Bank of America has named Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation and Foundation for Seminole State College as its 2025 Neighborhood Builders® for their work expanding access to affordable housing and providing support that helps students overcome barriers to degree completion and enter the workforce. 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.
Program Provides $400k in Grants & Leadership Training to Expand Critical Services Locally
Specifically, both Central Florida 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 Central Florida, with the bank investing more than $7.4 million in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits.
“Our local nonprofits are crucial to addressing local challenges in Central Florida,” said Naveed Shujaat, president, Bank of America Central Florida. “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.”
Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC) is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that builds, preserves, and manages affordable housing communities while supporting residents through programs that provide stability, education, and financial wellbeing. This new grant funding will support ONIC’s community engagement and resident services team, allowing the organization to expand its onsite programming, provide greater support for residents and strengthen long term impact across its housing communities.
“After 40 years of serving Central Florida, we’ve seen how communities thrive when residents have access to stable, supportive housing services,” said Alfred Arzuaga, president of Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation. “This award will help us expand onsite programming, strengthen the work of our resident services team, and build our leadership capacity so we can continue to increase our impact in Central Florida.”
The Foundation for Seminole State College supports student programs and services at Seminole State College, including academic advising, career readiness, mentoring and financial assistance that helps students overcome economic and personal barriers to degree completion. The bank’s funding will support the Seminole State Commits program, which provides services in the community, including job readiness, workforce training and continuing education courses to assist Seminole County residents.
“Our community includes students, unemployed, and under-employed people who face challenges to achieving family-sustaining incomes. This funding helps us continue and expand the program that meets them where they are,” said Dr. John Gyllin, vice president of Resource and Economic Development and executive director of the Foundation for Seminole State College. “The support and leadership training from the Neighborhood Builders program will strengthen our systems, expand our capacity to serve students, and help us plan strategically for long-term success.”
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.
