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

  1. April 29, 2026

    IFF’s 2025 Annual Report: Standing Together for Midwest Communities
    Category: Stories
    A man speaks at a podium during a ground-breaking event with onlookers and shovels in the foreground.
  2. April 14, 2026

    Common Ground: Improved Child Care Spaces Building Stronger Beginnings for Detroit Families
    Category: Press
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  3. April 10, 2026

    Five Child Care Centers Upgrade Their Facilities Through Third Cohort of PRE4CLE’s Cleveland Early Learning Spaces Program
    Category: Stories
  4. March 30, 2026

    Revitalizing Walter French: How a Former School Became Affordable Homes, Child Care, and a Catalyst for Community Renewal
    Category: Stories
    Exterior view newly renovated Walter French Middle School
  5. March 10, 2026

    Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation: Strengthening Our Roots Through Impact Investing
    Category: Press
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  6. February 27, 2026

    Crain’s Detroit Business: Kresge, State Offer Subsidized Benefits to Northwest Detroit Child Care Workers
    Category: Press
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  7. January 21, 2026

    NPR Kansas City: Kansas City Parents Say Child Care Made All the Difference in Their Lives. Finding It Was Not Easy.
    Category: Press
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  8. January 21, 2026

    Press Release: 10 Detroit Early Childhood Education Providers to Join New Professional Development Program
    Category: Press
  9. January 01, 2026

    December 2025 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    Two people in a workshop glassblowing, with one holding a rod and the other assisting.
  10. December 29, 2025

    Start at Zero Establishes a New Early Childhood Development Hub in Kansas City
    Category: Stories
    A group of adults and children interacting in an educational indoor setting with a woman holding a book.
  11. December 02, 2025

    The Michigan Chronicle: Dream Studio Detroit Opens New Community Hub in Cody Rouge to Expand Family Economic Mobility
    Category: Press
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  12. December 01, 2025

    November 2025 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    Students seated at round tables in a sunlit classroom.
  13. November 15, 2025

    Detroit Free Press: Unlicensed Child Care Providers Fill Gap for Detroit Families Struggling to Find Care
    Category: Press
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  14. October 29, 2025

    Four Ways to Make Early Learning Spaces More Accessible for All Children
    Category: Resources
    An early childhood education space with children engaged in activities and large windows providing natural light.
  15. October 07, 2025

    James S. McDonnell Foundation: Building Joyful Spaces: How IFF Is Helping to Transform St. Louis’s Early Childhood Ecosystem
    Category: Press
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  16. October 01, 2025

    Model D: Investing in America Child Care Partnership – Building a Stronger Future for Families and Employers
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  17. September 12, 2025

    Crain’s Detroit Business: Kresge Foundation to Move HQ Back to Detroit as Part of $180M Investment
    Category: Press
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  18. August 01, 2025

    July 2025 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    Aerial view of a school campus in a suburban area with houses and a distant city skyline.
  19. July 09, 2025

    The St. Louis American: McDonnell Foundation Supports Tornado Recovery Effort
    Category: Press
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  20. July 01, 2025

    June 2025 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    An architect's rendering of a bright pottery studio with tables, stools, pottery wheels, and large shelves filled with ceramics.
  21. June 25, 2025

    Boston Square Embraces the Future: New ECE Center Nurtures Young Minds and Empowers Families
    Category: Stories
    Sign for Boston Square Early Learning Center with building labeled HUB 07 in the background.
  22. June 11, 2025

    Michigan Business Network: MiLEAP Announces $1 Million Awarded to Regional Child Care Coalitions
    Category: Press
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  23. June 10, 2025

    theSTL: Caring for the Caregivers
    Category: Press
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  24. May 29, 2025

    Detroit Free Press: Mackinac Policy Conference Left Early Childhood Education Off This Year’s Agenda | Opinion
    Category: Press
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  25. May 21, 2025

    IFF’s 2024 Annual Report: Investing in People, Places, and Possibilities
    Category: Stories
  26. April 23, 2025

    Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Amplify GR Gears Up to Open Community Hub, Break Ground on Second Mixed-Use Building
    Category: Press
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  27. March 20, 2025

    ABC 6 Indianapolis: Four Indiana Nonprofits Receive Grant Funding to Help Address Workforce Issue of Affordable Child Care
    Category: Press
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  28. March 01, 2025

    February 2025 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    A group of people standing behind weaving looms in a room with textile samples on the wall.
  29. February 25, 2025

    Input Fort Wayne: IFF’s Community Development in Fort Wayne, Indiana
    Category: Press
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  30. February 19, 2025

    Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Grand Rapids-Based Montessori Investing $3.2M with New Location in ‘Child Care Desert’
    Category: Press
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  31. February 19, 2025

    Axios Boston: Downtown Office Vacancies Gave a Boston Nonprofit a Chance to Expand
    Category: Press
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  32. February 15, 2025

    Fast Company: Why Good Design Remains a Luxury for U.S. Child Care
    Category: Press
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  33. January 31, 2025

    Second Cohort of Cleveland Child Care Providers Transform Their Facilities Through PRE4CLE Program
    Category: Stories
  34. January 27, 2025

    A $59 Million Investment in Child Care Transforms Early Learning Spaces Across Michigan
    Category: Stories
  35. January 15, 2025

    Southeast Missourian: Community Groups Gather to Tackle Child Care Availability Issues
    Category: Press
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  36. January 09, 2025

    Early Learning Nation: Philanthropic Partnership Aims to Expand Access to High-Quality Child Care
    Category: Press
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  37. December 05, 2024

    Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Developer Adds Child Care Center to Grand Rapids Project—And Eyes More Across West Michigan
    Category: Press
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  38. November 25, 2024

    How IFF is Helping Kids Win in Missouri by Supporting Local Solutions That Expand Access to Quality Child Care
    Category: Stories
  39. November 08, 2024

    Caring for MI Future Grantees Demonstrate the Program’s Impact and Importance
    Category: Stories
  40. November 04, 2024

    Outlier Media: From Paint Color to Air Quality, Designing Better Learning Environments for Detroit Kids
    Category: Press
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  41. October 10, 2024

    New Early Childhood Center Coming to Grand Rapids’ Boston Square Neighborhood
    Category: Stories
  42. October 02, 2024

    Second Wave Michigan: Growing Fruitful Neighborhoods – IFF’s Commitment to Eastside Detroit
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  43. September 25, 2024

    IFF’s Continuum in Practice: Supporting Community-Driven Revitalization in Southeast Grand Rapids
    Category: Stories
  44. September 09, 2024

    KSDK-TV: St. Louis Voters Weigh In on How to Spend $250 Million Rams Settlement Money
    Category: Press
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  45. September 01, 2024

    August 2024 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
  46. August 20, 2024

    Celebrating the McClellan Early Childhood Center
    Category: Stories
    Welcome sign for McClellan Ribbon Cutting.
  47. August 08, 2024

    Second Wave Michigan: Commongrounds Uses Co-Op Model to Serve Missing Needs of the Community
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  48. August 02, 2024

    Crain’s Detroit Business: Final Pieces of Cradle-to-Career Plan at Marygrove Campus in the Works
    Category: Press
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  49. August 01, 2024

    July 2024 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
  50. July 29, 2024

    Cultivating St. Louis’ Next Generation of Community Leaders at Urban Sprouts Child Development Center
    Category: Stories
  51. July 23, 2024

    Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund Helps Upgrade Michigan’s Early Learning Spaces
    Category: Stories
  52. July 23, 2024

    Second Wave Michigan: MiLEAP Fund Provides Essential Equipment, Upgrades for Child Care Facilities
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  53. July 12, 2024

    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Panel Discussion: Child Care Innovations from the 7th District
    Category: Stories
  54. July 11, 2024

    Regions Bank: ‘Small Dollars, Huge Impact’
    Category: Press
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  55. July 11, 2024

    Crain’s Detroit Business: Detroit Seeks Developer for Neighborhood Center Near Michigan Central
    Category: Press
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  56. July 08, 2024

    Outlier Media: Hope Starts Here – Detroit’s Children Enriched by Network of Resource Groups Addressing Community-Identified Goals
    Category: Press
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  57. July 01, 2024

    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: Childcare Facility Financing – Perspectives from Three Decades of Supporting Childcare Centers
    Category: Press
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  58. June 27, 2024

    U.S. Department of Commerce: Convening Private Sector, Non-Profit and Philanthropic Leaders for First-of-Its-Kind National Child Care Innovation Summit
    Category: Press
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  59. June 25, 2024

    Second Wave Michigan: Repurposing Community Assets Strengthens Communities in Pontiac and Detroit
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  60. May 28, 2024

    Caring for Our Future: State Initiative Boosts and Supports Child Care Providers and Creates Quality Learning Spaces for More Children
    Category: Stories
  61. May 24, 2024

    Quality Facilities for All Initiative supports early childhood education facilities in East St. Louis, IL
    Category: Stories
    Before and after images of the outdoor play space at Hamilton’s Learning Center, a QFA grantee in East St. Louis.
  62. May 13, 2024

    JPMorgan Chase: Quality Child Care Anchors Detroit Community
    Category: Press
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  63. May 09, 2024

    Michigan Chronicle: Michigan’s $59 Million Investment Paid for Expansions, Upgrades, and Renovations at 1,100 Childcare Facilities
    Category: Press
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  64. 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
    Category: Press
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  65. May 07, 2024

    IFF’s 2023 Annual Report: A Historic Investment in Local Changemakers
    Category: Stories
  66. May 02, 2024

    W.K. Kellogg Foundation: IFF Research Study Highlights Uneven Access to Affordable Child Care in Kent County, Michigan
    Category: Press
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  67. 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
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  68. April 19, 2024

    Joyful Spaces: New Program Advances Early Childhood Education Facility Quality in St. Louis
    Category: Stories
  69. March 27, 2024

    “This is where you start a straight A student”: Quality Facilities for All Supports Early Childhood Education in Illinois
    Category: Stories
  70. March 07, 2024

    Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program Helps Wisconsin Nonprofits Address Two Community Needs in One High-Quality Facility in Madison
    Category: Stories
  71. March 07, 2024

    WGHN-AM: Rep. Scholten Secures $11.5M for Community Projects Across West Michigan
    Category: Press
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  72. February 21, 2024

    Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Kent County Must Continue Early Childhood Funding
    Category: Press
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  73. February 20, 2024

    The Kresge Foundation: How IFF Navigated Layering Partners, Capital to Build a New Early Childhood Center
    Category: Press
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  74. January 13, 2024

    Wisconsin State Journal: Madison Project with Housing, Child Care Under One Roof Shows Need for Federal Fund
    Category: Thought Leadership
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  75. January 01, 2024

    December 2023 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
  76. December 30, 2023

    Chicago Defender: ITAV Elevates Mission with Historic Acquisition of Hales in Bronzeville
    Category: Press
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  77. December 19, 2023

    Quality Facilities for All (QFA) Initiative Completes First Cohort of ECE Facility Renovations in Chicago
    Category: Stories
  78. December 19, 2023

    Second Wave Michigan: Report Highlights Need for More Equitable Early Childhood Care and Education
    Category: Press
    Category: Stories
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  79. November 20, 2023

    A $50 Million Healthy Living Campus Aims to Address Historic Inequities in West Dayton
    Category: Stories
  80. October 25, 2023

    Michigan Initiative Helping to Build More Quality, Inspiring Child Care Spaces
    Category: Stories
  81. October 16, 2023

    Commentary: Hope Starts Here Marks Progress in Detroit, Kellogg and Kresge recommit their support
    Category: Stories
  82. October 13, 2023

    WGVU: New Study Finds Demand for Early Childcare Slots in Kent County Falls Thousands Short
    Category: Press
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  83. August 10, 2023

    Fox 2 Detroit: Gov. Whitmer’s new state budget includes $254M expanding free pre-K for up to 5,600 children
    Category: Press
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  84. June 21, 2023

    Honoring Culture’s Influence on Early Childhood Education and Spaces 
    Category: Thought Leadership
  85. June 07, 2023

    Stronger Nonprofits Initiative: Five Years of Investment and Impact
    Category: Stories
  86. June 01, 2023

    May 2023 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
  87. May 24, 2023

    PRE4CLE Initiative Invests in Cleveland’s Youngest Learners with Funding for Facilities Upgrades and Other Supports
    Category: Stories
  88. March 23, 2023

    Commentary: State initiative is a leap forward for early childhood facilities and those they serve
    Category: Thought Leadership
  89. March 22, 2023

    Celebrating 10 Years of Impact in Indiana and Doubling Down on Statewide Solutions
    Category: Stories
    At the Paramount Cottage Home school, a photo of the 10-year celebration of IFF's work in Indiana
  90. November 11, 2022

    October 2022 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
  91. 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
    Category: 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.
  92. October 26, 2022

    A Nonprofit and a Health System in Rural Indiana Team Up to Solve Two Community Challenges with One Repurposed Facility
    Category: Stories
  93. September 21, 2022

    Stronger Together: Health Care Systems Investing in Early Care & Education
    Category: Thought Leadership
  94. August 23, 2022

    At the Intersection of Equity and Early Childhood Education: Q&A with Erikson Institute President Dr. Mariana Souto-Manning
    Category: Stories
  95. June 21, 2022

    Chicago’s Academy for Global Citizenship Anchors New State-of-the-Art Learning, Sustainability, and Wellness Hub Catered to Community Needs
    Category: Stories
    Architect's rendering of the Academy for Global Citizenship at the Cultivate Collective hub
  96. June 20, 2022

    Recorrido de Fotos: Proveedores de educación infantil en Grand Rapids mejoran sus edificios a través del programa Learning Spaces
    Category: Stories
  97. June 20, 2022

    Photo Tour: Grand Rapids Early Childhood Education Providers Enhance Facilities Through Learning Spaces Program
    Category: Stories
  98. May 18, 2022

    Madison Nonprofits Team Up on Affordable Housing and Early Childhood Education in a Win-Win for Everybody
    Category: Stories
  99. May 18, 2022

    IFF’s 2021 Annual Report | Meeting the Moment: Change, Equity, Impact
    Category: Stories
    Cover of IFF's 2021 Annual Report
  100. May 01, 2022

    April 2022 Loan Round-up
    Category: Stories
    Architect's rendering of Galleria 89 in South Chicago