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Grants focus on closing the gaps between people and possibility 

The U.S. Bank Foundation is investing $11 million in grants through partnerships with local organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement; safe, sustainable and affordable housing; and communities connected through arts, culture and play. The 300+ grants support nonprofits across the country as part of the U.S. Bank Community Possible program.

“U.S. Bank is committed to creating lasting change in the communities we serve, and we can best achieve this by collaborating with organizations that are deeply ingrained in these communities and are taking innovative approaches to meet their needs,” said Erica Opstad, head of Community Affairs and managing director of the U.S. Bank Foundation. “When our support helps an aspiring entrepreneur gain access to capital or students find joy in the arts, we’re investing for today and for the future.” 

The foundation has distributed grants across the country to multiple organizations that work to help people with the Community Possible pillars of Work, Home and Play. These include:

• Accessity, whose mission is to open doors of financial opportunity, primarily to entrepreneurs of color, women and immigrant entrepreneurs, so they can build prosperous businesses and livelihoods for themselves and their families, while also strengthening their communities. The support from U.S. Bank will help small business owners in Southern California gain access to capital, technical assistance and financial education resources..

• Prosperity Connection, which offers financial education and coaching services to help marginalized St. Louisans build the confidence, knowledge and skills to enhance their financial well-being. Its St. Louis Builds Credit program, which seeks to use credit-building as a lever to open doors for individuals to achieve a prime credit score, build savings, and promote financial wellness, provides financial education classes, personalized credit report reviews, and credit fairs. Prosperity Connection's Financial Coaching program offers in-depth, long-term, one-on-one support for individuals trying to reach a specific financial goal. The Community Possible grant will help Prosperity Connection serve more individuals who are looking to increase their savings and credit scores and decrease debt.

• The Pillsbury House + Theatre in Minneapolis, which aims to co-create enduring change toward a just society through the arts. The grant will support the creation of Pillsbury Creative Commons, including renovation and construction of new theatre tech, media production and community spaces, creating jobs in the arts and technical fields and new venues for creative expression.

Funding more multiyear grants than in previous years will allow nonprofit partners to focus on programming and impact. U.S. Bank also is a proud national supporter of the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program and provides grants to regional United Way organizations throughout the country.

“We share a focus with U.S. Bank of breaking down barriers to racial and economic equity, and this support goes a long way to helping our community thrive,” said Kathy Siddens, executive director of Prosperity Connection. “The multiyear commitment allows us to expand our approach and drive impact further.”

U.S. Bank Foundation will continue to provide grants throughout 2023. Last year, U.S. Bank donated $64 million in total corporate contributions and U.S. Bank Foundation giving. U.S. Bank giving initiatives are focused on improving economic outcomes for women, people of color and low-income communities by utilizing the entire bank, delivering necessary products and services and investing to help communities and individuals succeed.