New Communities Project, Chicago

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping nonprofit community development organizations transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity -- good places to work, do business and raise children. LISC mobilizes corporate, government and philanthropic support to provide local community development organizations with:

• loans, grants, and equity investments;

• local, statewide, and national policy support;

• technical and management assistance.

LISC is a national organization with a community focus. Our program staff is based in every city and many of the rural areas where LISC-supported community development takes shape. In collaboration with local community development groups, LISC staff helps identify local priorities and challenges, delivering the most appropriate support to meet the needs.

Since 1980, LISC has marshaled more than $7.8 billion from 3,100 investors, lenders and donors. In over 300 urban neighborhoods and rural communities nationwide, LISC has helped 2,800 organizations build or rehabilitate more than 215,000 affordable homes and 30 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space—totaling $22.3 billion in development. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have better lives and brighter futures.