Our history

The original FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy was founded in 2000 as the Southwest Ohio Citizens Academy Alumni Association, a nonprofit public service organization dedicated to promoting safer communities in the areas served by the Cincinnati Division of the FBI. At that time "FBI" could not be used in the name.

In 2005, when Cincinnati hired its first Community Outreach Coordinator, the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association had been formed (FBINCAAA), and "FBI" was allowed in the name. Consequently, Cincinnati became the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation of Cincinnati.

In 2019, the FBINCAAA asked that all chapters come into compliance with their naming regulations. Cincinnati changed its name again and became the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBICCAAA).

The FBICCAAA supports educational programs including the FBI Citizens Academy, the FBI Collegiate Academy, the FBI Teen Academy and the pilot project for middle school age students. We also take our programs to scouting and other school age groups as part of our community outreach efforts. We are typically found at more than a dozen community events celebrating the National Police Night Out events, for instance, building community-police partnerships and fostering neighborhood camaraderie. The FBICCAAA also participates in, and supports various community service projects such as organizations involved in stopping human trafficking (like the Aruna Project), and local community clothing drives and school supply drives, all under the large umbrella of community outreach.

We are proud to have achieved and maintained GOLD STAR status of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINCAAA) for the second year in a row, and to be the 2024 winner of the Shaya Family Youth Engagement Award. For more information about the national organization visit the FBINCAAA website.