Catch up on IFF news, read stories about community development projects across the Midwest, and gain insight from our team.

Thought Leadership
map of redlined neighborhoods
May 09, 2019
The Appraisal Bias: How more equitable underwriting can increase capital in communities of color
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Thought Leadership
March 12, 2019
Exploring the continuum: Why community development projects need so much more than capital
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Stories
January 27, 2025
A $59 Million Investment in Child Care Transforms Early Learning Spaces Across Michigan
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Press
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December 05, 2024
Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Developer Adds Child Care Center to Grand Rapids Project—And Eyes More Across West Michigan
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Stories
November 08, 2024
Caring for MI Future Grantees Demonstrate the Program’s Impact and Importance
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Press
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November 04, 2024
Outlier Media: From Paint Color to Air Quality, Designing Better Learning Environments for Detroit Kids
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Stories
October 10, 2024
New Early Childhood Center Coming to Grand Rapids’ Boston Square Neighborhood
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Press
Stories
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October 02, 2024
Second Wave Michigan: Growing Fruitful Neighborhoods – IFF’s Commitment to Eastside Detroit
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Stories
September 25, 2024
IFF’s Continuum in Practice: Supporting Community-Driven Revitalization in Southeast Grand Rapids
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Stories
Welcome sign for McClellan Ribbon Cutting.
August 20, 2024
Celebrating the McClellan Early Childhood Center
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Press
Stories
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August 08, 2024
Second Wave Michigan: Commongrounds Uses Co-Op Model to Serve Missing Needs of the Community
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Press
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August 02, 2024
Crain’s Detroit Business: Final Pieces of Cradle-to-Career Plan at Marygrove Campus in the Works
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Stories
August 01, 2024
July 2024 Loan Round-up
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Stories
July 23, 2024
Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund Helps Upgrade Michigan’s Early Learning Spaces
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Press
Stories
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July 23, 2024
Second Wave Michigan: MiLEAP Fund Provides Essential Equipment, Upgrades for Child Care Facilities
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Press
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July 11, 2024
Crain’s Detroit Business: Detroit Seeks Developer for Neighborhood Center Near Michigan Central
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Press
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July 08, 2024
Outlier Media: Hope Starts Here – Detroit’s Children Enriched by Network of Resource Groups Addressing Community-Identified Goals
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Press
Stories
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June 25, 2024
Second Wave Michigan: Repurposing Community Assets Strengthens Communities in Pontiac and Detroit
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Stories
May 28, 2024
Caring for Our Future: State Initiative Boosts and Supports Child Care Providers and Creates Quality Learning Spaces for More Children
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Press
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May 13, 2024
JPMorgan Chase: Quality Child Care Anchors Detroit Community
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Press
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May 09, 2024
Michigan Chronicle: Michigan’s $59 Million Investment Paid for Expansions, Upgrades, and Renovations at 1,100 Childcare Facilities
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Press
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May 08, 2024
Michigan Department of Lifelong Learning, Achievement, and Potential Press Release: MiLEAP Announces $59 Million Investment to Expand and Improve 1,100+ Child Care Facilities Across Michigan
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Stories
May 07, 2024
IFF’s 2023 Annual Report: A Historic Investment in Local Changemakers
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Press
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May 02, 2024
W.K. Kellogg Foundation: IFF Research Study Highlights Uneven Access to Affordable Child Care in Kent County, Michigan
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Press
Stories
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April 25, 2024
Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave: Battle Creek’s Early Childhood Education Poised to Flourish — And Save a Church at the Same Time
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Press
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March 07, 2024
WGHN-AM: Rep. Scholten Secures $11.5M for Community Projects Across West Michigan
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Press
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February 21, 2024
Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Kent County Must Continue Early Childhood Funding
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Press
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February 20, 2024
The Kresge Foundation: How IFF Navigated Layering Partners, Capital to Build a New Early Childhood Center
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Stories
January 01, 2024
December 2023 Loan Round-up
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Press
Stories
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December 19, 2023
Second Wave Michigan: Report Highlights Need for More Equitable Early Childhood Care and Education
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Stories
October 25, 2023
Michigan Initiative Helping to Build More Quality, Inspiring Child Care Spaces
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Stories
October 16, 2023
Commentary: Hope Starts Here Marks Progress in Detroit, Kellogg and Kresge recommit their support
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Press
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October 13, 2023
WGVU: New Study Finds Demand for Early Childcare Slots in Kent County Falls Thousands Short
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Press
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August 10, 2023
Fox 2 Detroit: Gov. Whitmer’s new state budget includes $254M expanding free pre-K for up to 5,600 children
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Thought Leadership
June 21, 2023
Honoring Culture’s Influence on Early Childhood Education and Spaces 
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Stories
June 07, 2023
Stronger Nonprofits Initiative: Five Years of Investment and Impact
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Thought Leadership
March 23, 2023
Commentary: State initiative is a leap forward for early childhood facilities and those they serve
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Press
Children playing at an ECE center in Detroit. One child never the center is balancing, with arms outstretched, on a board curved like the foot of a rocking horse.
November 03, 2022
Press Release: Gov. Whitmer Announces Application is Now Live for $50M in Grants to Open and Grow Child Care Facilities in Michigan
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Stories
June 20, 2022
Recorrido de Fotos: Proveedores de educación infantil en Grand Rapids mejoran sus edificios a través del programa Learning Spaces
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Stories
June 20, 2022
Photo Tour: Grand Rapids Early Childhood Education Providers Enhance Facilities Through Learning Spaces Program
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Stories
Cover of IFF's 2021 Annual Report
May 18, 2022
IFF’s 2021 Annual Report | Meeting the Moment: Change, Equity, Impact
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Stories
Architect's rendering of Galleria 89 in South Chicago
May 01, 2022
April 2022 Loan Round-up
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Stories
A photo of the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center in Detroit
February 16, 2022
Facility Turnaround in Detroit Helps Nonprofit Focus on “The Right Work at the Right Time in the Right Place”
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Stories
January 18, 2022
Photo Tour: The Marygrove Early Education Center Puts Young Learners at the Center of Community Revitalization
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Thought Leadership
November 16, 2021
Home-based early childhood education providers deserve to be included in funding, supports
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Press
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November 04, 2021
ENR Midwest: ENR Midwest Names 2021 Best Projects
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Press
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September 17, 2021
The Kresge Foundation: New, state-of-the art Marygrove Early Education Center celebrates grand opening
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Stories
Marygrove Early Education Center
September 15, 2021
Trailblazing Early Learning Center Opens Doors on Marygrove Campus in Detroit
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Press
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August 18, 2021
MLive: Transforming learning spaces: Program aims to improve access to early childhood education
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Stories
June 28, 2021
2020 Annual Report
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Thought Leadership
May 05, 2021
How Learning Spaces Expansion to Grand Rapids Addresses Inequity and Shapes Children’s Futures
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Stories
March 31, 2021
March 2021 Loan Round-up
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