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Special Programs

IFF partners with philanthropic institutions and investors to offer special programs in the form of grants, loans, and/or technical assistance targeted at nonprofits serving specific markets and/or sectors. Check out our list of current opportunities below.

Home First

Location: Illinois

Sector: Housing

Individuals with disabilities face major barriers to transitioning out of nursing homes and other large institutions to affordable homes in communities of their choice. IFF’s Home First initiative provides an alternative by creating accessible, scattered-site housing specifically for people with a broad range of disabilities.

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Learning Spaces

Location: Detroit

Sector: Early Childhood Education

Funding Partner: Fisher Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, PNC Foundation, and Ralph C. Wilson Foundation

IFF Learning Spaces is a grant program designed to increase capacity and improve access to quality early childhood education across the City of Detroit. Providers can receive technical assistance, consulting services, and grants to improve facility quality.

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MacArthur Arts and Culture Loan Fund

Location: Chicago

Sector: Arts and Culture

Funding Partner: MacArthur Foundation

Many nonprofit arts organizations need to manage the uneven cash flow resulting from the timing of production costs, ticket sales, and grant and government revenue. The MacArthur Foundation Arts & Culture Loan Fund helps address this need among small- and mid-sized arts and culture organizations in the Chicago area.

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Smarter Spaces

IFF: A Good Partner from IFF CDFI on Vimeo.

For nearly 10 years now, IFF and the Polk Bros. Foundation have worked together to help Chicago-area nonprofits plan, build, and finance their facilities projects.

IFF: A Good Partner from IFF CDFI on Vimeo.

For nearly 10 years now, IFF and the Polk Bros. Foundation have worked together to help Chicago-area nonprofits plan, build, and finance their facilities projects.

Location: Chicago

Sector: Nonprofits

Funding Partner: Polk Bros Foundation

Purchasing or renovating a facility can be overwhelming, especially for nonprofits. IFF’s Polk-subsidized services help nonprofits make long-term decisions about facilities based on sound analysis and planning — saving organizations thousands of dollars and providing long-term peace of mind. IFF focuses on the real estate so nonprofits can focus on their mission.

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Stronger Nonprofits Initiative

Location: Detroit

Sector: Nonprofits

Funding Partner: JPMorgan Chase

In this intensive program, nonprofits serving low-income communities of color in Detroit will work to improve aspects of their organizational performance alongside other nonprofit leaders. This program is ideal for organizations poised and ready for change, and willing to devote meaningful senior staff and leadership time to the program.

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