Who we are
The Genesis Community Loan Fund connects communities creating affordable housing and other essential community resources with the capital and expertise they need to overcome barriers to opportunity and prosperity. A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Genesis works throughout Maine and other sites in northern New England to make flexible loans, deliver expert project guidance, advance policy solutions, and promote systemic change. We offer impact investing for individuals and institutions to move resources toward community needs.
What we do
Genesis is a catalyst for change. As simply as possible, Genesis works with partners to make projects happen that otherwise wouldn’t. For three decades, we’ve seen how our timely, effective funding and expert planning guidance fuels the community collaboration that makes projects successful.
With our partners, we strive to:
- Increase the supply of affordable and high-quality homes, childcare centers, health care facilities and other infrastructure that supports healthy and just communities;
- Ensure a safety net for people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, domestic violence, food insecurity and poor access to health care;
- Provide supportive housing for people with persistent mental illness or intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities that require ongoing supportive services;
- Create opportunities to build wealth, power and control for people facing systemic barriers to opportunity and prosperity, including very rural and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities; and
- Build vibrant, resilient, equitable urban and rural communities where people thrive.
2024 Goals
1. Originate $16 million in new lending, expanding our loan portfolio to $50 million.
2. Expand work with new borrowers by emphasizing relationship-building with nonprofit and private developers in rural communities, BIPOC-led organizations and BIPOC entrepreneurs, and providers offering supportive services to those experiencing homelessness.
3. Expand our successful work to aid smaller-scale developers who can create affordable housing.
4. Collaborate with state leaders to enhance funding opportunities and remove barriers to rural housing preservation.
5. Amplify our partners’ stories to expand social impact investing, shape housing and other community development projects, and foster outreach in our field to multilingual and BIPOC stakeholders.
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Giving Opportunities
Investments: Genesis investors are the backbone of our success, participating in a simple, accessible impact investment opportunity that delivers financial and social returns. As well as earning a fixed-rate return, Genesis investors become partners in community development, helping to build vibrant, resilient, equitable communities.
Contributions: Making a gift helps Genesis keep our loans affordable for our community partners and offer them low and no-cost expert project guidance. In turn, they create and preserve affordable housing, add childcare slots, provide more shelter beds, expand food bank capacity and more. Donors see the impact of their support through our regular updates. Because Genesis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
