About
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is one of the country's largest community development organizations, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered in New York City. Established in 1979, LISC works "together with residents and partners" to "help forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America," providing grants, loans, and equity investments that turn local plans into affordable homes, thriving businesses, and stronger neighborhoods. Since its founding, LISC reports $38 billion in total investment — $1.8 billion in grants, $7 billion in loans, and $29 billion in equity — leading to $102 billion in total development.
Mission
Together with residents and partners, LISC helps forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America — great places to live, work, visit, do business, and raise families. Its model builds on a foundation of affordable housing to support healthy families and businesses while growing local economies.
What they do
- Affordable housing finance and development support
- Small business and economic development lending and capacity building
- Programs across education, child care, health, income and wealth building, safety and justice, sports and youth development, and sustainability
- Lending, capacity building, and impact investments delivered through the organization and its affiliated companies
- A Rural LISC program, headquartered in Washington, DC, that invests in and supports partners across hundreds of communities
History
LISC was established in 1979. It has grown into a national platform with staff, expertise, and relationships in 34 offices — local offices in 33 metropolitan areas and regions (from Atlanta, the Bay Area, and Illinois to New York, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC) plus its wide-ranging rural program.
Scale and impact
Cumulative impact figures LISC publishes (since 1979): $1.8 billion in grants, $7 billion in loans, and $29 billion in equity invested — $38 billion in total investment leading to $102 billion in total development. Under its 2025-2027 strategic plan, the organization aims to invest over $5 billion over three years. LISC is CDFI Fund certified, S&P rated, and listed on the ImpactAssets 50.
Financials
Per LISC's fiscal year 2023 Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 13-3030229), the organization reported total revenue of about $373.1 million, total expenses of about $372.8 million, and year-end total assets of about $1.52 billion. LISC is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) headquartered at 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY.