5 Nonprofits Share How Yelp Foundation Grants Made a Difference in Their Community

Since its founding in 2011, the Yelp Foundation has given more than $3 million to charity through Yelp employee matching and grant programs for local nonprofits. As we approach this year’s Yelp Foundation Gives Local grant contest, which opens for voting on November 29th, let’s look back at last year’s grant winners to see how they were able to use their grants to impact local communities.

Baton Rouge Youth Coalition

“With the $5,000 from the Yelp Foundation Gives Local campaign, Khaliah, the “Yelp Foundation Fellow,” was able to gain acceptance and the funds she needs to attend Prairie View A&M University. Thanks to the Yelp Foundation, Khaliah is on track to a college degree and an incredible life trajectory!” – Lucas Spielfogel, Executive Director

Reading Works, Inc.

“The Yelp Foundation Gives Local grant enabled Reading Works to provide free literacy tutoring to 143 adults. Ninety three percent of our clients reported a positive change in their lives as a result of participating in Reading Works.” – Margaret Barker, President

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford

“The grant helped us purchase new equipment in our Digital Literacy Lab, enabling even more students to learn language skills while mastering digital skills so critical to success in this society.” – Carol Drvido Hauss, Executive Director

Everybody Wins! Iowa

“Everybody Wins! Iowa is a reading mentoring program that increases children’s literacy skills and with the grant we were able to increase the number of children served to 96. This summer, in addition to adding more students served and volunteer reading mentors, the programs read over 500 books and nearly 19,500 pages.” – Karen Ligas, Executive Director

Oakland Digital

“The grant allowed 100 businesses to hire 300 early stage creative talents with design and marketing skills, while providing the support and guidance needed to succeed.” – Shaun Tai, Executive Director

This year, three nonprofits in each of more than 60 cities across America are nominated for Yelp Foundation grants. For more information on this year’s nominees for the Yelp Foundation Gives Local contest, visit yfgiveslocal.org, and mark your calendars for voting beginning November 29. You can vote once per nonprofit per day through December 9th. This giving season, give back to your local community by voting for your favorite organization in your city!