Loans & Investments

What do you call an organization that invests money in community groups working to revitalize disinvested neighborhoods? A Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI. LISC’s purpose as a non-profit CDFI is to provide capital to projects in low-income, disadvantaged and underserved communities at affordable rates.

We receive our funding from banks, corporations, foundations and government agencies. We, in turn, use that funding to provide financing (loans, grants and equity) and technical and management assistance to local partners and developers to make investments in housing, financial well-being and capacity building.

We offer this capital to local nonprofit developers, small businesses and other service providers who may not be able to get credit in the conventional marketplace. And we, in turn, receive investment capital from a range of sources that include all levels of government, foundations, banks, and individuals. There are nearly 1,000 CDFIs in the country and LISC is one of the largest. We are profitable, but we are not profit-maximizing. We put community first.

How we use our funds

LISC uses funds to provide loans, equity, and grants to local organizations leading projects and programs that help their communities. Loans have financed affordable housing, supermarkets, schools, health centers and other vital community projects. Our organization has invested equity in housing, retail and commercial centers and theaters. And our grants have funded safety programs, opened recreation fields, and helped  build capacity of local partners that advance our investment strategy. Visit our National website to see all the areas that LISC supports.