IFF program aims to provide nonprofits led by people of color the resources necessary to empower decision making and navigate barriers to accessing capital and real estate opportunity
KANSAS CITY, MO – May 16, 2022 – IFF, a nationally recognized mission-driven lender for Midwest nonprofits, is proud to expand its Stronger Nonprofits Initiative (SNI)—a free program providing nonprofit leaders of color with greater access to financial management tools and real estate planning resources. 10 Kansas City-based nonprofits will comprise the next cohort of this regional program. The cohort will participate in a 14-month curriculum presented by IFF and BDO FMA (formerly Fiscal Management Associates). The SNI program is sponsored and funded by JPMorgan Chase, with additional financial support from the Health Forward Foundation for the Kansas City program.
“The Stronger Nonprofits Initiative has proven to be a highly impactful way to support leaders of color throughout the Midwest in navigating structural barriers to accessing capital and real estate resources,” said Stephen Westbrooks, IFF’s Executive Director of the Southern Region. “As a leader of color myself, I am excited to have the opportunity to bring this impactful program to Kansas City and to partner with the selected organizations.”
The 10 organizations will partake in a comprehensive curriculum including: virtual training sessions focused on team-based fiscal management, one-on-one financial coaching, customized real estate consulting, expert panel discussions, special networking opportunities and other events.
The Kansas City, MO cohort includes: Black Economic Union; Counselors Obediently Preventing Substance Abuse; Emmanuel Family & Child Development Center; Evangel Spiritual Temple/Sweet Chariot; Guadalupe Centers Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City, Inc.; Poetry for Personal Power Inc.; Sisters in Christ; Start at Zero, Inc.; and Teachers Like Me.
“JPMorgan Chase is deeply committed to collaborating with nonprofits, community partners and the business community to help advance inclusive economic growth and address the racial wealth gap,” said Gary Jankowitz, the firm’s Market Director for U.S. Wealth Management in Kansas City who also leads the local leadership team. “By helping SNI build its capacity in Kansas City, we are investing in the talent of nonprofit leaders of color and building an economy that creates opportunity for all people.” JPMorgan Chase directly funds IFF’s administration of the SNI program under its five giving areas: Impact Finance (Economic Development); Jobs and Skills; Neighborhood Development; Financial Health; and Small Business Development.
IFF first launched SNI in Chicago in 2017, and has since expanded to Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, and Kansas City with plans to return to Chicago in Fall 2022.
For more information on SNI, visit https://strongernonprofits.org/.