One of America's leading nonprofit community development financial institutions, IFF strengthens nonprofits and their communities through lending and real estate consulting. We serve nonprofits in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, with a focus on those that serve low-income communities and special needs populations.
Since 1988, we have been a trusted partner to nonprofits in every sector, including health care, education, child care, and housing. We help nonprofits grow and successfully complete their capital projects.
Responding to the needs of nonprofits across Illinois
IFF began as a facility lender for Chicago nonprofits serving low-income groups and soon expanded its affordable lending services to nonprofits across the state of Illinois. Since 1988, IFF has closed more than 1,000 loans representing project costs totaling $1 billion across our five-state region.
IFF also provides real estate consulting services to nonprofits in Chicago’s eight county metropolitan area. Clients choose from a comprehensive menu of fully integrated services based on a proposal tailored to specific needs, all at below-market rates.
IFF believes that nonprofits are one of society’s primary agents of change. To that end, IFF supports nonprofit organizations with financial and real estate solutions that help them meet their facility needs. When nonprofits operate in well designed, well financed facilities, they can devote their energy to their programs and missions.
Initiatives in areas where innovation is most needed
A number of IFF's special initiatives are unique to Illinois and the Chicago metro area.
- The Illinois Fresh Food Fund is a statewide program and set of loan and grant products that is designed to invest in full service grocery stores to increase the availability of fresh food (fresh produce, fruit, baked goods, dairy products and meats) in high need communities throughout Illinois.
- Our Energy Performance Program (E2P) enables nonprofits to significantly lower energy bills with energy efficiency upgrades to their facilities, saving them money on utilities every month for years to come. We manage the entire process; our customers enjoy the savings.
- Home First Illinois (HFI) develops integrated, accessible, and affordable homes, providing permanent, community-based housing to people with disabilities. These homes address a strong need in Illinois, where a disproportionate number of low-income people with disabilities are living in State-funded and private institutions.
Strengthening nonprofits and the communities they serve
Some of the agencies that we have been proud to work with recently are highlighted below.
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Inspiration Corporation, Chicago
In 2011, Inspiration Corporation's Garfield Park restaurant celebrated its grand opening. Inspiration Corporation asked IFF for an acquisition and construction loan for its fourth site, where meals for the homeless and food service training are provided. Already a two-time loan customer, IFF provided them with a $520,000 loan to develop Inspiration Kitchens, a restaurant, catering, and job training facility on Chicago’s west side that will serve meals to an estimated 3,500 low-income families, train 100 people for jobs, and create 12 full-time jobs. IFF’s Real Estate Services division was chosen to plan and manage the $2.4 million project.
Read more...
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LEARN Hunter Perkins Campus, Chicago
With the help of a $1 million loan from IFF's energy efficiency loan fund, LEARN Charter School Network made significant renovations to a vacant parochial school building that include many green, energy efficient features. Improvements to the new campus include high performance lighting fixtures, energy efficient windows, and a building automation system that controls the lighting and mechanical systems to reduce unnecessary energy use. These improvements not only significantly cut down on energy costs, but also create a healthy and positive learning environment for the students.
The Hunter Perkins Campus is located in Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood. It currently houses grades K-3 and will serve grades K-8 by 2017. LEARN serves nearly 2,000 students and plans to expand its reach to 8,000 low-income students over the next decade.
Watch a video or read more...
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The Maywood Apartments, Maywood
IFF’s Real Estate Services was contracted by the West Cook County Housing Collaborative to coordinate the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) on its behalf. The Collaborative, an effort between Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood, and Oak Park municipalities, was formed to increase access to quality, affordable housing in West Suburban Cook County. Taking an innovative approach to acquiring NSP funds, IFF filed a single application to support the housing needs of the sub-region rather than applying for each individual municipality
The Collaborative was awarded approximately $3 million through Cook County. A portion of the funds is being used to renovate a 26-unit apartment building in Maywood. IFF Real Estate Services is managing the development of the Maywood Apartments, including selecting and managing the project team.
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Hardin County General Hospital, Rosiclare
Hardin County General Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) providing inpatient, outpatient and emergency care services to residents of Hardin, Saline, Pope and parts of Gallatin counties in southern Illinois. Of the organization’s 27,000 patients, 52 percent are low-income, and 15 percent are seniors.
IFF provided Hardin with an affordable, flexible equipment loan for $491,000 to purchase hardware, software, support services and the installation of electronic health records (EHRs). Installing EHRs will allow Hardin to maximize incentive payments from Medicare and better manage patient care.
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Illinois borrowers
- Angelic Organics Learning Center
- Asian Human Services
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois
- Community Health and Emergency Services
- Goldie B. Floberg Center for Children
- Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County
- Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, and affiliates
View all borrowers
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Illinois Real Estate Services clients
- Access Living
- Children’s Home + Aid Society
- CommunityHealth, NFP
- Erie Family Health Center
- Inspiration Corporation
- Lutheran Social Services
- Noble Network of Charter Schools
- One Hope United
View all Real Estate Services clients
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IFF’s research department has also conducted research specific to Illinois, including:
You can browse an interactive map of IFF loans and real estate projects in Chicago here.
Contact
To discuss our work and services in Illinois, please contact us at 312 629 0060.
To get directions to IFF's Illinois office, go to the Contact Us page.
To download print-ready overview sheets of IFF’s Loan Programs in Illinois, please click here for Chicago Metro area or here for Central and Southern Illinois.
