What is LISC?
LISC Indianapolis is the local office of a national organization that helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones.
By mobilizing corporate, government, and philanthropic support, LISC provides financing, technical advice, management and program consulting, training, and policy support to neighborhoods. We work to restore housing, stimulate economic development, champion education, create avenues out of poverty, and support healthy environments and lifestyles. Our efforts are based on the proven principle that sustainable revitalization works best when it is driven by community residents and stakeholders, not imposed from the outside.
Featured Stories
La Plaza’s Bridges Programming Provides Pathway to Financial Stability
Jhonn and Lina joined La Plaza's BY Construction program in pursuit of their dream to establish a construction business. With comprehensive training, they graduated as OSHA and NCCER certified professionals. Jhonn founded Well Done Services, LLC, increasing his earnings from $15 to $20 per hour. Their inspiring journey exemplifies the impact of organizations like La Plaza and the Indianapolis Bridges Network, empowering families to achieve financial stability and professional success.
LISC and Coalition Partners Awarded $2 Billion via National Clean Investment Fund
LISC is one of five organizations leading Power Forward Communities, a new coalition investing in green housing and jobs to support economic opportunity and climate resilience. Today, the EPA awarded the coalition $2 billion to implement a decarbonization strategy that also lifts up under-resourced communities—making housing more affordable, mitigating climate impacts and improving local health.
Our Programs
Equitable Food Access Initiative
The EFAI is a community-based planning and implementation process that convenes residents, community leaders, subject matter experts and civic organizations to develop a vision of equitable food access that will be translated into achievable strategies. [...]
Place-based Community Development
LISC prioritizes investments to organizations and institutions that have created a collective vision for their neighborhood. [...]
Economic Development Programs
Our work creates accessible opportunities for people to find jobs that increase their income and assets, and at the same time, it grows businesses and rebuilds neighborhood economies through integrated strategies that develop talent, businesses, and districts. [...]
Bridges to Career Opportunities
Bridges is a LISC model that helps adults who are unemployed and underemployed train for, land, and advance in jobs in local growth industries by helping them overcome the roadblocks to success. [...]
FAQs
How do I partner with LISC?
In any given year, LISC partners with more than 200 distinct organizational partners including more than 30 community-based organizations. Bringing together local leaders from financial institutions, government, funders, nonprofits, and neighborhoods is important to lasting change. Interested in getting involved? Please see our staff listing to match your area of interest with the correct contact. [...]
How do I get a grant from LISC?
LISC makes a variety of grant investments to support the implementation of our Programs and place-based strategies. As an intermediary, our ability to make grants is dependent on support from our funders which varies from year to year in terms of availability and priorities. If you believe your work is in alignment with one of our program or place-based strategies, please reach out. [...]
How do I get a loan or equity investment from LISC?
LISC is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that offers loans and equity products (link to page) to support a variety of real estate developments, including housing, retail projects, industrial projects, and community facilities. We offer flexible financing during all stages of projects — predevelopment, property acquisition, construction, and permanent. [...]
LISC invests in underserved urban and rural communities nationwide — helping bridge racial health, wealth, and opportunity gaps + building more affordable and resilient places to live, work and play.
$40.5M
$87.9M
$190.6M
$319M
total investment
$1.1B
in total development