Program Provides $400K in Grants & Leadership Training to Expand Critical Services Locally
INDIANAPOLIS, November 13, 2025 – Bank of America has named Indy Reads and LISC Indianapolis as its 2025 Neighborhood Builders® for their work to address workforce literacy and economic opportunity. 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.
Specifically, each of the selected Indianapolis nonprofits are 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, 14 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Indianapolis, with the bank investing more than $2.8 million in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits.
“Our local nonprofits are crucial to addressing local challenges in Indianapolis,” said Andy Crask, president, Bank of America Indianapolis. “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.”
Indy Reads builds literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential. The only organization serving the most beginning-level adult literacy learners and beyond, Indy Read’s vision is 100% literacy for all. Indy Reads’ office, classroom, and community bookstore space hosts around 250 free community events each year, engaging over 8,000 participants. It is also the center of operations for tuition-free literacy classes serving ~500 adult students across central Indiana. This new grant funding will propel the nonprofit’s newly launched Workforce Literacy Program, which bridges the gap between traditional adult literacy education and in-demand industry training, employment, and upskilling.
“We are honored to have been selected by Bank of America for this prestigious $200,000 Neighborhood Builders award,” said Ruba Marshood, Chief Executive Officer at Indy Reads. “Funding will help permanently establish our newly launched Workforce Literacy Program, which reveals the untapped workforce talent in our region held back by English literacy barriers. With more than 40 years of leadership in the adult literacy space, we are uniquely positioned to provide and implement this vital, flexible, and tailor-made contextualized programming alongside our industry partners. Our pilot class with industry partner Electric Plus last year proved a great success, with 86% of qualifying participants earning their professional Journeyman’s license. We also look forward to the leadership training that being a Neighborhood Builder affords, which will support Indy Reads as we grow our impact to meet a critical 233% increase in demand for our services.”
LISC Indianapolis is the local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national community development organization. Together with residents and partners, LISC helps forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America–great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. Nationally, LISC is celebrating their 46th year of work since being founded by the Ford Foundation as an “intermediary” – an innovative and nimble nonprofit that connects hard-to-tap public and private resources with underinvested places and people working to access opportunities that everyone deserves. The bank’s funding will help LISC Indianapolis expand its capacity to drive economic opportunity across Marion County by strengthening LISC’s ability to lead high-impact, place-based initiatives that connect residents to living-wage jobs, financial stability, and small business support.
A key area of focus is Bridges to Career Opportunities (Bridges)—a nationally recognized program that equips jobseekers, especially those facing barriers, with foundational skills, industry certifications, and wraparound supports that lead to sustainable employment. Participants also receive one-on-one financial coaching to help build assets and long-term stability.
“LISC Indianapolis is honored to partner with Bank of America through its Neighborhood Builders program and deeply grateful for this generous grant,” said Brandon Taylor, Executive Director of LISC Indianapolis. “By investing in LISC’s capacity, Bank of America is fueling a model that connects neighborhood vision with meaningful investment. Last year, LISC and its partners helped hundreds of residents access workforce training and financial coaching—supporting families as they grew their income, improved credit, and built lasting stability. This investment will strengthen our partnerships with local employers, enhance technical assistance for community organizations, and expand programs that help more Indianapolis residents share in the city’s progress.”
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.
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About Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,600 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
About Indy Reads
Indy Reads builds literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential. The organization’s vision is 100% literacy for all. Indy Reads’ office, classroom, and community bookstore space hosts around 250 free community events each year engaging over 8,000 participants and serves as our center of operations for tuition-free literacy programs serving nearly 500 adult students across central Indiana.
Current statistics show that 1 in 6 adults in Indiana read at or below a fifth-grade level, impacting their educational, civic, and workforce engagement. Indy Reads advances social equity through education, helping adult learners increase their English literacy proficiency, earn High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas, support their children’s education, engage in the community, and build industry skills. Indy Reads is proudly the only organization in the region that serves adults of all literacy skill levels, including the most beginning-level. To learn more about Indy Reads visit indyreads.org.
About LISC Indianapolis
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis is the local office of a national organization that helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones — good places to live, do business, work, and raise families.
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Reporters May Contact:
Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 312.992.2370
Myranda Annakin for Bank of America, 317.771.2217
Myranda.Annakin@ext.bursonglobal.com
Sam Ferrante, Indy Reads, 317.384.1496 Ext. 715
Megan Bulla, LISC Indianapolis, 317.671, 5055