Call to apply: Citizens’ Champions in Action award for Building AI Readiness and Capacity for Nonprofits
At Citizens, we are committed to working alongside our neighbors to address social challenges and strengthen our communities.
Through our Champions in Action® Program, we support nonprofit organizations that address the needs of our diverse neighborhoods and communities. This unique program provides financial, promotional, and volunteer support to deserving nonprofit organizations in nine key markets twice annually.
Each Champion in Action winner will receive:
- $50,000 in funding from Citizens
- Coverage from local media*
- Volunteer support from Citizens colleagues
- Promotional support in Citizens branches and on the Citizens website
We are currently accepting applications for our next Champions in Action, which will be honored for six months.
Time Frame: July – December
Social Concern: Building AI Readiness & Capacity in Nonprofits
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Honorees Announced: July 2026
Advances in technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping how organizations operate, engage communities, and deliver impact. Yet many nonprofits are still determining how and where to begin exploring AI in a way that feels manageable, mission aligned and grounded in real organizational needs.
The Champions in Action award for Building AI Readiness and Capacity for Nonprofits is designed to support nonprofits as they explore AI and advance on their journey. The program will focus on building internal readiness, strengthening organizational capacity, and uncovering practical and responsible ways AI can help them save time, save money, and or upskill their teams as a means to serve more people and create greater impact.
We invite nonprofits to apply for Building AI Readiness and Capacity in Nonprofits, an opportunity designed for mission‑driven organizations seeking practical ways to use AI to enhance the quality, speed, and impact of their work while strengthening internal capacity to serve their communities for the long term.
We are seeking organizations who might use AI to:
- Improve program delivery through better data insights and more personalized support
- Upskill staff with new digital competencies that strengthen organizational resilience
- Refocus staff energy on mission critical work and community relationships
- Strengthen donor cultivation and grant development by using AI to identify funding prospects, personalize outreach, and streamline grant writing workflows
- Expand reach in cost effective ways
- Save time by automating repetitive or manual tasks
- Save money by increasing efficiency and reducing operational overhead
The Champions in Action award will be presented to a partnership or program with demonstrated success and measurement. The nonprofit should apply for the award and include success/metrics around the achievements of the program individually, or, if through collaboration with another partner(s), the lead nonprofit should apply.
To be recognized as a Champion in Action, an organization must:
- Be a nonprofit organization based in California (Los Angeles or San Francisco), Greater Philadelphia, Greater Pittsburgh, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island, San Francisco, or Southern Florida that addresses the topic above.
- Have a total operating budget between $250,000 – $5 million
- Be able to provide 1 – 2 volunteer projects, including at least one skills based volunteer project, for Citizens colleagues to engage in. (Skills based volunteerism is a type of volunteerism where our colleagues lend their professional expertise to help solve organizational challenges.)
Organizations that have been honored previously as Champions may reapply after five years have elapsed.
*Local media support in markets with established partnerships including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Rhode Island.