NBCU Awards $1.2M In Grants To Nonprofits

The NBCUniversal Foundation, in partnership with the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, today announced $1.2 million in grants for local nonprofit organizations in 10 markets.

In its second year, the 21st Century Solutions grant program recognizes and supports innovative, high-impact initiatives in civic engagement, education, environment, jobs and economic empowerment, media arts and technology.

Launched in 2012, the 21st Century Solutions grant program supports initiatives designed to address emerging and ongoing community challenges in new and creative ways. By focusing on social innovation, NBCU says, “the program encourages nonprofit organizations to drive forward bold new ideas to make our local communities stronger.”

This year, awardees include: a workforce development program for students with disabilities to create their own sustainable microenterprises, a microsavings initiative aimed to help low-income working families gain financial stability and a scalable digital platform that connects a person with a need, a nonprofit provider and an everyday donor who wants to make a difference in a transparent, impactful way.

“NBCUniversal and our NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations are in a unique position to engage communities across the country around social innovation and our 21stCentury Solutions program allows us to recognize those local efforts,” said Beth Colleton, SVP of corporate social responsibility for NBCUniversal.

The grants will be awarded in the 10 markets served by the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., South Florida, San Diego and Connecticut. Each of the stations promoted the initiative locally and created a panel to review and select the final grant recipients. One winning organization and two runners-up will be awarded grants in each city.

“The diverse communities that our Telemundo and NBC stations serve each have their own unique opportunities and challenges,” said Valari Staab, president of NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. “Through 21st Century Solutions, our stations can support those who are responding to these challenges in creative ways—the innovative thinkers and programs that are working to make a difference in local communities.”

The $1.2 million grant awards from the NBCUniversal Foundation will be distributed to the following groups:

New York
City Kids Foundation — $100,000       
Learning through an Expanded Arts Program — $50,000
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow — $50,000

Los Angeles
Kidworks — $100,000       
Homeboy Industries — $50,000
The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation — $50,000

Chicago
Benevolent — $50,000         
Primo Center for Women and Children — $25,000
Science Olympiad — $25,000

Philadelphia
The Bicycle Coalition  of Greater Philadelphia — $50,000         
The Food Trust — $25,000
Trust for Public Land — $25,000

Dallas-Fort Worth
The North Texas Food Bank — $50,000
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Dallas — $25,000
Frontiers of Flight Museum — $25,000

Bay Area
San Jose Community Media Access Corporation — $50,000         
Mission Graduates — $25,000
Silicon Valley Children’s Fund — $25,000

Washington, DC
Together We Bake — $50,000         
Arc of Prince George’s County — $25,000
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation — $25,000

South Florida
Dan Marino Foundation — $50,000         
Carrfour Supportive Housing — $25,000
The Cooperative Feeding Program — $25,000

San Diego    
Interfaith Community Services — $50,000         
North County Solutions for Change — $25,000
Sustainable Surplus Exchange — $25,000

Connecticut
Leadership Education and Athletics in Partnership — $50,000
Boys and Girls Club of Hartford — $25,000
YWCA Hartford Region — $25,000

To watch an interview with some of last year’s grant recipients about the programs that were funded through 21st Century Solutions, click here.