Program Provides $400k in Grants & Leadership Training to Expand Critical Services
Locally
Kansas City, MO – Bank of America has named PREP-KC and Habitat for Humanity
KC as its 2025 Neighborhood Builders® for their work in building career pathways and
addressing the region’s unhoused population. Bank of America’s
signature Neighborhood Builders program continues to be one of the nation’s largest
philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development, while providing unique
multiyear flexible funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in communities nationwide.
Specifically, both Kansas City nonprofits are each awarded a $200,000 grant over two
years, comprehensive leadership training for the organization’s executive director and
an emerging leader, and access to a national network of nonprofit peers. Since the
program’s inception, 37 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders
in Kansas City, with the bank investing more than $8 million in philanthropic capital into
these nonprofits.
“Our local nonprofits are crucial to addressing local challenges in Kansas City," said
Matt Linski, president, Bank of America Kansas City. “Through flexible funding and
comprehensive leadership training, the Neighborhood Builders program helps nonprofits
address critical needs and promote economic opportunity for the individuals and
families in our communities.”
PREP-KC is Kansas City’s leading urban education intermediary, with a mission to
increase college and career readiness and expand access to high-quality employment
for Kansas City’s low-income students. This new grant will enable PREP-KC to deepen
partnerships with business and industry, expand career pathways for students, and
support teachers as they prepare students for employment opportunities in the bi-state
Kansas City region.
“The Neighborhood Builders grant comes at a pivotal time for PREP-KC,” said Susan
Wally, president and CEO of PREP-KC. “With this grant, we can accelerate innovation,
scale our most effective strategies, and equip more students with the skills and
experiences that prepare them for future success. Bank of America’s investment
strengthens our ability to expand high-impact programming and to respond directly to
students' needs. We’re grateful for our partnership with BOA that will help us grow our
impact across Kansas City. Specifically, more students attending Kansas City’s urban
schools will be prepared for success after high school.”
Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City works to build strength, stability, and self-reliance
through affordable homeownership, critical home repairs, and neighborhood
revitalization efforts that address the region’s housing needs. The bank’s funding will
significantly expand programming and increase services by enabling the organization to
serve more families, accelerate construction and repair projects, and respond more
effectively to local housing challenges such as affordability, aging homes, and
inequitable access to safe housing. In addition, the investment will support the growth of
leadership capacity and positioning Habitat KC to lead collaborative, community-driven
solutions that create lasting impact across the region.
“Bank of America’s support through the Neighborhood Builders program will help us
expand our capacity, advance key initiatives, and deepen our impact in neighborhoods
across our region,” said Lindsay Hicks, president and CEO. “We are grateful for their
commitment to helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance.”
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.