See CCLF in action

See Executive Director Calvin L. Holmes address current Chicago economic conditions in the Community Media Workshop's series "Community, Media, and You" on CAN TV, and in the video below.

Chicago's Credit Crunch from Community Media Workshop on Vimeo.

Learn more about CCLF's work and its executive director, Calvin L. Holmes! This video portrait of Holmes was produced for the 2007 Tom Gobby Community Leadership Award Ceremony & Reception by LaSalle Bank and Bank of America. Read more about the award here (PDF).

Produced by Mat Taylor/LaSalle Bank

Our Mission

Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) was originally conceived as a bridge between people who wanted to put their money to work "in their own backyard" and nonprofit organizations that serve low-wealth families and communities who need those dollars most.

CCLF's mission is to provide low-cost, flexible financing and free/low-cost technical assistance to nonprofit community development organizations for affordable housing, economic development and social service initiatives in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Our vision is to work creatively with our clients to help them rejuvenate neighborhoods and improve the lives of low-wealth individuals and families who live in those communities.

Results

Since 1991, CCLF has closed loans totaling more than $36 million in financing for community development initiatives in communities across the city and suburbs. This financing has leveraged for our borrowers' projects:

• More than $800 million in additional public and private sector investment
• Homes for more than 5,200 households, approximately 1,000 jobs and scores of childcare slots
• Over 1.7 million square feet of new or rehabilitated commercial/retail/industrial space and nonprofit facility space

Our work has ultimately benefited tens of thousands of people who live in the communities we care about.

What Makes Us Different

While there are other community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that serve the Chicago area, CCLF has carved out a unique niche in the marketplace.

For more than 19 years, CCLF has cultivated its unique approach to lending. We have the patience and flexibility to remain committed to borrowers through lengthy public financing approval processes; to partner with small, midsize and emerging groups on their first projects; and to take on some of the most difficult development projects.

Our Credentials

As a not-for-profit revolving loan fund, CCLF provides financing for development projects promising high social impact that for-profit, regulated financial institutions generally do not provide. Since 1991, CCLF has grown successfully from an initial investment of $200,000 to more than $25 million in total capital under management.

Since 1991, the fund has closed loans totaling more than $36 million in financing for community development initiatives, which in turn have leveraged more than $800 million in additional public- and private-sector capital for those community projects.

CCLF is certified by the US Department of Treasury's CDFI Fund and is an active member of the Opportunity Finance Network.

WHAT'S NEW

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OPEN POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: CCLF is currently hiring a Sustainable Programming Website Coordination Intern for Summer 2009. Download the job description (.pdf) or send your resume to career@cclfchicago.org.

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SUPPORT CCLF

Help us keep our loans and assistance services affordable to innovative community developers by donating today.

You can also put your money to work in Chicagoland community development projects by investing in our loan pool!

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