Community Development Champions

We believe that strong communities are the foundation for economic growth and a prosperous society. Through our Community Development Grants Program, we provide funding for nonprofits that are advancing economic opportunity and mobility in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities.
What is a Community Development Champion?
An organization in partnership with Goldman Sachs that helps address critical community needs in LMI neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey and Utah:
Affordable Housing

Access to affordable, safe and stable housing.

Community Services

Social services, education, job training and community development.

Small Business Development

Catalytic capital and philanthropic focus on economic development, particularly for underserved small businesses.

Neighborhood Revitalization

Activities that help attract new, or retain existing, businesses or residents.

The Equity Builders Initiative

Through more than 50 meetings with nonprofit partners in 2023, we heard an acute need for multi-year, general operating grants to help organizations build capacity and sustainably deepen their impact in LMI communities they serve. In response, we launched the Equity Builders Initiative, which awards more than $1 million over 3 years in flexible funding to organizations focused on community development. 

 

The Change Makers Initiative

We also provided 1-year, program-related grants up to $200,000 through the Change Makers Initiative. This year, we primarily focused on supporting programs related to LMI homeownership.

Homeownership can be a critical pathway to financial stability, wealth creation, and self-sufficiency. Lower-income households are less likely to own their homes than higher-income households. In 2023, 47% of bottom-income-quintile households were homeowners versus 81% of the top income quintile.1 Additionally, half of all renter households in the US were cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on housing.2 The remaining income makes accumulating savings for upfront mortgage costs, often tens of thousands of dollars, nearly impossible. We funded these programs to create innovative pathways to affordable and sustainable housing.

[1] https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2024/homeownership-among-lowest-income-households-climbs-near-all-time-high#_ftn2

[2] https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_The_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2024.pdf

 

Learn more about our 2024 Champions below:

Our Community Development Champions are at the forefront of overcoming barriers and bring decades of expertise—many with over 50 years of service—to advancing economic opportunity and mobility for underserved communities. Their work is rooted in comprehensive programming that directly address the challenges faced by LMI individuals, including education to foster economic mobility, quality affordable housing to promote community stability, and comprehensive, interconnected services functioning as a “one-stop-shop” for communities.
 

Equity Builders

Asian Americans for Equality

Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation

Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.

Queens Community House

The Legal Aid Society

United Way of Salt Lake

 

Change Makers

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake

Bronx Neighborhood Housing Services CDC

Catholic Community Servies of Utah

Center for New York City Neighborhoods

Change Capital Fund

Clinton Hill Community Action

Columbus Foundation, Inc.

Community Development Corporation of Utah

Giv Communities

GK Folks Foundation

Guadalupe Center

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Neighborhood House Association

Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City

NeighborWorks Salt Lake

Perpetual Housing Fund

Pratt Area Community Council D/B/A IMPACCT

Regional Plan Association

Settlement Housing Fund

Suazo Business Center

Urban Homesteading Assistance A/K/A U-HAB

Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake

YWCA Utah

 

The next RFP will open Summer 2025.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Domestic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
  • Clear focus on community development, particularly the needs for LMI households and communities
  • Headquartered or majority operating in one or more of the following geographies: New York (New York County, Bronx County, Kings County, Richmond County, Queens County), New Jersey (Hudson County, Essex County), and Utah (Salt Lake County, Summit County, Tooele County).

Evaluation:

  • Applications are reviewed by our internal judges and are evaluated on the criteria including, but not limited to, the below:
  • Innovation: Applications must present an inventive solution for addressing unmet needs among underserved populations
  • Impact: Applications should offer measurable deliverables with a clear evaluation model and measurable outcomes
  • Scalability: Applications will also be judged on the feasibility of replicating or scaling the proposed service to benefit broader communities

Please reach out to gs-cd-grants@gs.com for any additional questions.