Celebrating its 20^th year, 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 grant funding annually to two high-impact nonprofits in nearly 100 communities nationwide. In Atlanta Bank of America has named Tommy Nobis Center (TNC) as a 2024 Neighborhood Builders for its work to provide youth and adults with disabilities with the training, education and resources needed to achieve their full potential through employment opportunities. The bank awarded Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) for its work to develop, finance and advocate for affordable housing with a focus on declining neighborhoods.

Both Atlanta nonprofits are each awarded a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for each organization’s executive director and an emerging leader, and access to a national network of nonprofit peers. Since the program’s inception in 2004, 42 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Atlanta, with the bank investing more than $8 million in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits

“This year we celebrate 20 years of strengthening Atlanta nonprofits that provide solutions to local challenges and promote economic advancement," said Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta. “Providing these nonprofits with flexible funding and comprehensive leadership training helps them address critical needs and create meaningful, lasting change in our communities. Countless individuals, families and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact that these Neighborhood Builder nonprofits have had in Atlanta over the past two decades.”  

For more than 47 years, Tommy Nobis Center has changed the lives of individuals with disabilities through the advancement of its mission: “Empowering People Through Employment.” TNC works with youth and young adults with disabilities as they transition out of high school to identify and prepare to work in desired careers that allow for economic freedom and more independent living. Their robust educational services are offered at their Academy as well as their Early Youth Employment Services, while actively serving in more than 54 schools in metro Atlanta. This new grant funding will support the expansion into a new facility, enabling the organization to serve a greater number of individuals with disabilities throughout the metro Atlanta area

“Tommy Nobis Center is a real business solution for companies that want to have a well-rounded workforce,” said Dave Ward, president and CEO, Tommy Nobis Center. “Bank of America has been a long-standing partner to us for many years, and this grant will allow us to serve more people and change more lives.”

The Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership works to expand the city’s supply of affordable housing and revitalize disinvested neighborhoods. It has supported construction of more than 11,000 homes for people with low-to-moderate incomes, offering down payment assistance to buyers and helping them make connections to other housing support programs that make homeownership affordable. The bank’s funding will support ANDP’s single-family acquisition strategy. ANDP is the first nonprofit in the county to develop a first-look relationship with a large national investor to review homes prior to them being placed on MLS with the option to purchase them at a discount. ANDP will prioritize homes for immediate homeownership but is also poised to benefit from this unique market opportunity by expanding its single-family rental portfolio over the next 24 months.

"At a pivotal moment in our history, Bank of America partnered with us to refine our systems and grow the scale and production of our acquisition model," said John O’Callaghan, president & CEO, Neighborhood Development Partnership. "Today, with Bank of America's investments, we produce 100 homeownership/rental homes per year.

Neighborhood Builders is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, with awardees selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past awardees. Since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $300 million in grants to nearly 1,800 nonprofits and helped more than 3,500 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills in nearly 100 communities across the U.S. through Neighborhood Builders and Champions.

The Neighborhood Builders invitation-only program is highly competitive. Nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders awardees. The first markets Bank of America launched the Neighborhood Builders program in 2004 were: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Broward, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Newark, New York, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington, DC.  

Past Atlanta Neighborhood Builders include East Lake Foundation, The Literacy Lab's Leading Men Fellowship, Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, Latin American Association, YWCA and Open Hand Atlanta.