By Amandula Anderson, Executive Director, Indiana Region
For more than a decade, IFF, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), has championed nonprofits in Indiana to shape more equitable and vibrant communities through flexible lending, comprehensive real estate consulting, and capacity-building programs. As a nonprofit, IFF understands that mission-driven organizations are vital to successful community development, and our goal is to provide other nonprofits with the resources and support they need to effectively strengthen their communities.
One example of what that looks like in practice is IFF’s Stronger Nonprofits Initiative (SNI), funded by JPMorgan Chase, which helps nonprofits navigate systemic barriers preventing them from accessing capital and real estate opportunities that can help them expand their capacity and impact. Employing a cohort-based model that bought together nearly 30 nonprofit leaders for an 18-24 month program, SNI is designed to help organizations build financial resiliency, forge relationships that can be leveraged for knowledge-sharing, and access real estate consulting services that help them make more well-informed facility decisions.
That has helped organizations like Kheprw Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating young leaders, make their visions for stronger communities a reality. After graduating from SNI, Kheprw Institute acquired a 17.5-acre urban farm that now serves as a center for urban agriculture and entrepreneurship – promoting self-reliance among local residents. Kheprw’s participation in the SNI program provided valuable financial management insights and peer connections that helped the organization prepare for this purchase. With additional support from a local foundation and a loan from IFF, Kheprw closed on the property in September 2022, positioning itself to expand its programming and community impact. Applications will be released in the fall of 2025 for the next SNI cohort. Click here to join the newsletter list to receive up-to-date information about the upcoming cohort.
Another example of how IFF is working to advance equitable community development in Indiana is the Energy Assistance & Savings Initiative (EASSI) – a partnership between IFF, the City of South Bend’s Office of Sustainability, and CDFI Friendly South Bend to provide energy assessments for local nonprofits. This initiative aims to reduce utility costs by facilitating energy-efficient building upgrades that contribute to regional environmental sustainability, such as solar panel installations, ENERGY STAR® appliance upgrades, insulation/weatherization updates, HVAC replacements, and more. Along with a similar program in Bloomington, IN (the Solar & Energy Efficiency Loan program), IFF has worked with 60 nonprofits, helping them save money on utility bills that can be reinvested in community-strengthening programming. Be on the lookout for a similar program to begin in Indianapolis in 2025.
To celebrate a decade of impact in Indiana, IFF hosted an event last year at Paramount Schools of Excellence (PSOE) in Indianapolis. IFF has supported PSOE’s remarkable growth from a single building to an award-winning network of three schools serving more than 1,400 students that integrates innovative programs like urban farming to enhance the educational experience. IFF’s work with PSOE encompasses a wide range of support, including loans, facility feasibility assessments, market and demographic analyses, pre-development assistance, and the creation of a customized manual to guide its expansion plans.
In rural Indiana, IFF worked in recent years with Appleseed Childhood Education to bring high-quality early childhood education to Rensselaer. With support from IFF’s Capital and Real Estate Solutions teams, Appleseed opened the Appletree Center—the area’s first licensed early childhood education option since 2018. Acting as a community development partner and trusted advisor, IFF guided Appleseed through the complexities of financing and renovations, resulting in 75 new childcare slots.
Through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, IFF is committed to championing Indiana’s nonprofits, helping them thrive and better serve their communities. IFF’s value proposition lies in its flexible financing and comprehensive real estate solutions that help nonprofits bring projects from concept to reality. By building nonprofit capacity, especially for those serving under-resourced communities, IFF provides the expertise, resources, and connections needed for sustainable growth and long-term community resilience.
Interested in IFF’s nonprofit solutions? Contact our Indiana team to learn more: https://iff.org/contact-us/locations/indiana/