News

The LISC Neighborhood Development Fund Offers Critical Operating Support

The LISC Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) Capacity-Building Grant program is now open today for applications for up to $125,000 per award for a non-profit community based organization engaged in creating and preserving affordable housing in Rhode Island. Since the inception of the program, LISC Rhode Island has awarded more than $28 million through this program and has supported the development of more than 11,000 homes.

The NDF program provides grants to fund capacity-building activities such as training, resource development, staffing support, and technical assistance. The primary objective of the program is to increase the ability of the state’s community based organizations to produce affordable housing at scale while addressing broader community revitalization issues. Last year, LISC awarded $825,000 in NDF grant proceeds to 8 organizations in Rhode Island.

“Our mission is to create communities where residents can thrive,” said Jeanne Cola, Senior Executive Director of LISC RI. “This funding allows our non-profit partners to develop the expertise and capacity needed to create more housing in Rhode Island. Developing this resource is a pivotal program in the economic development of our state. Housing is a fundamental social determinant of health, and the foundation for all other programs that are geared to improve quality of life.”

LISC Rhode Island provides operating support grants to qualified organizations and offers training and technical assistance to help organizations become more sound both fiscally and programmatically. LISC Rhode Island staff works with developers to ensure that investments lead to projects that are well structured, appropriately financed, built on time and on budget.

LISC will conduct an optional informational conference call on Friday, March 29 at 10 a.m. EDT to discuss the RFP and provide answers to questions. The call-in number is (844) 845-5512. Access code is #62948.  Participation in the call is NOT a requirement for application to the NDF grant program. 

To apply, visit the application page here

LISC Rhode Island — Together with residents, partners, and local leaders, LISC Rhode Island forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across our state – great places to live, work, visit, do business, and raise families. Our strategies – investing in real estate, increasing family income & wealth, stimulating economic development, improving access to quality education, and supporting healthy environments and lifestyles – work together to improve the health and well-being of our neighbors. LISC Rhode Island has invested $529 million in neighborhoods across our state, helping to create more than 10,140 affordable homes and support the development of more than 2.2 million square feet of commercial, childcare, educational, and community space.