Arouet Receives $200K grant from Bank of America to ‘crack the code’ of successful reentry
Neighborhood Builders grant pushes Arouet over $1M in annual funding
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—November 15, 2022—Arouet Foundation, an innovative, second-chance movement for people impacted by the criminal justice system, will promote one of its formerly-incarcerated leaders and work to crack the code of successful reentry, thanks to a generous 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® award.
The funding, announced this morning by Bank of America at a Heard Museum breakfast celebration, gives Arouet a $200,000 grant over two years and comprehensive leadership training to help the organization increase its financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling. Arouet will direct the grant toward new office space in central Phoenix, where it will lead in-person workshops for formerly-incarcerated clients on job readiness, financial literacy and resume building. The funding also enables Arouet and its nonprofit partners to gather and analyze the data of successful reentry to further the growth of its programming.
“Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders grant will provide critical operating support to Arouet to significantly expand our curriculum,” Arouet CEO Alison Rapping told an audience of business and nonprofit community leaders at the Heard Museum event. “This is a pinnacle award. Organizations who win Neighborhood Builders funding know that it means the trajectory of their work is obviously positive and will only increase their impact. We are honored and humbled to win this funding.”
The award pushes Arouet’s funding to over $1 million annually. In addition to workspace and curriculum-building, the grant will also fund a mobile computer lab to help train clients. Appropriately, the funding also supports the promotion of Brandy Smith to Director of Programming. Smith, who joined Arouet five years ago after serving 17 years in Arizona’s state prison system, has been integral to the success of Arouet’s work and the growth of the organization itself.
“Watching Brandy take advantage of this tremendous opportunity is the part of this award that I’m most excited about,” Rapping said. “Her potential is limitless.”
Arouet is proud to be one of 36 Phoenix-area nonprofits in the Neighborhood Builders network of more than 2,000 nationwide leaders doing transformational work in their communities.
Arouet Foundation is a Phoenix-based 501(c)3 corporation that empowers women to take their lives back and embrace the next steps. Arouet’s innovative pre- and post-release programming educates incarcerated women about health/wellness, education/career preparation, community & family integration, and goal attainment.