How LISC Works

LISC is a national organization with a community focus. LISC is headquartered in New York City, with program staff also based across 37 local and rural offices, including Toledo.

In 1979, when the Ford Foundation first conceived of LISC, it envisioned an “intermediary”—a nimble non-profit with strong community partnerships that would connect hard-to-tap public and private resources with underinvested places and people working to access opportunities everyone of us deserves.

The premise is still just as it was then: government, foundations and for-profit companies have the capital; residents and local institutions understand the need; and LISC bridges the gap by offering the relationships and expertise to help community organizations attract the kinds of resources that allow them do their best work. While the components of our programming and our role continue to evolve and expand, for 40 years, our mission has remained the same.

Since 1990, Toledo LISC has leveraged more than $233 million in grants, loans, and equity

In Toledo, LISC concentrates on improving residents' quality of life through a holistic approach encompassing investments in community safety, health and recreation centers, education initiatives, programs to build family assets, affordable housing, small business, and more. We also support neighborhood revitalization efforts by investing in trusted community-based organizations to build their capacity and resident leadership.