Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative®

The Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative® (NEI) is a unique and highly competitive program designed to recognize and reward nonprofit organizations and individuals that are achieving excellence in their community building efforts.

Launched in May 2004 by Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy with The Center for Leadership Innovation as its partner, the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative has become one of the leading models of nonprofit capacity building, combining mission-based core funding with cutting-edge leadership development.

Through a competitive selection process that is facilitated by The Center for Leadership Innovation in 44 U.S. cities and in London in the U.K., NEI annually directs over $20 million to the nonprofit sector.  

NEI has three award categories that are made every year to 2 nonprofit organizations, 5 community leaders, and 5 high-school students in each of 45 cities.  NEI’s award categories consist of:

Neighborhood Builders 
• Two-year operating support grant, at $100,000 per year
• Participation in the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Program® for the executive director and a designated emerging leader within the organization that is conducted by TCLI

Local Heroes
• Community recognition and the opportunity to direct a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation on their behalf to a qualified nonprofit organization of their choice

Student Leaders
• Eight-week summer internship with a nonprofit organization
• Participation in a leadership summit in Washington, DC led by the Close Up Foundation

The Student Leader Award application deadline is February 17, 2010.
The Neighborhood Builder and Local Hero Awards application deadline is June 1, 2010.

 

Visit Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy for application instructions and more information about the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative®.Bank of America Logo

 

 

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"I speak very highly (and often) about the experience of receiving the Neighborhood Builder award. It sounds cliche, but it did move our organization to a higher level of excellence. The professional development was incredibly valuable for our senior leadership (and board). The tools we were given have been utilized extensively and the organization has a heightened confidence about the future (even in these uncertain times)."