“NIIF, an innovative public-private partnership, provides powerful tools to deliver capital that benefits historically disinvested neighborhoods in Baltimore.”
Maryland is among the richest states in the nation. While certain areas of its largest city, Baltimore, benefit from significant private investment, too many of the City’s neighborhoods struggle with poverty, a history of segregation, racial discrimination, and continued disinvestment. NIIF was established as an independent 501(c)(3) organization and works in alignment with the City to deliver flexible-term loans that promote community development and catalyze inclusive economic growth. Initially capitalized by a $51.7 million loan from the City, NIIF works to leverage additional support and investment from philanthropic organizations, financial institutions, and mission investors. NIIF has a defined set of Eligible Neighborhoods, established by the City, where it can deploy capital.
In 2021, NIIF was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund. This certification is awarded by the CDFI Fund to independent mission-focused organizations that provide financial services in low-income communities and to people who lack access to financing. Since certification, NIIF has raised more than $8.8 million in federal funding to accelerate our work in Baltimore.
