Bank of America, Charlotte, N.C., awarded $400,000 in grants and leadership training in November to Indianapolis organizations addressing workforce literacy and economic opportunity as part of its Neighborhood Builders program.
Indy Reads and LISC Indianapolis will each receive $200,000 over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the organization’s executive director plus an emerging leader, and access to a national network of nonprofit peers.
Indy Reads builds literacy, English-language and job-readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential. Billing itself as the only organization serving the most beginning-level adult literacy learners and beyond, Indy Reads’ vision is 100% literacy for all.
Its office, classroom and community bookstore space hosts around 250 free community events each year, engaging over 8,000 participants. It is also the center of operations for tuition-free literacy classes serving approximately 500 adult students across central Indiana. This new grant funding will propel the nonprofit’s newly launched Workforce Literacy Program, which bridges the gap between traditional adult literacy education and in-demand industry training, employment, and upskilling.
LISC Indianapolisis the local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national community development organization. Together with residents and partners, LISC helps forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America–great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.
The bank’s funding will help LISC Indianapolis expand its capacity to drive economic opportunity across Marion County by strengthening LISC’s ability to lead high-impact, place-based initiatives that connect residents to living-wage jobs, financial stability and small business support. A key area of focus is Bridges to Career Opportunities (Bridges)—a nationally recognized program that equips jobseekers, especially those facing barriers, with foundational skills, industry certifications, and wraparound supports that lead to sustainable employment. Participants also receive one-on-one financial coaching to help build assets and long-term stability.
Neighborhood Builders is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. Since 2004, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program has invested more than $346 million in communities across the U.S. and trained more than 4,000 leaders at nearly 2,000 U.S. nonprofits. That includes $2.8 million across 14 nonprofits in Indianapolis.
