Impact Investing

For over 15 years, the Arizona Community Foundation has been providing impact loans to qualifying nonprofits, schools, and municipalities to assist in completing essential projects that benefit communities across the state.

Our Loan Funds

We offer impact loans in three specialized areas through funds supported by corporate and government partners. These loans help organizations fill gaps where commercial lenders fall short, often serving as the catalyst to launch projects that serve the common good.

Eligibility requirements

Affordable Housing Predevelopment Loan Fund

This fund was established in 2007 to jump-start the development of decent, affordable housing in Arizona. Loans from this fund primarily address obstacles faced by nonprofit developers in relation to up-front costs before permanent financing is secured.

Community Impact Loan Fund

This fund was established in 2012 to invest in innovative community projects using familiar market instruments such as loans and loan guarantees made at below-market rates. Loans from this fund provide charitable capital that creates both social and financial impact.

ACF/USDA Rural Development Investment Fund

This fund was established in 2020 to assist rural communities with low-interest, short-term financing for infrastructure projects that USDA Rural Development has committed to funding. Loans from this fund benefit water systems, schools, affordable housing, firehouses, museums, parks, and related needs in rural communities.

ACF's loan programs

Collectively, these loan programs have distributed over $28.2 million in loans and capital support. Our impact loans benefit nonprofits in the following ways:

produce

A greater leverage and scale by using a small portion of assets as recyclable, low-interest, or market-rate loans across multiple nonprofit sectors.

Introduce

New and sophisticated financial tools to nonprofits, increasing organizational expertise and ultimately strengthening the nonprofit sector.

Provide

Access to capital that may not be available or affordable to nonprofits through traditional lenders.

Expand

Impact across the broader community.

Attract

New donors interested in achieving greater community impact.

Affordable Housing Predevelopment Loan Fund Impact

$5.3 million

Loaned across Arizona.

66

Funded housing projects.

122:1

Funding leverage ratio.

3,534

Housing units for low-income individuals and families, senior citizens, Veterans, and adults with illnesses or disabilities.

Community Impact Loan Fund Spotlight

Desert Botanical Garden

Received two

Community Impact Loans.

$350,000

Loaned in 2013.

$1,000,000

Loaned in 2020.

A Community Impact Loan was deployed to the Desert Botanical Garden in 2013 to fund the construction of a new pumping system to draw nutrient-rich non-potable water directly from the adjacent Salt River Project Canal. The project saved the garden about $90,000 annually in irrigation costs while providing higher quality water to the plants and soil.

A second loan was deployed in 2020 to fund renovations for the garden's onsite restaurant Gertrude's. The restaurant was improved and enlarged, with added storage, shaded areas, and three new ADA-compliant restrooms.

These two loans exemplify the power of impact investing—nonprofit organizations benefit from below-market loans that might not otherwise be available to them while the community continues to enjoy a cultural and environmental resource.

Image above: Construction at Gertrudes. Photo courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden.

Find out if your organization is eligible.

Intake Form

Talk with Us

Get in touch to learn more about the benefits of applying for a loan. Contact Sarah Liguori for more information.

Email Sarah sliguori@azfoundation.org
Call Sarah 602.682.2092