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August 4, 2025

Chime Names Six Community Changemakers to Receive Unrestricted Funding and Mentorship in 2025

Chime Team

Chosen from a record-breaking applicant pool for their local leadership and financial innovation

Today, Chime announced the 2025 cohort of its Community Changemakers incubator, a nationwide initiative that supports locally rooted organizations advancing financial progress in their communities.

Launched in 2023, Chime Community ChangemakersTM provides bespoke, unrestricted funding, strategic mentorship, and national visibility to nonprofit organizations working to expand access to credit, savings, and cash flow solutions.  Prior to this year’s cohort, the incubator has supported 16 Changemakers whose programs reach people across all 50 states. This year it received a record-breaking number of applications after transitioning from a nomination-only format to an open, public call for entries.

Applications covered pressing areas for everyday Americans such as credit access, savings, budgeting, debt reduction, and AI-enabled upskilling—core themes aligned with Chime’s mission to help everyday people Unlock Financial Progress™. The final cohort was selected using a weighted scoring system focused on community proximity, impact potential, and alignment with Chime’s strategic priorities.

“Financial challenges are nuanced, and we believe solutions are best designed by those closest to the problem,” said Kira Traore, Director of Social Impact at Chime. “We’re proud to support leaders who are not only solving immediate needs but also reshaping the financial future of their communities.”

The incubator goes beyond grantmaking to connect cohort members with executive mentorship, national storytelling opportunities, and a cross-sector support network. This year’s programming began with an in-person convening and mentorship kickoff featuring Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders.

Meet the 2025 Community Changemakers Cohort

  • MyHomePathway (Newark, NJ | National Reach): A fintech platform preparing individuals for homeownership through mortgage readiness and guided savings plans to make homeownership more attainable for everyday Americans.
  • Starlight (New York, NY | National Reach): A digital platform helping Americans reduce debt, increase liquidity, and claim unutilized government benefits—tapping into the $140B left on the table annually.
  • Project Invent (San Francisco, CA | National Reach): A nonprofit equipping high school students to solve real-world problems through technology, invention, and entrepreneurship, and creating pathways to higher income careers.
  • America On Tech (NYC, LA, Miami): Prepares high school and college students for careers of the future in tech and AI with free courses, internships, and mentorship.
  • Budget UniversityTM (Dallas, TX | National Reach): Offers accredited budgeting workshops and financial coaching to build lifelong money management skills to take control of their own financial journeys.
  • Dream Machine Innovation Lab (New York, NY | National Reach): Expands access to AI literacy and career readiness for all communities through hands-on learning to help youth and adults alike thrive in a rapidly evolving, tech-driven economy.