Cinnaire

What Cinnaire does

Cinnaire is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1993 in Lansing, Michigan, by CEO Mark McDaniel. The organization provides flexible capital and development expertise for affordable housing and community development projects across 13 states in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. It operates through five core subsidiaries: Cinnaire Lending Corporation (CDFI loans for acquisition, construction, pre-development, mini-perm, NMTC leveraged loans, lines of credit, and bridge loans), Cinnaire Equity Partners (LIHTC equity syndication across multiple funds), Cinnaire Solutions (nonprofit, mission-driven real estate development), Cinnaire Title Services (title insurance and escrow in Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin), and a cooperative ownership stake in CPC Mortgage Company (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and HUD/FHA multifamily Agency lending). Cinnaire also operates specialized programs including Permanent Supportive Housing, the Strong Families Fund (a pay-for-performance social services pilot with the Kresge Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), and Jumpstart Wilmington (developer training, transitioning to Destiny CDC in July 2026).

Cinnaire generates revenue primarily through three streams: (1) interest income and fees on direct CDFI loans to developers and nonprofit sponsors (loan sizes $500K-$6M, with 1.5% loan fees and a $5,000 minimum); (2) management, asset-management, and syndication fees from LIHTC, NMTC, and Historic Tax Credit equity funds, with five active credit funds and $307M and $134M funds closed in 2026; and (3) professional services revenue from Cinnaire Solutions development work and Cinnaire Title Services. Funding for lending is sourced from government grants and tax credit allocations (e.g., $85M NMTC allocation in 2024-2025 round, $678M cumulative NMTC since 2009), bank credit facilities (e.g., $10M from KeyBank in 2023), FHLBC Affordable Housing Program grants, and co-investments with corporate partners (PNC, Chase, Kresge Foundation). Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven across developer, investor, nonprofit, and government segments, with customers served by relationship managers in seven offices.

Since 1993, Cinnaire has generated $14B+ in social/environmental impact, developed or financed 3,624+ affordable homes, supported 1,200+ housing developments, created 95,000+ jobs, and received industry awards including multiple Novogradac QLICI of the Year awards and Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards. As of 2026, Cinnaire employs 170+ staff, holds an AA- Aeris Financial Strength rating (the first independent CDFI rating it has received), and was ranked #3 on The Nonprofit Times Best Nonprofits to Work For list.

Name

Cinnaire

Legal name

Cinnaire Lending Corporation

Website

https://cinnaire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cinnaire is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1993 that provides lending, tax credit equity syndication, and real estate development services for affordable housing and community development projects across 13 Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Affordable housing finance
• Tax credit syndication
• CDFI lending services
• Real estate development

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lending Interest and Fees: Cinnaire generates revenue through interest on loans provided to developers and community organizations for affordable housing and community development projects. Loan products include acquisition, construction, pre-development, mini-perm financing, NMTC leveraged loans, lines of credit, and bridge loans.
2. Tax Credit Equity Fund Management: Cinnaire syndicates Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity funds, generating management fees from overseeing fund investments and investor relations.
3. New Markets Tax Credit Program: Cinnaire deploys NMTC allocations to support high-impact community facilities, generating fees for structuring and managing these investments.
4. Development Services: Cinnaire Solutions provides real estate development services including development consulting, project management, and co-development partnerships.
5. Title Services: Cinnaire Title Services provides title insurance and escrow services for complex real estate transactions in Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cinnaire is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides creative capital solutions for affordable housing and community development. Its core offerings include CDFI lending products (acquisition, construction, pre-development, mini-perm, lines of credit, bridge loans), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity syndication, New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation deployment, Historic Tax Credit (HTC) investments, agency multifamily mortgage lending through CPC Mortgage, real estate development services through Cinnaire Solutions, and title insurance/escrow through Cinnaire Title Services.

Product overview

Cinnaire is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) offering a unified platform of financial products and development solutions for affordable housing and community development. The core offering consists of Cinnaire Lending (CDFI lending with products including acquisition, construction, pre-development, mini-perm financing, and bridge loans), CPC Mortgage (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and FHA multifamily lending), and Tax Credit Investing (LIHTC, NMTC, and Historic Tax Credits). These are supported by Cinnaire Solutions (nonprofit real estate development subsidiary) and Cinnaire Title Services (title insurance). The company also operates specialized programs including Permanent Supportive Housing for recovery/veterans/families, the Strong Families Fund for social service coordination, and Jumpstart Wilmington developer training. The portfolio spans 13 states across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cinnaire Equity Partners: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity investment and syndication division of Cinnaire
• Cinnaire Solutions
• CPC Mortgage
• Cinnaire Cares
• Strong Families Fund
• Jumpstart Wilmington
• Art of Leadership Academy (ALA)

Products and services

• Cinnaire Lending Cinnaire's CDFI lending division providing financing for affordable housing, education, healthcare, community facilities and economic development. Offers loan products including acquisition, construction, pre-development, mini-perm financing, NMTC leveraged loans, lines of credit, and bridge loans. Minimum loan amount $500,000; maximum $6,000,000 with larger sizes considered per deal. Loan fees: 1.5% (minimum $5,000).
• CPC Mortgage

Quantifiable outcome

• $14 billion+ in community impact generated since 1993
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Leon N. Weiner & Associates (LNWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026LNWA completed the $38.1 million acquisition-rehabilitation of Tamerlane Apartments, preserving large-scale USDA housing. The transaction layered $11.4 million J.P. Morgan tax-exempt bonds, $11.9 million Cinnaire LIHTC equity, and $14.1 million USDA Section 515 debt.
• Aeris (CDFI Rating Service)coreOthers · 5 May 2026Aeris is the leading independent rating and information service for CDFIs, providing corporate, government, and philanthropic investors with tools to evaluate CDFI performance, impact, and accountability. Cinnaire Lending received AA- rating for Financial Strength and Performance.
• Center City Housing CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Center City Housing developed Wadena West and Welch Place, two Permanent Supportive Housing developments totaling 90 units in West Duluth, Minnesota. Cinnaire provided LIHTC equity from Minnesota Equity Fund.
• Freddie MaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinnaire is a cooperative owner in CPC Mortgage Company providing multifamily finance products through Freddie Mac. CPC Mortgage offers agency mortgage capital for high-impact multifamily projects.
• Fannie MaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinnaire provides multifamily finance products through CPC Mortgage Company with multiple licenses including Fannie Mae. Agency lending increases access to flexible mortgage capital.
• HUD/FHAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPC Mortgage Company holds HUD/FHA licenses enabling multifamily financing through Federal Housing Administration programs.
• Ethos Development PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEthos Development Partners collaborated with Cinnaire Solutions and Mariners Inn on The Anchor at Mariners Inn, a $25.2 million mixed-use development in Detroit.
• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSH partnered on the Strong Families Fund, providing expertise in supportive housing and pay-for-performance models for resident services coordination.
• Commonwealth Holdings IVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for 3rd Avenue Flats in Dilworth, Minnesota, a 44-unit affordable housing development serving families with disabilities and homelessness.
• Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPLP provides access to Minnesota's community coordinated entry system for 3rd Avenue Flats residents, connecting them to homeless housing programs and emergency resources.
• Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority leads Sykes Midrise, an 84-unit acquisition-rehabilitation preserving affordable senior housing in Norfolk, VA.
• Lutheran Social Services (LSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSS delivers on-site services for Permanent Supportive Housing units at The Argus Apartments in Verona, WI, as part of its 140+ year commitment to compassionate support.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Cinnaire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinnaire
• Xx.com/cinnaire

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 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 Cinnaire