As access to economic mobility remains essential for a thriving Phoenix, Bank of America is investing in nonprofit leaders and organizations working to create a lasting positive impact in the community. The bank named New Pathways for Youth and Dress for Success Arizona as its 2026 Neighborhood Builders® awardees in Phoenix, recognizing their work to advance economic mobility in the region by providing workforce development and career readiness services.
Through Bank of America’s signature Neighborhood Builders program, the organizations will each receive $200,000 in funding over two years, leadership development for the executive director and an emerging leader, and access to a national peer network of nonprofit leaders.
“Strong nonprofits are essential to creating economic opportunity and addressing the workforce and education challenges we face in the Valley,” said Scott Vanderpool, president, Bank of America Phoenix. “Our Neighborhood Builders awards invest in the meaningful differences these two nonprofits are making today, but also in their leaders who will help drive sustained impact for years to come.”
New Pathways for Youth is a leading local nonprofit that provides youth with the support, stability and skills needed to flourish both personally and professionally. Through transformative mentoring relationships and intentional skill-building programs, the organization fosters overall confidence and creates sustainable pathways that ensure their youth thrive long-term. Through this investment, New Pathways for Youth plans to expand youth mentoring, college and career programming, culturally responsive Latino mentorship, and workforce partnerships, helping its youth across Maricopa County achieve graduation, postsecondary, and career success.
“Many young people across Maricopa County face barriers to staying engaged in school and planning for their futures,” said Dr. Karen Johnson, president and chief executive officer of New Pathways for Youth. “This investment will help increase access to our trauma-informed mentoring, case management, and workforce development programming, empowering students to build the skills, confidence, and support systems they need to graduate and pursue meaningful career opportunities.”
Dress for Success Arizona drives economic mobility by equipping clients with workplace attire and the developmental tools needed for long-term career advancement. The new funding and leadership development opportunity will help the organization scale its operations and expand its reach across Arizona in places like Pinal, Coconino, and Mohave counties. This growth will also strengthen local ecosystem partnerships, combining its core workforce expertise with broader support networks to deliver integrated, holistic services that empower women and their families across Arizona.
“Navigating today’s evolving job market requires more than workplace attire. Our clients need comprehensive, wraparound support to overcome systemic barriers to economic mobility,” said Tamala McBath, chief executive officer of Dress for Success Arizona. “This critical investment from Bank of America will help us expand our reach, strengthen our statewide presence, and deepen our partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to empowering women and their families. Together, we are building a stronger statewide workforce ecosystem that connects women with the resources, skills, and support they need to advance their careers, achieve long-term financial stability, and contribute to thriving communities.”
Since the program’s inception, 44 nonprofits in Phoenix have been selected as Neighborhood Builders, with Bank of America investing more than $9.2 million to help strengthen local nonprofit leadership and community impact.
Neighborhood Builders is Bank of America’s signature philanthropic program focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership and advancing economic opportunity. Since 2004, the program has invested more than $346 million in nearly 2,000 nonprofits and supported the development of more than 4,000 nonprofit leaders across all 97 markets.
