Meta + LISC Announce $5M Effort to Build Capacity of 20 Community Organizations, Bridging Gaps in Equity + Opportunity
LISC and Meta joined forces on a $5 million effort to build the capacity of 20 community organizations to fuel jobs, housing, health, and economic development in underinvested communities. The program is unique because it provides flexible funding that organizations can use to strengthen staffing and operations, expand community outreach capabilities, and develop fundraising strategies.
NEW YORK, May 1, 2024—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has teamed up with Meta—parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp—on a $5 million plan to build the capacity of community organizations to fuel jobs, housing, health, and economic development in underinvested communities.
With the Meta funding, LISC recently awarded grants ranging from $50,000 to $210,000 to 20 nonprofits in four states (California, Illinois, New York, Minnesota) plus Puerto Rico. As part of the program, LISC will also provide technical assistance and management support to help grantees strengthen their operations.
The funding is unique because it is not tied to any particular project or program. It can be used by grantees to strengthen staffing and operations, expand community outreach capabilities, and develop strategies to raise public, private, and philanthropic capital to support their work.
“We know how important - yet rare - unrestricted general operating support is to community organizations. That’s why we are delighted to invest in these nonprofit organizations that provide social and economic opportunity to a diverse range of communities,” shared Maxine Williams, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Meta. “We remain excited about our partnership with LISC and their leadership in building nonprofit organizational capacity.”
“This kind of unrestricted general operating support can be transformative for nonprofits, especially those doing remarkable work but with limited access to funding,” noted Michael T. Pugh, LISC CEO. “By investing in the capacity of high-impact organizations, we’re helping them build the internal systems and structures needed for long-term financial stability so they can endure as economic engines for the communities they serve,” he added.
The full list of grantees is available here. Examples of organizations funded through the program include:
- Latinos Progresando, which serves a predominately Mexican community on Chicago's Southwest side, will use the funding to build its internal systems and staff to better support the growth trajectory of local businesses and increase economic opportunity in the community.
- The Center for ArtEsteem, which recently purchased a new building in West Oakland, will use the grant to support organizational development to engage local students in creating an art exhibit about the history of 7th Street, including reflections and future visions about themselves and their community.
- Urban Homeworks, in Minneapolis, will use the funding to increase staffing, systems, and structures as it implements a $5 million state appropriation to increase housing production and economic mobility. The goal is to help underserved Black and Indigenous renters become homeowners.
- East Buffalo Development Corporation is a newly formed nonprofit that will use the funding to develop a clear strategic plan, expand and deepen engagement with its board, reinforce its capacity to procure resources, and effectively manage those resources to support businesses and real estate development in the eastside of Buffalo.
- El Otro Puerto Rico will use grant funding to expand its team, provide specialized professional development and training, implement a comprehensive three-year strategic plan, and initiate an entrepreneurial development program to address Puerto Rico's housing crisis for low-to-middle-income families.
Beyond the funding, LISC’s staff will work directly with grantees to develop long-term strategies for financial, operational, and programmatic success. LISC will also offer peer learning opportunities so grantees across the four states and Puerto Rico can connect and learn from each other.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 82.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.