Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution

What Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution does

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution (Clearinghouse CDFI) is a Certified Community Development Financial Institution and B Corporation founded in 1996 and headquartered in Lake Forest, California. The firm provides direct community development lending across four product lines: multi-family affordable housing, community facilities, small business, and commercial real estate, with loan sizes from $800 application fees up to $15 million in principal and terms ranging from 24-month interest-only bridge loans to 24-year fixed-rate permanent financing. It also administers the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, deploying below-market-rate loans to businesses and nonprofits in severely distressed census tracts and providing investors a 39% federal tax credit. Pricing is fully customized on a per-borrower basis with no predefined loan programs; standard fees include $800 (nonprofits) or $1,200 (for-profits) application fees and 1.5-2% origination fees. Revenue is generated through net interest income on the loan portfolio, transactional fees, and capital deployment returns from NMTC equity investments.

The organization operates from four offices in California, Texas (Austin and Frisco), and Arizona, with regional business development officers covering Nevada, New Mexico, and Indian Country. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to municipalities, tribal governments, and nonprofits with a broker/referral program (25 basis points incentive) and CRA-motivated marketing to bank investors. As of 2025, the firm reports $878 million in total assets, $166 million in total equity, and $7.3 million in after-tax earnings, marking its 26th consecutive profitable year. Since inception it has deployed $2.7 billion across 2,700 projects, creating or preserving 13,500+ affordable housing units and 43,860+ jobs, with $769 million in NMTC allocation deployed across 104 projects. Capital is sourced from a recurring base of 22+ institutional bank investors, multiple U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund grants ($4M in 2022, $6.19M in 2023, $60M NMTC in 2023, $3M in 2020), and a $100M CDFI Bond Guarantee Program bond (issued 2014, fully repaid March 2026).

Name

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution

Legal name

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution

Website

https://clearinghousecdfi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clearinghouse CDFI is a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution providing direct loans and New Markets Tax Credit financing for affordable housing, community facilities, small businesses, and commercial real estate in low-income communities and Indian Country across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction & Development (C&D) Lending — Commercial/Multifamily (FSALADAH), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Affordable housing financing
• New markets tax credits
• Commercial real estate loans
• Small business lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Interest income from direct loans for multi-family affordable housing, community facilities, small businesses, and commercial real estate. Loan types include construction, acquisition, renovation, expansion, and refinance with both short-term (up to 24 months interest-only) and long-term (up to 24 years fixed-rate) options.
2. Loan Fees: Application and processing fees ($800 for nonprofits, $1,200 for for-profits), origination fees (1.5%-2%), and loan document fees assessed at loan funding.
3. Capital Deployment Returns: Returns on deployed capital through New Markets Tax Credit program investments and equity recapitalization from 22+ bank investors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Clearinghouse CDFI is a Certified Community Development Financial Institution and B Corporation that provides direct lending for community development projects in low-income communities and Indian Country. Its core products are Community Development Loans for multi-family affordable housing, community facilities, small businesses, and commercial real estate, and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which channels private capital into low-income communities through below-market loans subsidized by a 39% federal tax credit for investors. Loan structures include short-term interest-only financing up to 24 months and long-term fixed-rate financing up to 24 years, with each application individually underwritten for community impact and financial return.

Product overview

Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution is a full-service, direct lender and Certified B Corp that operates a portfolio of community development lending products. Its core offerings consist of Community Development Loans (direct financing for multi-family affordable housing, community facilities, small businesses, and commercial real estate) and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) financing, which work in tandem: Community Development Loans provide flexible direct lending nationwide and in Indian Country, while the NMTC program channels private investment into low-income communities through below-market-rate loans subsidized by federal tax credits. Supporting these core products are a Financial Education Series of free business webinars, two internship programs ('B' BOLD for high school students and 'B' BOLD(ER) for college students), a community development podcast ('Funded!'), and Opportunity Zone Funds. All products share a unified mission of financing projects that create jobs, affordable housing, and community services in underserved areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 'B' BOLD(ER): Summer internship program for low- to moderate-income high school and college students focused on building the next generation of community development leaders.
• Funded! Podcast
• CCDFI Central

Products and services

• Community Development Loans Direct lending for multi-family affordable housing, community facilities, small businesses, and commercial real estate. Loan types include short-term interest-only loans up to 24 months and long-term fixed-rate mortgages up to 24 years, with amounts up to $15 million and LTV up to 80%, individually underwritten for borrowers that conventional lenders decline.
• New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) Federal tax credit financing that helps economically distressed communities attract private capital. Clearinghouse CDFI deploys NMTC allocations to provide below-market loans to businesses and nonprofits in low-income communities, with investors receiving a 39% federal tax credit on their investment.
• Opportunity Zone Funds Investment platform channeling capital into Opportunity Zone communities, managed through the Opportunity Funds program to finance multi-family housing, community facilities, small business lending, and commercial and mixed-use properties in designated Opportunity Zones nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.7 billion deployed since 1996 across 2,700 projects creating/preserving 13,500+ affordable housing units and 43,860+ jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting partner.

• Orange County Community Housing Corporationsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 'B' BOLD(ER) program honoring Allen Peters Baldwin's legacy of helping low-income families through SteppingUP.
• Affordable Housing Clearinghousesupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner in 'B' BOLD(ER) internship program focused on affordable housing development.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the national membership association for CDFIs, providing capital, policy advocacy, and capacity-building to member CDFIs including Clearinghouse. Not a direct competitor but a peer ecosystem enabler connecting CDFIs to investors and federal programs.

Direct peers

• Reinvestment Fund: Reinvestment Fund is a CDFI that deploys capital for affordable housing, healthy food access, education, and community development in distressed communities. Comparable to Clearinghouse in NMTC participation, community development lending, and use of policy data to direct investments.
• National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC): NTCIC is a national CDFI specializing in historic preservation tax credits and New Markets Tax Credits. Comparable to Clearinghouse in NMTC deployment and tax credit-driven community development lending.
• Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF): LIIF is a CDFI providing loans and tax credit financing for affordable housing, childcare, education, and community facilities serving low-income communities. Comparable to Clearinghouse in mission, NMTC deployment, and direct community development lending focus.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): CEI is a Maine-based CDFI providing loans and investments for small business, natural resources, and community development in underserved areas. Comparable to Clearinghouse in mission-driven lending, small business and community facility focus, and CDFI/Treasury certification.
• Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a national CDFI providing financing for affordable housing, community health centers, education, and small businesses in underserved communities. Highly comparable to Clearinghouse in product mix (direct community loans, NMTC, Opportunity Zone), customer segments, and CDFI mission.
• Hope Credit Union (Hope Enterprise Corporation / Hope Credit Union): Hope Credit Union is a CDFI credit union serving underserved communities in the Deep South with deposits, loans, and financial services. Comparable to Clearinghouse in CDFI mission and focus on underserved markets, though structured as a credit union/depository rather than a non-depository CDFI.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise Community Partners is a major national CDFI focused on affordable housing finance and community development, deploying significant capital through both loans and tax credit programs. Comparable to Clearinghouse in mission, NMTC participation, and affordable housing focus, but at much larger scale and with broader policy/program influence.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is one of the largest national CDFIs, deploying billions in loans and investments for affordable housing, community facilities, and economic development in underserved communities. It is comparable to Clearinghouse in mission, lending products, and federal program participation, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Emerging players

• Beneficial State Bank: Beneficial State Bank is a B Corp-certified community development bank serving low-income communities and mission-driven businesses on the West Coast. Comparable to Clearinghouse in B Corp status, mission focus, and West Coast geographic overlap, though structured as a depository bank rather than a non-depository CDFI lender.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@clearinghousecdfi
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClearinghouseCDFI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clearinghouse-cdfi
• Instagraminstagram.com/clearinghousecdfi
• Xx.com/cdfi

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds15 records

Investors20 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution