I am excited to announce the 15 nonprofits that are this year’s recipients of Yelp Foundation “Gives Local” grants totalling $675,000. This year, we targeted nonprofits that were local to San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Phoenix.

The Yelp Foundation was created in 2011 to support charitable organizations and activities addressing the needs of local communities, including access to information, education, local economic development and freedom of expression, and to promote a culture of philanthropy among Yelp employees. Supporting community literacy and small business growth are initiatives that are imperative for local economies to thrive.

The Yelp Foundation accomplishes its charitable goals by making grants to very deserving nonprofits throughout the US, as well as encouraging charitable giving by matching donations made to charities by Yelp employees, up to $1,000 per person, per year. To date, the Yelp Foundation has donated more than $5 million to charities across the U.S.

We’re excited to see how these grants will be put to use! See the full list of this year’s grant recipients below and at YelpFoundation.org.

2018 Yelp Foundation Gives Local Grant Winners

San Francisco, CA:

• 826 Valencia: Supports creative and expository writing skills for underserved youth.
• One Degree: Makes it easy for low-income families to find, manage, and review nonprofit and social services.
• La Cocina: Cultivates low income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses.

Chicago, IL:

• Free Spirit Media: Makes the voices of underserved youth heard through hands-on media production experience.
• Chicago Literacy Alliance: Works to eradicate illiteracy in Chicago.
• Open Books: Delivers used books and literacy programs to schools and nonprofits across Chicagoland.

Washington, D.C.:

• The Literacy Lab: Provides low-income children with individualized reading instruction to improve their literacy skills.
• Washington Area Community Investment Fund: Promotes equity and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C. region.
• Center for Democracy & Technology: Helps keep the internet open, innovative, and free.

New York, NY:

• Hot Bread Kitchen: Cultivates low income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses.
• The Writing Revolution: Teaches teachers to teach writing to youth.
• 826NYC: Improves writing skills for underprivileged youth.

Phoenix, AZ:

• Local First: Provides underserved business communities with funds and expertise.
• Seed Spot: Helps sets up the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs for success.
• Fresh Start Women’s Foundation: Helps women transform their lives through education, resources and support.