Bank of America today announced New Ground and Girls Inc. of Long Island as 2023 Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods on Long Island. These two organizations join over 100 nonprofit organizations across the United States for the class of 2023. Through this multi-year grant, funding and extensive leadership training for the nonprofits’ leadership will be provided and programs and services addressing homelessness and workforce equity will be able to expand.
The Neighborhood Builders program is one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation, providing comprehensive leadership training for an executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, and the opportunity to join a national network of peer organizations. Each Builder is also awarded a $200,000 grant over two years.
“Local nonprofits provide critical support and services to address our community’s needs and advance equity on Long Island,” said Marc Perez, president, Bank of America Long Island. “Both New Ground and Girls Inc. of Long Island are dedicated to creating lasting change by breaking the cycle of homelessness and equipping young women with the skills and resources to become the next generation of leaders. We look forward to seeing these organizations continue to thrive as Neighborhood Builders.”
New Ground helps Long Island veterans and families break the cycle of homelessness through long-term, comprehensive assistance to achieve lasting and sustainable change. Working to eliminate the root causes of homelessness, New Ground empowers veterans and families by providing educational, technical, and emotional support. New Ground’s multi-generational approach to higher education, financial literacy, and career development helps both adults and youth achieve self-sufficiency and independence by addressing barriers. Neighborhood Builders funding will support the expansion of New Ground’s housing programs and increase the number of veterans and families they serve.
“New Ground is thrilled to be a 2023 Neighborhood Builders award recipient, and this could not have come at a better time,” said Shannon Boyle, Executive Director, New Ground. “As we prepare to grow our Long-Term Housing Program from two units to 20 by early 2025, this capacity-building support from Bank of America will allow New Ground to best prepare for this dramatic expansion. New Ground’s growth will have a direct impact on struggling families and veterans, allowing so many more to receive our intensive social work and education services to once and for all break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.”
Girls Inc. of Long Island empowers girls and young women from underserved communities across Long Island through research-based programs, helping participants build confidence, prepare for economic independence, and achieve their full potential. To create a brighter, more equitable future, Girls Inc. of Long Island provides school and community-based programming to serve girls and young women in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Cultivating the next generation of women leaders, Girls Inc. of Long Island aims to increase participants’ access and exposure to academic and career opportunities that have been historically male-dominated and excluded women and people of color. Neighborhood Builders funding will Girls Inc. of Long Island to further career-readiness initiatives and serve more girls and young women on Long Island.
“Girls Inc. of Long Island is honored to have been chosen for Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program,” said Renee Flagler, Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Long Island. “The funding will have an immense impact on our organization, affording us the opportunity to increase capacity, foster more growth, and add more life-changing innovative programming for the girls in our community. We are grateful to Bank of America for their support and alignment with our charge to ensure that girls are equipped to reach their full potential and become the new generation of leaders.”
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.
The invitation-only program is highly competitive and nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Builders awardees. There have been 38 nonprofits selected as Neighborhood Builders on Long Island since 2005 and Bank of America has invested nearly $8 million in these local nonprofits.
