Trellis

What Trellis does

Trellis, founded in 1975 as Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix and rebranded under its current name, is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as the only nonprofit mortgage banker in Arizona. It delivers a vertically integrated stack of HUD-approved homebuyer education, one-on-one housing counseling, mortgage origination, down payment assistance administration, and direct real estate development of for-sale and rental affordable housing, plus adjacent community revitalization and small-business support along the McDowell Road Miracle Mile corridor. Its operating stack is anchored by HUD-certified instructors, NMLS-licensed loan originators (NMLS 167455), a wholly-owned realty brokerage (Trellis Realty LLC), a wholly-owned social-enterprise mortgage company (Arboles Home Mortgage LLC, launched 2019, donating 100% of profits to Trellis), and an in-house Real Estate Development (RED) team that builds to Silver-rated, EnergyStar- and ICC-700-compliant standards with HERS Index scores of 53–57. Headquartered in Phoenix with a presence in Avondale, the organization employs 11–50 staff and operates as a NeighborWorks America member, a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, a Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center, and an administrator of City of Phoenix and City of Avondale housing programs.

Trellis earns revenue through a diversified nonprofit mix: mortgage origination fees and interest income on loans funded through Trellis Lending and Arboles Home Mortgage; grants and donations from corporations and foundations (JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Banner Health, Republic Services Charitable Foundation); professional-services fees for homebuyer education and HUD-certified counseling (free or low-cost); and real estate development margins on its built-for-sale and rental affordable housing inventory. Customer pricing ranges from zero-cost financial literacy classes to a 100% financing community lending program with a $250,000 maximum loan, 30-year fixed terms, and a 680 minimum credit score, alongside workforce-housing townhomes targeted to 60–120% of area median income.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven, reaching first-time homebuyers, low-to-moderate income households (≤80% AMI), workforce households (60–120% AMI) such as teachers, police, and healthcare workers, veterans, McDowell Road corridor residents and microbusinesses. Distribution is direct via Phoenix offices and self-serve Salesforce-based intake, and indirect via partner lenders (U.S. Bank, Western Alliance Bank, First Bank), listing brokers (R.O.I. Properties), real estate referral networks (Pioneer Title, HAREP), and government program channels. Cumulative reported outcomes include 3,800+ homeowners created, 46,000+ individuals and families counseled, 310+ homes built with 100+ more in the pipeline, 80 small businesses supported, and $600K+ in community grants since 2015.

Name

Trellis

Legal name

Trellis

Website

https://trellisaz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trellis is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Arizona's only nonprofit mortgage banker, delivering HUD-approved homebuyer education, counseling, mortgage lending with down payment assistance, and direct construction of energy-efficient affordable housing for underserved and workforce households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Mortgage Delinquency & Foreclosure Prevention Counseling (FSAEAFAF)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Homebuyer education
• Nonprofit mortgage lending
• Housing counseling
• Workforce housing development

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Lending: As a nonprofit mortgage banker, Trellis originates mortgage loans for homebuyers. Revenue is generated through loan origination fees and interest income on mortgages originated.
2. Social Enterprise - Arboles Home Mortgage: Arboles Home Mortgage LLC is a social enterprise company that gives 100% of its profits to Trellis. Arboles focuses on serving borrowers at 80% and above median income, complementing Trellis's work with lower-income clients.
3. Grants and Donations: Trellis relies on grants from corporations, foundations, and government partners including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Banner University Medical Center, and Republic Services Charitable Foundation. These funds support housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, and community development programs.
4. Homebuyer Education and Counseling Services: HUD-certified instructors provide homebuyer education classes, financial capability coaching, and pre-purchase counseling. Financial literacy classes are offered free of charge to the community.
5. Real Estate Development: Trellis develops affordable housing properties for sale to qualifying buyers. The organization builds workforce housing and affordable units in the Phoenix metro area.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trellis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a one-stop shop for homeownership in Arizona. It delivers HUD-approved housing counseling, homebuyer education classes, financial capability coaching, nonprofit mortgage lending (including 100% financing and down payment assistance), real estate brokerage (Trellis Realty), and affordable/workforce housing development (single-family homes, townhomes, and rental communities). It also runs community revitalization and small business support programs along the McDowell Road Miracle Mile corridor in Phoenix.

Product overview

Trellis is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive one-stop-shop for homeownership services in Arizona. The portfolio includes education programs (Homebuyer Education Classes, Financial Capability Program), lending services (Trellis Lending mortgage products, Arboles Home Mortgage for higher income borrowers), real estate services (Trellis Realty, property development), and community building initiatives. Key products include down payment assistance programs like Arizona Is Home and WISH, workforce housing developments like Trellis @ Colter, and reverse mortgage counseling. Trellis serves as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, NeighborWorks America member, and Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center, providing services from financial education through mortgage lending to property development regardless of income or background.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homebuyer Education Classes HUD-certified instructor-led classes for prospective homebuyers covering the advantages and disadvantages of homeownership, the steps and costs of buying a home, and personal financial assessment.
• Financial Capability Program Financial literacy classes and individual coaching focused on improving financial behaviors and attitudes, offered free of charge to the community.
• Individual Pre-Purchase Housing Counseling One-on-one homeownership advisor sessions that help clients develop a path to homeownership through personalized guidance.
• Trellis Lending Nonprofit mortgage banker offering home loans including a 100% financing community lending program for 30-year fixed mortgages for primary residences in Maricopa County.
• Arboles Home Mortgage Social-enterprise mortgage company serving borrowers at 80% and above area median income, including VA loans. All profits are donated to Trellis to fund its nonprofit mission.
• Arizona Is Home (AIH) Down Payment Assistance

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,800+ homeowners created since inception
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Architectural Resource TeamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Design architects for Trellis@Colter townhome project, including Doug McCord and Christian Solario. Responsible for high-impact project design that creates and strengthens community.
• Maco ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019General contractor for Trellis@Colter townhome construction. Rick Cohen serves as President, with John Beaulieu supervising construction to ensure quality standards.
• Security TitleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Provides title insurance, closing and escrow services for Trellis real estate transactions. Represented by Marie Warren and Grady Young.
• Freddie MaccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019As a Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center, Trellis has access to special mortgage programs and resources for helping underserved borrowers achieve homeownership. Partnered with Freddie Mac for Home Fair & Bus Tour events.
• LISC Phoenix (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Strategic partner since 1993, instrumental in enabling Trellis to help provide financial education, affordable housing, and community development initiatives. LISC has helped fund McDowell Road Miracle Mile revitalization projects and building of new affordable communities. Terry Benelli, LISC Phoenix Executive Director, was appointed to Federal Reserve Board.
• NeighborWorks AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Trellis is a member of NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit organization that was federally funded by appropriations from Congress. NeighborWorks America provides financial support, technical assistance and training for community-based revitalization efforts in all 50 states. This partnership is foundational to Trellis's operations and provides access to national resources, training programs, and community building methodologies.
• R.O.I. PropertiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListing brokers for Trellis@Colter townhome community, marketing workforce housing units to eligible buyers.
• City of PhoenixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner alongside NeighborWorks America in 1975. Ongoing partnership includes Section 32 Program for first-time homebuyers and support for neighborhood revitalization efforts along McDowell Road corridor. District 4 Councilwoman Laura Pastor has championed Trellis projects.
• City of AvondalemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for housing development including Trellis at Avondale new affordable rental housing development. Trellis serves as Administrator of City of Avondale First Time Homebuyer Program funds including NSP and HOME Program.
• Pioneer TitleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for realtor networking events including Tiki Time happy hour mixer, connecting real estate professionals with Trellis mortgage lending programs.
• HAREP (Hispanic Association of Real Estate Professionals)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for realtor networking events helping connect Hispanic real estate professionals with Trellis homeownership programs and mortgage lending services.
• International Rescue CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camelback Light Rail Corridor revitalization project led by Isaac Jensen, working with Trellis on community development initiatives in the Solano and Pasadena neighborhoods.
• HomeMatters AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrellis is one of only 4 housing agencies in the United States selected by HomeMatters America to reach prospective homeowners. Funded by US BANK, Trellis participates in the 'Open The Door' to Homeownership Campaign.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution: CDFI lender providing affordable mortgages, down payment assistance, and housing counseling across multiple states; comparable nonprofit lending-plus-counseling model.
• NeighborWorks America (network): National network of 246+ community development nonprofits including Trellis; comparable organizations like NHS Chicago, NHS NYC offer the same housing counseling, lending, and development services in their metros.
• Habitat for Humanity: Largest U.S. nonprofit affordable housing developer with comparable model of building and financing homes for low-income families; overlaps with Trellis on construction, mortgage facilitation, and homebuer education.
• GreenPath Financial Wellness: HUD-approved national housing counseling agency offering financial coaching and pre-purchase counseling; closest peer to Trellis's Financial Capability Program and counseling services.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that finances and develops affordable housing with integrated counseling and community development; shares Trellis's mission and vertically integrated model at much larger scale.
• NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America): Nonprofit that provides HUD-approved housing counseling, financial education, and mortgage origination to underserved borrowers; most direct operational peer to Trellis's counseling-and-lending model.
• HomeFree-USA: National HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention; comparable service portfolio and is a US Bank HomeMatters America partner alongside Trellis.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major national CDFI supporting affordable housing and community development; LISC Phoenix is a Trellis strategic partner. Similar mission, comparable grantmaking and development financing model.

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Mortgage (Rocket Homes): Largest U.S. retail mortgage lender operating in the Phoenix market; competes for the same first-time homebuyer segment but at vastly greater scale and broader credit profile.
• City First Bank (a CDFI): National CDFI bank serving underbanked communities with mortgage lending, small business lending, and deposit services; broader incumbent with overlapping mission and lending capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TrellisAZ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TrellisPhoenix
• Facebookfacebook.com/TrellisAZ1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trellisaz
• Instagraminstagram.com/trellis.az

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Trellis