Forsyth Street

What Forsyth Street does

Forsyth Street Advisors, LLC is a privately held New York-based financial advisory and asset management firm founded in 2003 by Charles S. Laven, operating three integrated divisions: Forsyth Street Advisors (financial advisory), Forsyth Street Asset Management (a Registered Investment Advisor managing $430M across impact investment funds), and Forsyth Street Affordable Housing (housing finance consulting), plus the affiliated Forsyth Street Renewables subsidiary overseeing utility-scale wind and solar partnerships. The firm serves government agencies, nonprofit developers, foundations, CDFIs, and green banks, having closed more than $5B in cumulative transactions and financed tens of thousands of affordable housing units across 14+ U.S. cities.

The business model combines two distinct revenue streams. First, fund management fees earned by Forsyth Street Asset Management on $430M in AUM spread across the New York City Acquisition Fund (>$592M originated, 14,900+ units preserved/created), Los Angeles New Generation Fund (>$194M originated, 2,800+ units), Baltimore Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund ($65M), Nashville Catalyst Fund ($76M), and RED Housing Fund, plus the renewables partnership portfolio. Second, project-based financial advisory fees from engagements such as structuring BAHFA's nine-county Bay Area business plan, supporting OFN's $2.3B EPA Clean Communities Investment Accelerator award, and assisting green banks (NYCEEC, CT Green Bank, NY Green Bank) and major nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity, Ford Foundation, and JOE NYC.

Forsyth Street's competitive position is built on regulatory expertise across LIHTC, Section 8, RAD, and tax-exempt bond programs; deep talent pedigree drawn from NYC HPD, NYC HDC, Citi Community Capital, LISC, and Bank of America; and a referral-driven, relationship-based GTM targeting public-sector and mission-aligned clients. The firm markets primarily through industry conferences, thought leadership, and case studies rather than paid channels, and operates from offices in New York (HQ) and San Francisco with a reported 11-50 employees.

Name

Forsyth Street

Legal name

Forsyth Street Advisors, LLC

Website

https://forsythstreet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forsyth Street is a New York-based financial advisory and asset management firm serving government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and green banks in affordable housing, community development, and climate finance, with $430M in impact-fund assets under management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory and Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Capital Markets Advisory (Debt/Equity Placement, Refinancing) (BPAJANAE)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Affordable housing finance
• Impact investment funds
• Asset management services
• Community development finance

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Forsyth Street is a financial advisory and asset management firm that provides strategic advisory services, manages impact-oriented investment funds, and structures affordable housing transactions. The firm operates three divisions: Forsyth Street Advisors (financial advisory), Forsyth Street Asset Management (registered investment advisor managing impact investment funds), and Forsyth Street Affordable Housing (affordable housing finance consulting). Services are delivered to government agencies, non-profit organizations, philanthropies, and mission-driven developers focused on affordable housing, community development, and clean energy.

Product overview

Forsyth Street is a financial advisory and asset management firm with three core practice areas: Forsyth Street Advisors (financial advisory services), Forsyth Street Asset Management (fund management as a Registered Investment Advisor), and Forsyth Street Affordable Housing (affordable housing finance consulting). The firm manages multiple impact investment funds including the New York City Acquisition Fund, New Generation Fund (Los Angeles), Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund (Baltimore), Nashville Catalyst Fund, and RED Housing Fund. The Asset Management division currently has $430 million in assets under management and also oversees Forsyth Street Renewables for utility-scale renewable energy partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forsyth Street Advisors (Financial Advisory)
• Forsyth Street Asset Management

Quantifiable outcome

• $5 billion+ in transactions closed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Nashville Catalyst FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Forsyth Street Asset Management, in partnership with Pillars Development, manages the Nashville Catalyst Fund, a $76 million public-private partnership. The fund provides flexible loan products to preserve housing affordability in Nashville's competitive housing landscape.
• Baltimore Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund (NIIF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Forsyth Street serves as Fund Manager to the Baltimore NIIF, a $65 million capital fund aimed at revitalizing Baltimore's historically disinvested neighborhoods. Forsyth Street developed the Fund's capital structure, prepared investment policies, and manages day-to-day operations. In three years, NIIF has originated over two dozen deep-mission loan transactions.
• Forsyth Street RenewablescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Since 2010, Forsyth Street has served as an investor and managing member of utility-scale renewable energy partnerships. These include wind farms and solar installations throughout the United States, with over 20 independent sites operational. Forsyth created an innovative financing structure allowing municipal and non-profit clients to utilize federal resources and tax credits.
• New Generation Fund (NGF) - Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Forsyth Street designed, implemented, and continues to serve as Fund Manager for the New Generation Fund in Los Angeles. Created through a partnership with the City of Los Angeles and a consortium of banks, financial institutions, foundations, and CDFIs, NGF facilitates affordable and supportive housing development and transit-oriented development. Since inception, NGF has originated over $194 million in loans supporting 2,800+ units.
• New York City Acquisition Fund (NYCAF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Forsyth Street developed the capital structure and implemented the launch of the New York City Acquisition Fund in 2006, which it continues to manage. NYCAF is an industry-leading public-private fund that leverages private debt with public and philanthropic investments. The fund makes bridge loans to non-profit and M/WBE developers of affordable housing. Since formation, it has originated over $592 million in loans, preserving or creating over 14,900 units.
• Pillars DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pillars Development to manage the Nashville Catalyst Fund, a $76M public-private housing initiative.
• Renewal Enterprise District (RED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForsyth Street designed, created, and capitalized the RED Housing Fund, a nonprofit formed by RED (a joint powers authority with City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County as members) to address critical housing needs in Sonoma County.
• Opportunity Finance NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported OFN's successful $2.3B grant application to EPA Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program, including designing a process to evaluate climate lending capacity of community lenders. Previously advised on implementation of their Clean Communities Investment Accelerator award.
• NYCEEC (NY Clean Energy Credit Cooperative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as financial advisor to NYCEEC, the country's first local green bank, since its inception.
• Connecticut Green BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted Connecticut Green Bank with planning and launch of Inclusive Prosperity Capital.
• Habitat for Humanity InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisting Habitat for Humanity's U.S. Office in formulating strategies to advance affordable housing financing practices, including creating new capacities and identifying solutions for the Habitat business model.
• Grounded Solutions NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with JRW Strategies, helped create the Homes for the Future Fund to scale shared equity homeownership. Created comprehensive market strategies and business plan, supporting capital raising and fund launch.
• Climate Impact AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Climate Impact Advisors to create a business plan for the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank.
• NRDC and Coalition for Green CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with NRDC and Coalition for Green Capital to create a strategy for lending intermediaries to access clean energy capital focused on low-to-moderate income communities.
• HomewiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned new set of climate lending programs for Homewise's homeownership programs in New Mexico.
• JRW StrategiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with JRW Strategies to help Grounded Solutions Network create the Homes for the Future Fund.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Housing Trust: Nonprofit that preserves and operates affordable rental housing and provides advisory on policy and financing structures. Comparable mission and stakeholder mix to Forsyth Street's affordable housing and preservation work.
• Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI offering capital, advisory, and program design to support community development and affordable housing, including LIHTC syndication. Comparable to Forsyth Street in mission, structure, and client mix of governments and nonprofits.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): One of the largest CDFIs in the US, LISC provides financing, capacity-building, and advisory services for affordable housing and community development, and manages multiple place-based loan funds — directly parallel to Forsyth Street's advisory-plus-fund-management model.
• McCormack Baron Salazar: National affordable housing developer and advisor working with cities, public housing authorities, and nonprofits on mixed-income developments and revitalization. Directly comparable in client base and affordable housing expertise (Daniela Greville previously led projects there).
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that creates and manages affordable housing funds, provides advisory and program design for public agencies, and deploys LIHTC capital. Closely comparable to Forsyth Street's combination of fund management, advisory, and affordable housing expertise.
• HR&A Advisors: Real estate and economic development advisory firm serving public agencies, nonprofits, and developers on affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and large-scale public-private projects — closely overlapping Forsyth Street Advisors' practice.
• Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF): Mission-driven CDFI financing affordable housing, community facilities, and child care/education facilities for low-income communities. LIIF is both a partner and a direct comparable to Forsyth Street's affordable housing and community development finance work.
• Climate Impact Advisors: Advisory firm focused on climate finance strategy for green banks, CDFIs, and mission-driven organizations. Direct comparable to Forsyth Street's emerging green bank and clean energy finance practice; both firms are partners on the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank effort.

Regional players

• BRIDGE Housing: West Coast-focused nonprofit developer and owner of affordable and mixed-income housing, with deep city and county government relationships in California. Comparable in client mix and housing expertise, though more concentrated geographically than Forsyth Street.

Broad incumbents

• Citi Community Capital: Large bank-affiliated CDF platform providing LIHTC equity, debt, and advisory for affordable housing and community development. Broader incumbent with deeper balance sheet, but overlapping client set (Marc Jahr formerly led the NY market there).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Forsyth Street