Community Development Corporation of Utah

What Community Development Corporation of Utah does

Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered at 501 East 1700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Operating with 11–50 employees, CDCU delivers an integrated stack of financial stability and affordable housing services to low- and moderate-income Utahns earning between 30% and 140% of Area Median Income. Service lines include HUD-certified pre- and post-purchase housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, the SmartStart financial coaching program, the HomeStart Series homebuyer education workshops with 3:1 matched savings, the Utah Dream Fund Shared Appreciation Mortgage counseling pathway, Down Payment Assistance deferred loans (including Salt Lake City CRA-administered programs), foreclosure counseling, and one-on-one community navigation. Since 1990 CDCU reports helping more than 4,000 families in 125+ Utah communities achieve homeownership and serving more than 2,100 households in the past year alone, with 83% of families served earning at or below 80% AMI.

CDCU operates three primary revenue-and-customer pillars. First, government grants and contracts are sourced from HUD (it is a HUD-approved counseling agency and one of only five organizations nationally administering the Asset Control Area program), the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund, the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency, Salt Lake County, the State of Utah (Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund and Office of Homeless Services), and the Department of Workforce Services. Second, lending products are originated through its affiliate Utah Community Investment Fund (UCIF), including the HomeFit Upgrade Loan (up to $25,000 at 3%) and ADU construction loans (up to $200,000 at 3% fixed with 30-year amortization, partnered with Salt Lake City CRA), generating origination fees and interest income. Third, the organization develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing — The Howick (150 units, Millcreek), Richmond Flats (55 units, Salt Lake City), and Parker Willey (23 units, Salt Lake City) totaling 228 units — plus affordable for-sale housing, including a Community Land Trust program. Distribution is community-led: clients reach CDCU via direct in-person/online intake, statewide housing authority referrals, the Salt Lake City Tenant Resource Center, partner referrals (Guild Mortgage, Homium, Promise Partnership, Utah Community Action, NeighborWorks), community events, and a blog/email/social media presence in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Pricing is structured for mission rather than margin. Counseling, coaching, and homebuyer education are free; Down Payment Assistance is a deferred silent-second mortgage with no monthly payments; the Utah Dream Fund uses a Shared Appreciation Mortgage with repayment of principal plus a share of appreciation at sale/refinance; HomeFit and ADU loans are priced at 3% fixed to insulate borrowers from predatory alternatives; and modest $75 processing fees apply to DPA payoff and subordination requests. The technology layer is intentionally light: web-based intake/application forms, an online AMI calculator covering Salt Lake, Tooele, Weber, Davis, and Utah counties, and the Framework online homebuyer education platform. There is no proprietary technology platform, no software products, and no API integrations disclosed.

Name

Community Development Corporation of Utah

Legal name

Community Development Corporation of Utah

Website

https://cdcutah.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and HUD-approved housing counseling agency founded in 1990, delivering financial coaching, homeownership counseling, down payment assistance, ADU and home improvement lending, and affordable rental/for-sale housing development to low- and moderate-income Utahns earning 30%–140% of Area Median Income.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Public Mortgage Insurance & Government Credit Guarantee Programs (FSALAKAD)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Housing counseling services
• Down payment assistance
• Foreclosure prevention counseling
• Community development lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government grants and contracts: CDCU receives federal, state, and local government funding to administer housing counseling, down payment assistance, ADU financing, and community development programs. Funding sources include HUD, CDFI Fund, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, State of Utah (Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund, Office of Homeless Services), and the Department of Workforce Services.
2. Lending product origination fees and interest: Through its affiliate Utah Community Investment Fund, CDCU originates home improvement loans (HomeFit Upgrade up to $25,000 at 3% fixed rate) and ADU construction loans (up to $200,000 at 3% fixed rate with $2,000 origination fee). These generate origination fee revenue and interest income.
3. Individual and corporate donations: CDCU accepts charitable donations from individuals and corporations to support its programs and operations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 87-0476889).
4. Transaction and processing fees: CDCU charges a $75 processing fee for DPA payoff requests and subordination requests. Payment processing fees apply to online donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and HUD-approved housing counseling agency that delivers free housing counseling and financial coaching alongside its own lending products, including down payment assistance, home improvement loans (HomeFit Upgrade up to $25,000), and ADU construction loans (up to $200,000 at 3% fixed). The organization also develops, owns, and manages affordable rental housing (over 228 units across The Howick, Richmond Flats, and Parker Willey) and develops affordable for-sale housing including community land trust homes for low-to-moderate income Utahns.

Product overview

Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and HUD-approved housing counseling agency offering a comprehensive suite of housing and financial stability programs. The organization operates as a multi-product service provider with core offerings including financial coaching (SmartStart), homeownership education (HomeStart Series, Utah Dream Fund, Framework), down payment assistance, foreclosure prevention, home improvement loans (HomeFit), ADU construction financing, and affordable rental/for-sale housing development. CDCU also partners with Salt Lake City on the Tenant Resource Center and RAFT program. Services are targeted to low-to-moderate income Utahns, with many programs tied to Area Median Income (AMI) eligibility thresholds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HomeStart Series: Hands-on program of workshops and one-on-one housing counseling designed to prepare participants for successful first-time homeownership, with 3:1 matched savings opportunity.
• HomeFit Upgrade Loan Program
• Utah Dream Fund
• SmartStart
• Tenant Resource Center

Products and services

• SmartStart Financial Coaching Program FREE financial coaching program combining group education and one-on-one coaching to help participants create personalized budgets, set financial goals, improve credit scores, and manage debt. Targeted to low-to-moderate income Utahns seeking financial stability.
• HomeStart Series Hands-on program of workshops and one-on-one housing counseling preparing participants for successful first-time homeownership, with a 3:1 matched savings opportunity allowing participants to save up to $2,500 and receive up to $7,500 in matching funds (up to $10,000 total) toward first home purchase.
• Utah Dream Fund Homeownership Coaching Partnership program with Homium, Guild Mortgage, and Promise Partnership Utah providing pre-purchase counseling and Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) model for first-time homebuyers earning up to 140% AMI in Promise Communities (Promise Millcreek, Promise South Salt Lake).
• Foreclosure Prevention Assistance HUD-certified housing counselors help homeowners at risk of foreclosure understand their options, identify alternatives (forbearance, loan modification, repayment plans), assist with lender engagement, and apply for mortgage assistance funds.
• Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Deferred loan programs (silent second mortgages) providing down payment assistance to approved first-time homebuyers with terms and interest rates varying by specific DPA program. Currently administering Salt Lake City CRA DPA loan program for households under 80% AMI; competitive and awarded first-come first-qualified.
• HomeFit Upgrade Loan Program Loan program providing up to $25,000 in flexible financing at 3% fixed rate for health and safety repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, remodeling, roof replacement, exterior updates, or additional space. Available to primary-residence homeowners in Salt Lake, Tooele, or Summit counties; combined with financial coaching services.
• ADU Construction Financing Construction loan program in partnership with Salt Lake City CRA providing up to $200,000 at 3% fixed rate, 30-year amortization, for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction on owner-occupied properties west of I-15 in Salt Lake City municipal boundaries. Includes $2,000 origination fee ($200 application fee, remainder may be included in loan).
• Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants (RAFT) Direct assistance funds for low-income (80% AMI and below) Salt Lake City renter households displaced by landlords for demolition, major renovation, change of use, or expiration of income/rent restriction.
• Tenant Resource Center Partnership program with Salt Lake City providing Community Navigation specialists offering one-on-one support for renters finding affordable housing, accessing rental assistance, handling landlord issues, and preventing eviction.
• Affordable Rental Housing Properties Portfolio of affordable rental communities developed and owned by CDCU including The Howick (150 units in Millcreek, 30%-60% AMI), Richmond Flats (55 units in Salt Lake City, 30%-55% AMI), and Parker Willey (23 units in Salt Lake City, ≤55% AMI), with 8 ADA-accessible units at Richmond Flats. Property managed by BlueLine Development.
• Affordable For-Sale Housing CDCU develops and sells affordable homes for income-qualified buyers across Utah, building new homes and acquiring/rehabilitating existing properties including foreclosed and distressed homes. Includes Community Land Trust (CLT) program where CDCU retains land ownership while buyers purchase the home.
• Framework Online Homebuyer Education Online home buyer education course providing certificate of completion, delivered through the Framework platform. Includes checklists, worksheets, glossaries, and tools to help buyers understand the home purchasing process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% reduction in mortgage delinquency for clients completing home buyer education
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersCDCU is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, providing pre-purchase, post-purchase, foreclosure prevention, and rental counseling. CDCU works directly with HUD to maintain its certification and provide required reporting. CDCU is also one of only five organizations in the nation administering HUD's Asset Control Area (ACA) program to purchase, rehabilitate, and resell HUD-foreclosed homes in designated revitalization zones.
• Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDCU partners with the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency to offer ADU construction loans for homeowners on Salt Lake City's west side (west of I-15). CDCU also administers the Salt Lake City CRA DPA loan program for first-time homebuyers under 80% AMI buying in Salt Lake City. The CRA also provides funding for The Howick development.
• BlueLine DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDCU developed The Howick (150-unit affordable apartment community in Millcreek) in partnership with BlueLine Development. BlueLine manages and operates The Howick and Richmond Flats properties, accepting and processing rental applications on behalf of CDCU.
• Salt Lake CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson celebrated The Howick development, reflecting regional commitment. Salt Lake County provided funding for The Howick. CDCU's Director of Real Estate previously led funding and strategic initiatives for Salt Lake County. Salt Lake County Mayor also participated in The Howick ribbon-cutting.
• Utah Housing CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtah Housing Corporation provided funding for The Howick development. Utah Housing Corporation is also listed as a resource on CDCU's Other Resources page for down payment assistance, home loans, first-time homebuyer programs, and grants for law enforcement.
• Utah Dream Fund / HomiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDCU is a proud participant in the Utah Dream Fund program, partnering with Homium (which created the Community Venture), Guild Mortgage, and Promise Partnership Utah. CDCU provides housing counseling for Utah Dream Fund participants in Promise Communities. The Utah Dream Fund uses a Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) model.
• Guild MortgagemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuild Mortgage refers borrowers to CDCU for required pre-purchase counseling as part of the Utah Dream Fund program. Guild Mortgage is listed as a partner resource on CDCU's Utah Dream Fund page alongside Homium and Promise Partnership Utah.
• Promise Partnership UtahmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromise Partnership Utah partners with CDCU as part of the Utah Dream Fund program, operating in Promise Communities (Promise Millcreek, Promise South Salt Lake) to help first-time homebuyers achieve homeownership. Promise Partnership Utah board member Viridiana Najera serves on CDCU's Board of Directors.
• Utah Community Investment Fund (UCIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtah Community Investment Fund is CDCU's affiliate organization that provides lending products including the HomeFit Upgrade Loan (up to $25,000) and ADU construction loans (up to $200,000). UCIF is CDCU's vehicle for offering fair financing terms to protect borrowers from predatory lending.
• Millcreek CitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMillcreek City played a pivotal role in The Howick development by waiving building fees and implementing a streamlined permitting process. Mayor Cheri Jackson celebrated the development as critical to the city's health and economic vitality. Kayla Mayers from Millcreek City serves on CDCU's Board of Directors.
• First Step HousemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Step House provides ongoing case management services for 11 units at The Howick designated for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. First Step House is a local behavioral health provider and advocate for people experiencing homelessness across the Wasatch Front.
• NeighborWorks Salt Lake (NWSalt Lake)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborWorks Salt Lake is referenced on CDCU's Other Resources page for financial education, home improvement loans, and down payment assistance programs. CDCU refers clients to NWSalt Lake for certain programs and is part of the broader NeighborWorks network.
• Framework (Homebuyer Education Platform)moderateTechnology or IntegrationCDCU offers an online home buyer education course through Framework (learn.frameworkhomeownership.org), providing clients with a certificate of completion. Framework provides the digital education platform; CDCU provides the counseling and referral relationship.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NeighborWorks Salt Lake: NeighborWorks affiliate operating in the same Salt Lake City geography as CDCU, providing homebuyer education, financial coaching, down payment assistance, and home improvement loans. CDCU even refers clients to NWSalt Lake for certain programs, indicating directly overlapping service lines.
• Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity: Local Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber counties with affordable homeownership development, critical home repair, and homebuyer education — directly comparable to CDCU's for-sale housing, rehabilitation, and counseling programs.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit developer and CDFI operating across multiple states with affordable rental and for-sale development, housing counseling, and policy advocacy — broader geographic scale than CDCU but with an overlapping mission and product set.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI and community development intermediary providing loans, grants, and technical assistance to local housing developers and counseling agencies. LISC's local program offices compete for many of the same federal funding streams as CDCU.
• Mercy Housing: Major national nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator with a portfolio of 50,000+ units across 40 states. Comparable to CDCU in mission and property ownership model but at materially larger geographic and capital scale.
• BRIDGE Housing: West Coast-focused nonprofit affordable housing developer and owner-operator with a portfolio of 13,000+ units. Overlaps with CDCU's rental development and resident services model in mission and operating approach.

Others

• Grounded Solutions Network: National membership network supporting Community Land Trusts and shared-equity homeownership programs. CDCU is expanding its CLT program, and Grounded Solutions provides the policy framework, technical assistance, and peer network for that growth.
• Housing Partnership Network: Member-driven collaborative of 100+ high-performing nonprofit housing developers and CDFIs. Membership provides CDCU a peer-learning and capital aggregation channel analogous to its current corporate partner network.
• Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF): National nonprofit collaborative of the largest affordable housing operators focused on improving resident outcomes and property performance. Relevant peer benchmark for CDCU as its owned rental portfolio scales past 350+ units.
• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund — Award Recipients: The federal CDFI Fund certifies and capitalizes community development lenders; CDCU is a certified CDFI, and its lending products (HomeFit, ADU construction) are directly comparable to other CDFI awardees operating housing-focused loan funds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cdcutah
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdc_utah
• Xx.com/cdc_utah
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-development-corporation-of-utah

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Community Development Corporation of Utah