Chicago Community Loan Fund

What Chicago Community Loan Fund does

Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1991 and headquartered at 29 E Madison St, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois. The organization provides flexible, affordable financing ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 alongside technical assistance to mission-driven housing developers, nonprofit organizations, commercial developers, and social enterprises operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods across the six-county Chicago metropolitan area (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties). CCLF generates revenue primarily through interest income on loans (rates ranging from 6% to 9% depending on product type), supplemented by application fees ($250 for nonprofits, $350 for for-profits), loan fees of 1% to 2.5%, investor capital, and philanthropic grants, with a stated ability to leverage capital grants at a 3:1 ratio.

CCLF's product platform is organized around four core lending categories—Housing Loans (predevelopment, construction and rehabilitation, housing cooperative, mini-permanent, and permanent mortgage), Nonprofit Loans, Commercial Retail Loans, and Social Enterprise Loans—supplemented by specialized programs such as the Neighborhood Investor Lending Program (NILP), Multi-family Property Loan, Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild, Center for Shared Ownership, Chicagoland Owners Land Trust (COLT), Shared Equity Investment Program (SEIP), and the Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium (COZC), which the organization created in 2020 and houses. Distribution is direct and relationship-led, with loan inquiry forms on the website and partnerships with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, the City of Chicago, Cook County Land Bank Authority, Community Investment Corporation, and Chicago Rehab Network. The underlying technology stack is conventional for a CDFI (loan servicing, CRM, document management) with no proprietary AI/ML models.

Since inception, CCLF has closed 696 loans totaling $423 million, leveraging an additional $2.16 billion in public and private capital to create or preserve 13,102+ housing units, 8,091+ jobs, and 13.4 million+ square feet of commercial and community facility space. As of FY2025, the organization holds $200+ million in assets, maintains a 3% portfolio delinquency rate, a less than 1% cumulative charge-off ratio, and a 91% self-sufficiency ratio, marking it as one of the most established and well-capitalized CDFIs in the Midwest, with the recent ECAP Fund launch signaling further expansion into equity capital.

Name

Chicago Community Loan Fund

Legal name

Chicago Community Loan Fund

Website

https://cclfchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit CDFI founded in 1991 that provides flexible loans ($50K–$5M) and technical assistance to housing developers, nonprofits, commercial developers, and social enterprises serving low- and moderate-income neighborhoods across the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance (CDFI Lending)

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Affordable housing finance
• Nonprofit CDFI services
• Commercial real estate loans
• Social enterprise financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: CCLF generates revenue through interest charged on loans for housing, commercial real estate, nonprofits, and social enterprises. Interest rates vary by product type: predevelopment loans 7-9%, construction/rehabilitation 8-9%, housing cooperatives 6-9%, with loan amounts ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing flexible, affordable loans ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 across four core categories—housing, nonprofit facilities, commercial retail, and social enterprises—alongside technical assistance for community development projects serving low- to moderate-income communities across metropolitan Chicago. The organization channels capital from banks, foundations, governments, and individuals through its General Loan Pool and specialized programs such as the Neighborhood Investor Lending Program, Multi-family Property Loan, Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild, Center for Shared Ownership, Shared Equity Investment Program, and the Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium.

Product overview

Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) providing a comprehensive suite of financing products and technical assistance for community stabilization. The organization operates as a platform with four core lending products (Housing Loans, Nonprofit Loans, Commercial Retail Loans, and Social Enterprise Loans) supported by specialized programs including the Neighborhood Investor Lending Program, Multi-family Property Loan, Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild, Center for Shared Ownership, Chicagoland Owners Land Trust Federation, and Shared Equity Investment Program. CCLF also provides technical assistance services including workshops, sustainability resources, and development assistance, and houses the Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium. Loan amounts range from $50,000 to $5,000,000 with application fees of $250-$350 depending on borrower type.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium (COZC): A collaborative of nonprofit, private, and public sector organizations focused on community development in the Chicago region's Opportunity Zones, housed at CCLF.
• Center for Shared Ownership (CSO)
• Chicagoland Owners Land Trust (COLT)

Products and services

• Housing Loans Financing for 1-4 unit properties, multi-family and mixed-use facilities, shared equity housing, and supportive housing projects across metropolitan Chicago. Encompasses Predevelopment Loans (7-9% interest, 2-year max term), Construction and Rehabilitation Loans (8-9% interest, 1-1.5 year max term), Housing Cooperative Loans (6-9% interest, up to 15-year term), Mini-Permanent Mortgage Loans (15-year max term), and Permanent Mortgage Loans (20-year max term).
• Nonprofit Loans Loans for nonprofit organizations for facility repairs, expansion, and other real estate development needs including arts centers, food pantries, qualified health facilities, and charter schools across metropolitan Chicago.
• Commercial Retail Loans Low-cost financing for commercial real estate development in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, supporting developers with tenants offering access to quality goods and services such as healthy food and legal services.
• Social Enterprise Loans Financing for social enterprises operated by for-profit and nonprofit organizations providing social benefit, including green/sustainable enterprises and MBE/WBE/DBE entrepreneurs. Includes Working Capital Loans for equipment and working capital needs (7-year maximum term, monthly principal and interest).
• Technical Assistance High-touch technical assistance program providing tools for negotiating the community-oriented real estate development process, including workshops, webinars, sustainability resources, and development assistance for nonprofit and community borrowers.
• Neighborhood Investor Lending Program (NILP) Program for small scale for-profit and nonprofit developers to acquire and rehabilitate 1-4 unit buildings, helping preserve affordable housing and stabilize communities. Interest rate 6.5-8%, up to 10-year permanent financing, up to 30-year amortization, 90% loan-to-cost, 80-120% loan-to-value, 1.2x-1.4x debt service coverage ratio.
• Multi-family Property Loan Financing for multi-family and mixed-use facilities with 5 or more units of housing across metropolitan Chicago. Interest rate 6-8%, 100% loan-to-cost.
• Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild Collaborative program with the City of Chicago, Cook County Land Bank Authority, and Community Investment Corporation to facilitate acquisition and redevelopment of single family and 2-flat vacant properties for new homeowners on Chicago's South and West sides, including a workforce development component.
• Center for Shared Ownership Partnership with Chicago Rehab Network providing training and technical assistance for successful governance and operation of shared ownership housing including cooperatives, condominiums, and townhouses.
• Chicagoland Owners Land Trust (COLT) Federation of community land trusts across the Chicago area united to build community ownership of land, preserve affordable housing, and preserve commercial opportunities. CCLF serves as the convener.
• Shared Equity Investment Program (SEIP) Program supporting shared equity models of community land trust and limited equity affordable housing cooperative development, providing up to $100,000 per affordable unit for acquisition and carrying costs.
• Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium (COZC) Collaborative of nonprofit, private, and public sector organizations focused on community development in Chicago's Opportunity Zones, representing 135 zones in Chicago and 48 in suburban Cook County. Housed at CCLF, COZC facilitates matchmaking, education, and technical support.
• General Loan Pool Investments Capital investment product for banks, corporations, foundations, religious institutions, public sector agencies, and individuals seeking social impact returns. Minimum investment $1,500, typically 0-2.5% return for social dividend, 1-15 year terms, interest paid semi-annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• $423 million in loans has leveraged $2.16 billion in additional capital for community revitalization
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allies for Community BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Co-hosting Pride in Capital event to connect LGBTQ+ serving institutions with capital resources for affordable housing, small businesses, community facilities, and social enterprises.
• Chicagoland Opportunity Zones Consortium (COZC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CCLF led the creation of COZC, a collaborative of nonprofit, private, and public sector organizations focused on community development in Chicago's Opportunity Zones. COZC represents 135 Opportunity Zones in Chicago and 48 in suburban Cook County. The consortium is housed at CCLF and facilitates matchmaking, education, and technical support.
• Opportunity Finance NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLF is guided by Opportunity Finance Network's stringent guidelines for community development financial institutions. OFN is the leading national network of CDFIs.
• AERIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLF is rated by Aeris, the CDFI Assessment and Rating System providing comprehensive third-party analysis that guides investors and donors.
• Housing Partnership NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLF is a member of Housing Partnership Network, an award-winning business collaborative of 100+ leading housing and community development organizations.
• Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLBA partners with CCLF on the Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild program to facilitate acquisition and redevelopment of single family and 2-flat vacant properties.
• Community Investment CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIC partners with CCLF on the Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild program to facilitate acquisition and redevelopment of properties for new homeowners in Chicago's South and West sides.
• Chicago Rehab NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLF and Chicago Rehab Network created the Center for Shared Ownership to provide training and technical assistance for cooperative, condominium, and townhouse governance and operation.
• Chicagoland Owners Land Trust Federation (COLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCLF serves as convener of COLT, a coalition of community land trusts across the Chicago area united by a mission to build community ownership of land and preserve affordable housing.
• LISC ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOZC consortium member and key community development partner supporting neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• IFFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOZC consortium member providing community development finance expertise.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFF: IFF is a Chicago-headquartered CDFI providing loans, leases, and development consulting to nonprofits, housing developers, and social enterprises across the Midwest. IFF is a direct peer to CCLF in mission, product set, and geography, and is named as a COZC consortium member alongside CCLF.
• Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF): LIIF is a national CDFI providing financing for community facilities, affordable housing, and charter schools serving low-income communities. Chelsi Cicekoglu (CCLF Senior Loan and NMTC Officer) was previously Director of National Community Facilities Lending at LIIF, and LIIF is a COZC consortium member — a direct peer in product set.
• National Equity Fund: National Equity Fund is one of the largest national syndicators of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, supporting affordable housing development nationwide. As a COZC consortium member and LIHTC peer, NEF is a direct peer in the affordable housing finance space where CCLF operates.
• Community Investment Corporation (CIC): CIC is a Chicago CDFI specializing in financing for small- and mid-sized rental property owners. CIC is a direct peer and named collaborator with CCLF on the Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild program for South and West side property redevelopment.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago: NHSC is a Chicago-based nonprofit housing counseling and lending organization providing homebuyer education and affordable home loans in Chicago neighborhoods. Bob Tucker (CCLF President) was previously Chief Risk Officer and Corporate General Counsel at NHSC, making it a closely linked direct peer.
• LISC Chicago: LISC Chicago is the local arm of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, one of the largest CDFIs in the U.S., providing financing and capacity-building for community development in Chicago. LISC is a direct peer of CCLF in Chicago and is named as a COZC consortium partner.

Broad incumbents

• Housing Partnership Network: Housing Partnership Network is a national collaborative of 100+ leading housing and community development organizations. CCLF is a member and HPN is a broad-incumbent peer in the housing-focused CDFI space.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the leading national network of CDFIs, of which CCLF is a member. OFN is a broad incumbent in the CDFI ecosystem — providing industry standards, capital aggregation, and advocacy — and directly comparable to CCLF as a CDFI trade body.

Emerging players

• Urban Partnership Bank: Urban Partnership Bank (formerly ShoreBank) is a Chicago-based community development bank providing commercial and consumer banking in underserved neighborhoods. As a CCLF investor and a source of several CCLF team alumni (Wendell Harris, Chelsi Cicekoglu), Urban Partnership is an emerging player that overlaps with CCLF's commercial lending activity.
• Allies for Community Business: Allies for Community Business (formerly ACCION Chicago / Allies) is a Chicago CDFI focused on small business lending, particularly to minority entrepreneurs. Named as a CCLF partner on the Pride in Capital event, Allies operates in overlapping territory with CCLF's social enterprise and commercial retail lending.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cclfchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/chicago-community-loan-fund-264094540309166
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-community-loan-fund

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Community Loan Fund