IFF (CDFI)

We're excited to unveil IFF's 2023 Annual Report, which celebrates a historic year of investment in local changemakers across the Midwest! Specifically, we: ⭐ Closed a record 153 loans providing $233.9 million in capital to nonprofit changemakers; ⭐ Leveraged $1.28 billion in total community investment through our lending and supported the development of 4.97 million square feet of real estate; ⭐ Consulted on 90 nonprofit facilities projects; ⭐ Completed two community-driven development projects in the Chicago Metro area, with additional projects underway in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and St. Louis; and more! Learn how this translated to tangible impact for nonprofits and the communities they serve: https://lnkd.in/gUNKg3SH

It Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAV) had an extra reason to celebrate the start of the new school year this August, as ITAV Leadership Academy students were welcomed back to school at the organization's new campus in the Bronzeville neighborhood on #Chicago's South Side! IFF provided both financial and real estate support for the project, which expanded the K-8 school's capacity by 100 student seats, and we're excited to see the campus continue to evolve in future phases of construction. Learn more about the project in this recent Chicago Defender article: https://lnkd.in/gYNdpBuw

IFF's director of lending in the #Indiana Region, L. Andre Gibson, MBA, had the chance recently to join fellow members of The Indy CDE Advisory Committee for an outing at a local minor league baseball game. As a community development entity, The Indy CDE administers the #NewMarketsTaxCredit program on behalf of the City of Indianapolis, and members of the Advisory Committee help to guide project selection and make funding recommendations based on anticipated community impacts.

“The light is shining through the room; the kids are happier. It’s a better environment." – Hope Johnson, director and owner of Kids of Hope Child Development Center Located in East St. Louis, IL, Kids of Hope Child Development Center improved its facility by participating in IFF’s Quality Facilities for All Grant Program (QFA). QFA wrapped up its work in East St. Louis earlier this year, enhancing #earlychildhoodeducation facilities attended by 774 children in the community! To learn more about QFA in East St. Louis and to see before and after photos of indoor learning areas and outdoor play spaces that were upgraded through the program: https://lnkd.in/gg_RPq8E

Building a high-functioning project team is imperative to the success of facilities projects and, while each member of the team plays an important role, it’s indisputable that one of the most impactful decisions #nonprofits have to make when undertaking facilities projects is who will be entrusted with the design of the building. This is the responsibility of the architect, who leads a team of engineers and designers to develop a vision for the facility aligned with the organization’s aspirations, operational needs, and budget. Given the importance of the design phase and the role of an architect, we've outlined steps for nonprofits to take to identify and select an architect that's best suited for the organization's needs and goals for its new facility. Find it here: https://lnkd.in/gckaBeGk

IFF recently joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) and Illinois Housing Development Authority for a discussion with Representative Sean Casten centered around the barriers, challenges, and solutions to housing needs in the Chicago metro area and beyond. The meeting was held at Union Avenue Apartments in Orland Park, Illinois, which was developed by nonprofit Sertoma Star Services using an FHLBank Chicago Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant, for which IFF served as the project sponsor. Since 2011, IFF has sponsored 67 AHP applications, unlocking more than $33.5 million in funding for #affordablehousing developers in the Midwest. We thank Rep. Casten for taking the time to visit the facility and shining a light on the importance of expanding affordable housing in Midwest communities. Learn more about the visit here: https://lnkd.in/g6k7m4tR

A new, state-of-the-art facility is rapidly taking shape in Sawyer County, #Wisconsin, representing a $48.7 million investment in the future that will drastically increase access to quality #healthcare in the rural area. Being developed by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (LCO), the 64,421-square-foot tribal health center will replace two aging facilities elsewhere on the LCO Reservation and enable comprehensive, culturally appropriate health and wellness services to be provided in one centralized location. Read all about the award-winning project, which has been recognized nationally for the innovative financing structure that's facilitating the construction of the new health center and for the positive impact it will have on health outcomes among tribal members and local residents: https://lnkd.in/dCsA-vHP

Earlier today, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) announced the launch of the Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Loan Fund, which will support water infrastructure projects in underserved communities in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin to ensure clean and safe water throughout the region. IFF is excited to partner with EPIC and the Great Lakes Protection Fund to serve as the program's loan servicer, and we look forward to the positive impact of putting capital into the hands of community changemakers that will cover predevelopment costs for projects that enable more efficient infrastructure upgrades, design innovative approaches, and provide timely water quality solutions. Learn more about the new loan fund here: https://lnkd.in/edvdbn2D

Ten years ago, IFF provided its very first loan in Michigan to Detroit Achievement Academy (DAA), and the rest is history! As we continue to celebrate IFF's first decade of impact in the state, we're shining a light on DAA, Wellspring, and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC), all of which received loans from IFF in 2014 and have since grown and evolved in remarkable ways. It's been an honor to partner with these organizations and many other nonprofits in Michigan that are creating stronger, more vibrant communities! To learn how DAA, Wellspring, and DHDC have expanded their impact in the last decade: https://lnkd.in/gBS62kA6

The IFF team was busy in August, connecting with #nonprofit leaders, local changemakers, partners, and colleagues in #communitydevelopment at conferences and events across the Midwest! As we transition into September, we're sharing a handful of highlights from Black Legacy Advancement Coalition's Health is Wealth Empowerment Fair and Expo, Indiana Women's Affordable Housing Network's day of service projects at Dress For Success Indianapolis and Flanner House of Indianapolis, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the McClellan Early Childhood Center in Detroit, and more!