Partners in Progress (PIP) is an initiative created by the Citi Foundation in partnership with the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) to advance economic progress in low-income communities. It’s on the leading edge of a movement to tackle big, complicated urban challenges in cities across America.
PIP builds on the concept of the “community quarterback,” which is a trusted local organization that aligns objectives, resources, and efforts among stakeholders to create strong, resilient neighborhoods and paths to economic opportunity. The “community quarterback” model, introduced in the book Investing in What Works for America’s Communities, builds on the knowledge that partners focused on solving complex problems in an intentional, coordinated way can produce remarkable results.
Since 2014, the Citi Foundation has invested in PIP, benefiting 14 grantees in 10 cities across the country. As quarterbacks, these grantees are developing and expanding local cross-sector networks that connect efforts to improve places— for example, housing, transportation, and community safety—to opportunities for people—such as jobs, childhood development, educational opportunities, health care, and other services.
- Engaged over 400 partners to accelerate opportunity for more than 1 million people
- Developed 14 cross-sector coalitions of partners from diverse fields such as government, education, housing, health, and community development
- Created multi-year plans to set fundamental community-level outcomes
- Reached 1 million people via national outreach and communications
- Gained profiles in 19 news outlets, including a feature in the Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Praised by Janet Yellen as a promising model for community development in her first public speech as Federal Reserve Board chair
In 2014, PIP community quarterbacks convened coalitions of city leaders, local nonprofits, businesses, and community residents to develop shared agendas for creating economic opportunity. In 2015, they will continue leading these coalitions and implementing plans that create progress for their communities, making local urban transformation efforts more efficient and effective.
PIP projects are tackling challenges ranging from engaging hospitals, the city, and community organizations to improve health outcomes in Oakland, California, to uniting city officials, employers, and the community around jobs in Brooklyn, New York, to promoting transit as a hub for health, housing, and economic development in Dallas, Texas. PIP projects are some of the most promising examples of community development efforts occurring around the country today.
Download the Partners in Progress Brochure
Advisory Group
- Nancy O. Andrews, President and CEO, Low Income Investment Fund
- David Erickson, Director, Center for Community Development Investments, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
- Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO, PolicyLink
- Robin Hacke, Senior Fellow, Kresge Foundation
- Brandee McHale, President, Citi Foundation
- Erika Poethig, Institute Fellow and Director of Urban Policy Initiatives, The Urban Institute
- Barry Zigas, Founder, Zigas & Associates
Partners
Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low- to moderate-income individuals and families in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving to priority focus areas: Microfinance, Enterprise Development, College Success, and Financial Capability and Asset Building. In the United States, the Citi Foundation also supports Neighborhood Revitalization programs. The Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance, Enterprise Development, and Neighborhood Revitalization to support environmental programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com.
Low Income Investment Fund
The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) invests capital to support healthy families and communities. Since 1984, LIIF has served 1.5 million people by investing $1.4 billion. Over its history, LIIF has provided financing and technical assistance to create and preserve affordable housing, child care centers, schools, healthy food retail, health clinics and transit-oriented development in distressed neighborhoods nationwide. LIIF’s work has generated $26 billion in family income and societal benefits. LIIF has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. For more information about LIIF, visit www.liifund.org.