Clearinghouse CDFI
Clearinghouse CDFI is a full-service direct lender financing projects benefiting underserved communities throughout the US and in Indian Country.
Open process / apply anytime
Loan size (range, $): $250K-$12M
Current portfolio ($; #): $31M; 6 schools
Cost share (equity) required: Yes (20%)
Collateral required: Yes (real estate)
Standard CDFI due diligence
Clearinghouse CDFI is a full-service, direct lender looking to financing projects that create jobs and services to help people work, live, dream, grow, and thrive in healthy communities. Clearinghouse CDFI is also a B Corp, a certification for companies meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and using business as a force for good.
Loans offers are for purposes including acquisition, renovation, expansion, and refinancing. Clearinghouse CDFI offers short and long-term permanent, fixed-rate mortgages from 3-years to 30-years fully amortizing.
Every loan application is assessed individually with consideration for its potential impact and return, and all loans must demonstrate measurable community benefit.
Focus Areas:
Geographies: Nationwide with a focus on California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Indian Country and Opportunity Zones
Sectors: Charter schools, affordable housing, community facilities, health care facilities, small businesses, commercial real estate
Schools: K-12 charter and private post-secondary schools; typically charter schools should have successfully completed at least one charter contract term and successfully renewed for at least one additional term; supported schools demonstrate stable or increasing enrollment over the previous three to five years; charter schools serving lower-income populations as measured by free-and-reduced lunch are preferred
Santa Fe South Charter School (Oklahoma City, OK)
Clearinghouse CDFI provided a $6.68 million New Market Tax Credit leveraged loan for the redevelopment of Santa Fe South Charter School, a K through12 charter school serving over 2,400 students. The loan funded construction of a new administrative building, new furniture and fixtures, and renovated outdoor/common areas. The expansion allowed for additional student enrollment, which addressed over-crowding faced by local public schools.
Imagine School at Imperial Valley (El Centro, CA)
Clearinghouse CDFI provided $8.9 million of New Market Tax Credit allocation for Imagine converting a vacant, blighted retail center into a new charter school serving one of the poorest areas in Imperial County. The school offers an immersive dual-language program for low-income Hispanic/Latino students and is in an area with historically underperforming schools.
Interested applicants should reach out to Clearinghouse CDFI to start a conversation. The underwriting process typically takes between six and eight weeks from the time of loan application submission.