. |
| CONNECT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $27,500 | 2025 | INTEGRATING BANKING ACCESS AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. |
| ALABAMA ASSET BUILDING COALITION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| BRANCHES INC | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| MADISON STRATEGIES GROUP | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2025 | STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| THE COLLABORATIVE | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| NEIGHBORWORKS SALT LAKE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| UNITED WAY OF PUEBLO COUNTY | PUEBLO, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| BOSTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| COLORADO NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT CENTER | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| UNITED WAY OF THE PLAINS | WICHITA, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| COVENANT COMMUNITY CAPITAL | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| THE CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| PARACHUTE CREDIT COUNSELING | WEST SENECA, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| UNITED WAY OF HENRY COUNTY AND MARTINSVILLE | MARTINSVILLE, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2025 | STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| CAPITAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION |
ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FL
$300,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF ST LOUIS
$150,000INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
CITY OF GAINESVILLE
$150,000INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
$150,000INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
CITY OF SAINT PAUL
$150,000INCORPORATING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES INTO MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
CITY OF DALLAS
$150,000INTEGRATE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS.
MAYOR'S FUND FOR LOS ANGELES
$120,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF COLUMBUS
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON NY
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF DALLAS
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE WI
$100,000LAUNCHING A LOCAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER INITIATIVE
CITY OF JACKSON TN
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
KENTUCKY FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT COMMISSION
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP HOUSING SERVICES
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
CITY OF CLEVELAND
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
PROSPERITY WORKS
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
CITY OF TULSA
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
DRESS FOR SUCCESS PHOENIX
$90,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
UNITED WAY OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
$82,526SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LOCAL BANK ON COALITION LEADERSHIP POSITION
CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
$75,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF LITTLE ROCK AR
$75,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
$75,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF BUFFALO
$75,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF CHICAGO
$75,000CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS AND CREATING A MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT BLUEPRINT
CITY OF PITTSBURGH
$70,000SUPPORTING A FULL-TIME LEADER TO PLAN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
$60,000CREATING A SELF-PACED E-LEARNING COURSE FOR FEC FINANCIAL COUNSELORS & PROGRAM MANAGERS.
ROCHESTERWORKS
$50,000STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
BOSTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$40,000ASSISTING RESIDENTS WITH CRITICAL FINANCIAL ISSUES RESULTING FROM COVID-19 ECONOMIC DISRUPTION
GREENVILLE COUNTY
$32,500STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION CORPORATION
$27,500INTEGRATING BANKING ACCESS AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
CONNECT DETROIT
$27,500INTEGRATING BANKING ACCESS AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT INTO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
ALABAMA ASSET BUILDING COALITION
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
BRANCHES INC
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
MADISON STRATEGIES GROUP
$25,000STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
THE COLLABORATIVE
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
NEIGHBORWORKS SALT LAKE
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
UNITED WAY OF PUEBLO COUNTY
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
BOSTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
COLORADO NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
UNITED WAY OF THE PLAINS
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
COVENANT COMMUNITY CAPITAL
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
PARACHUTE CREDIT COUNSELING
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
UNITED WAY OF HENRY COUNTY AND MARTINSVILLE
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF TULSA
$25,000STUDYING THE INTEGRATION OF FEC SERVICES INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
CAPITAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$25,000EXPANDING AND SUPPORTING THE CAPACITY OF A LOCAL BANK ON COALITION