Citi Foundation to grant $500,000 to Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation for 2024 Global Innovation Challenge

The Philippine organization is set to receive the amount for catalytic funding and access to a global learning community and network.

The Citi Foundation announced the recipients of the 2024 Global Innovation Challenge, which aims to support solutions that address homelessness. Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation is one of the 50 community organizations around the world set to receive a collective $25 million in catalytic funding to address this pressing global issue. 

Citing a report, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said there were about 4.5 million homeless people in the Philippines, caused by reasons such as loss of employment, unstable jobs, insufficient income, and natural disasters.

“Since launching the inaugural Global Innovation Challenge in early 2023, we’ve continued to see how community-based solutions are poised to accelerate impact on the ground,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation and Head of Citi Community Investing & Development. “We call this grant support ‘catalytic’ given the multiplier effect it can have on low-income communities. Each community organization will not only directly impact the lives of people in crisis today, but also create models that can be replicated in other communities around the world tomorrow.”

“We are very excited and proud that, once again, a Philippine organization has been granted funding to continue their incredible and impactful work for Filipino communities,” said Paul Favila, Philippines Citi Country Officer and Banking Head. “Gawad Kalinga has been a long-standing partner of Citi Philippines and we have seen the work that they have done to aid nation-building. In developing communities, they not only build physical homes; they take a holistic and integrated approach to empower sustainable communities, and ultimately, transform lives.”

“Project RISE is an innovative solution addressing homelessness by empowering marginalized communities like those in Arakan, North Cotabato. Through community engagement, health, literacy, livelihood training, and pathways to homeownership, we help families break free from poverty. The shift from living in homes to owning them represents dignity, stability, and a brighter future. Together, we are building resilient communities where families can rise and create lasting change,” said Luis Oquiñena, Chairman of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc.

“A decent house (and a home address) restores a family’s dignity and unlocks their capacity to aspire. And in the process of building the houses together, the families form a cohesive and sustainably productive community where no one is left behind.” said Daniel Bercasio, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc.

With the Citi Foundation grant, Gawad Kalinga will be working in Arakan, North Cotabato, where homelessness is driven by extreme poverty, lack of access to markets, insurgency, and inadequate basic services. Many families, especially indigenous Manobos, face displacement and live in substandard conditions without access to clean water, healthcare, or stable livelihoods. This grant will support secure housing, healthcare, financial literacy training, and community engagement. Gawad Kalinga aims to create pathways to homeownership, helping families break the cycle of poverty and build stronger, self-reliant communities.

Programs funded by these grants will be implemented over the next two years and grantees will have access to a learning community facilitated by IDEO.org, a nonprofit focused on designing products and services in the social impact sector. Through the learning community, grantees will have the opportunity to build deeper connections, share lessons learned and exchange best practices.