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March 26, 2026

How the Old National Bank Foundation Funds Financial Empowerment

Old National has always focused on strengthening and supporting the communities we serve. In 2025, we invested over $4.2 million in our communities via grants to 275 organizations, many in the financial empowerment category.

“In 2025, the Old National Bank Foundation focused on what it takes to create lasting change,” said Old National Bank Foundation President Joe Kiser. “This includes stable housing, access to economic opportunity and the tools people need to build financial security. By investing alongside trusted community partners, we’re helping move families and neighborhoods from resilience to real, long‑term progress.”

In 2025, 98% of all ONB Foundation grant funding supported CRA-eligible initiatives, and 72% of grants served underrepresented communities.

Here are just a handful of financial empowerment initiatives funded in 2025 through our foundation:

Riverworks Development Corporation – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Our support strengthens Riverworks’ Financial Clinic, ensuring that residents from low‑to-moderate income households can access free, culturally responsive financial coaching, tax preparation, credit‑building tools, and group workshops. The judgment‑free environment empowers clients to rebuild credit, address debt, and take steps toward greater financial security. These services reduce financial stress, increase household resilience, and promote more equitable economic participation across Milwaukee neighborhoods.

Institute of Public Scholarship – Kalamazoo, Michigan

Through the Ampersee Home Start Initiative, ONB Foundation funding supports trauma‑informed financial education paired with housing readiness coaching and connections to wellness resources. The model helps low‑income women and families stabilize their finances, repair credit, and build a roadmap toward secure housing or future homeownership. By addressing both financial and emotional barriers simultaneously, the program strengthens long‑term stability and supports whole‑family well‑being.

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic – Indianapolis, Indiana

“Bridges to Banking” offers legal guidance to help clients reduce burdens from consumer debt and student loans. These barriers often block access to mainstream financial services. Through counseling, advocacy, and credit‑improvement strategies, participants move closer to becoming “bank ready,” expanding their ability to save, borrow, and build assets. This combined legal‑and‑financial approach supports long‑term economic mobility by addressing the root causes of financial exclusion.

Hmong American Partnership – Minneapolis, Minneapolis

ONB Foundation funding supports financial coaching and education integrated into Hmong American Partnership’s broader programs that serve immigrant, refugee, and Southeast Asian communities. Clients receive culturally informed guidance on budgeting, saving, credit building, and navigating financial systems. By delivering these services at scale, the organization strengthens economic mobility for families building new lives in Minnesota.

Funding community organizations that move the needle

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The foundation is part of Old National’s overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of:

  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin

Old National believes in supporting communities where our clients, team members and shareholders live and work.

Each year, the Old National Bank Foundation endeavors to fund as many initiatives that meet our funding priorities as possible across our footprint. Due to the volume of applications received, each is evaluated on a competitive basis as we strive to fund programs with strong impact and measurable outcomes.

For more information on grants or the Old National Bank Foundation click here.

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