LISC Rhode Island
LISC Rhode Island is a local office of the national nonprofit CDFI LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), providing flexible loans, grants, equity investments, and technical assistance to community organizations developing affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and strengthening under-resourced neighborhoods across Rhode Island.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersProvidence, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LISC Rhode Island does
LISC Rhode Island is the Providence-based local office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1979 and headquartered in New York City. As part of a network of 37 LISC offices operating across the country, LISC Rhode Island channels flexible capital, technical assistance, and capacity-building services to locally rooted organizations working in affordable housing, economic development, small business support, education, health, sports and youth development, safety and justice, sustainability, and income and wealth building. The Rhode Island office serves as a regional deployment node for LISC's national platform, with a local advisory committee chaired by Joseph Silva providing governance input at the state level.
The underlying platform is built on a four-pillar model of lending, capacity building, Impact Notes (an impact-investment product for institutional and individual investors), and a network of affiliate investment companies—LISC Fund Management, the National Equity Fund (NEF), and Broadstreet Impact Services—that act as intermediaries between investors and projects in under-resourced communities. There is no proprietary technology stack, software product, or AI component referenced in available materials; LISC's "platform" is operational and financial rather than technological, consisting of underwriting capability, fund administration, and a 37-office service-delivery footprint. Certifications include CDFI Fund certification, ImpactAssets 50 Emeritus status (10 consecutive years), Guidestar Platinum Seal, and Charity Navigator recognition.
The business model is non-commercial: as a CDFI, LISC deploys grants, loans, equity, and program-related investments sourced from public, private, and philanthropic capital rather than selling products at market prices. Revenue mechanics consist of contributed capital from corporations (e.g., State Farm, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, NFL Foundation), foundations (e.g., Wells Fargo, Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation), federal allocations via the CDFI Fund and HUD, and returns from Impact Notes and fund management activities. Customer segments are horizontally organized across use cases (affordable housing developers, small businesses, community-based nonprofits, education institutions) rather than by industry vertical, and delivery occurs through direct field-based relationships with community partners and borrowers.
LISC Rhode Island firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LISC Rhode Island
- Legal name
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation
- Website
- https://lisc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LISC Rhode Island is a local office of the national nonprofit CDFI LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), providing flexible loans, grants, equity investments, and technical assistance to community organizations developing affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and strengthening under-resourced neighborhoods across Rhode Island.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LISC Rhode Island industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Financial Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows (BPADAOAI)
Keywords
Where LISC Rhode Island is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
LISC Rhode Island business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
LISC Rhode Island product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LISC Rhode Island is the local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). It deploys flexible loans, grants, and equity investments to community-based developers, small businesses, and nonprofits, and pairs capital with technical assistance and capacity-building services to support affordable housing, economic development, small business growth, and other community revitalization outcomes in Rhode Island and beyond.
Product overview
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is a national community development organization offering a comprehensive platform of lending, investment, and capacity building products alongside multiple program areas addressing housing, economic development, education, health, and sustainability. The organization connects residents and partners with capital and technical expertise through programs including flexible lending products, Impact Notes for impact investors, affiliate investment companies (LISC Fund Management, NEF, Broadstreet), and direct service program areas covering affordable housing, small business support, sports and youth development, and environmental sustainability. LISC operates as a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) with 37 local offices across the country, providing both financial products (loans, equity, grants) and technical assistance to locally rooted community organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rural LISC: A specialized initiative focused on rural community development across 2,400 rural counties in 49 states and Puerto Rico.
Products and services
- Lending Flexible lending products deployed to under-resourced borrowers to support affordable housing development, small business financing, and economic development projects through CDFI-certified financing.
- Capacity Building Technical assistance and advisory services that help local community organizations build the skills, systems, and operational capacity needed to carry out community development work effectively.
- Impact Notes Impact investment notes that allow investors to fund affordable housing and community development projects while earning financial returns on their principal.
- Investment Companies Affiliate investment management entities including LISC Fund Management, National Equity Fund (NEF), and Broadstreet that manage investment vehicles connecting institutional capital with community development projects in under-resourced areas.
Quantifiable outcome
- $38 billion invested since 1979, leading to $102 billion in total development
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LISC Rhode Island
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LISC Rhode Island technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
LISC Rhode Island partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- DICK'S Sporting Goods FoundationflagshipThe DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation has partnered with LISC on the Game On–Community Places to Play Initiative, deploying nearly $4 million to build or renovate 46 sports facilities in 32 cities. Grants of $50,000 to $100,000 help communities meet renovation needs in multi-use sports facilities while LISC provides technical assistance. DICK'S also invested $12.5 million in the Black Economic Development Fund managed by LISC.
- Foot Locker FoundationcoreThe Foot Locker Foundation partnered with LISC on the Community Empowerment Program, deploying $1.26 million in grants to 20 community organizations across 11 cities in 2026. The program has deployed nearly $5.2 million over five years to improve health outcomes, educational opportunities, and economic outlook for youth in low-income communities.
- Enterprise Community PartnersflagshipLISC and Enterprise Community Partners co-published 'What's Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods' with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The publication, funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, serves as a guidebook for equitable green investing and community development.
- Federal Reserve Bank of New YorkflagshipThe Federal Reserve Bank of New York co-published 'What's Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods' with LISC and Enterprise Community Partners, offering insights on equitable development, community resilience, and sustainability.
- NFL FoundationcoreOver 25 years, LISC has teamed up with the NFL Foundation to award nearly $65 million in grants through the Grassroots Field Grant Program to create or refurbish more than 435 community football fields where youth can play and stay active.
- LISC Fund ManagementcoreLISC's investment company that helps bridge the gap between investors and projects in under-resourced communities. One of several affiliates including NEF and Broadstreet.
- National Equity Fund (NEF)coreLISC affiliate organization focused on community development investments.
- BroadstreetcoreLISC affiliate organization (Broadstreet Impact Services) focused on community development and impact investing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LISC Rhode Island competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Habitat for Humanity International: Larger and more established nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership and housing development, with local affiliates across the country. While its volunteer-driven construction model differs from LISC's capital-deployment approach, both target the same underserved housing market and developer partners.
- Bank of America Community Development Banking: For-profit large-bank community development lending and tax credit equity platform that competes with LISC in affordable housing finance and LIHTC syndications. Brings significantly larger capital base but is mission-aligned rather than purely profit-maximizing on these products.
Direct peers
- Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit CDFI focused on affordable housing and community development, co-publisher with LISC of the 'What's Possible' report. Operates a comparable model of lending, equity investment, grants, and technical assistance through local offices serving similar developer and community-organization clients.
- NeighborWorks America: National network of community development nonprofits funded by Congress to support affordable housing and community revitalization. Provides grants, training, and capital to a network of local NeighborWorks organizations, mirroring LISC's model of resourcing locally rooted partners.
- Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing loans, equity, and capacity-building support for community development projects including affordable housing, health centers, and education facilities. Serves overlapping borrower segments with LISC and has similar federal CDFI Fund relationships.
- Opportunity Finance Network: National network and trade association for CDFIs, of which LISC is a flagship member. Provides capital, training, and policy advocacy to hundreds of CDFIs across the country and serves as the primary industry intermediary, sitting adjacent to LISC's role.
- The Reinvestment Fund: CDFI providing flexible financing for housing, community facilities, and economic development in distressed communities. Uses similar tools of loans, grants, and policy analysis, and serves comparable nonprofit and municipal borrowers in mid-Atlantic and select national markets.
- Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF): National CDFI financing affordable housing, early care and education, and community facilities for low-income communities. Competes directly with LISC for similar borrowers and deploys a comparable mix of debt, equity, and capacity-building capital.
Regional players
- Federal Reserve Bank of Boston: Regional Federal Reserve Bank whose Working Cities initiative and community development research overlap with LISC's Rhode Island programming. A federal policy and research counterpart rather than a competitor, but operates in the same New England community development ecosystem.
- Rhode Island Housing: State housing finance agency serving the same Rhode Island market as LISC Rhode Island, providing affordable mortgages, multifamily financing, and development capital. A complementary rather than directly competing public-sector counterparty in the same regional ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LISC Rhode Island social profiles
Digital presenceLISC Rhode Island compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
LISC Rhode Island financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LISC Rhode Island leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
LISC Rhode Island subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
LISC Rhode Island funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LISC Rhode Island M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LISC Rhode Island
What does LISC Rhode Island do?
LISC Rhode Island is the local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). It deploys flexible loans, grants, and equity investments to community-based developers, small businesses, and nonprofits, and pairs capital with technical assistance and capacity-building services to support affordable housing, economic development, small business growth, and other community revitalization outcomes in Rhode Island and beyond.
Is LISC Rhode Island a public or private company?
LISC Rhode Island is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LISC Rhode Island founded?
LISC Rhode Island was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LISC Rhode Island based?
LISC Rhode Island is headquartered in Providence, United States, in the North America region.
Who are LISC Rhode Island's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Habitat for Humanity International and Bank of America Community Development Banking. Direct peers are Enterprise Community Partners, NeighborWorks America, Capital Impact Partners, Opportunity Finance Network, The Reinvestment Fund and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). Regional players are Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Rhode Island Housing.
Does LISC Rhode Island have an API?
No public API is recorded for LISC Rhode Island.
What industry is LISC Rhode Island in?
LISC Rhode Island's product category is Community Development Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSALAKAF, Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans), with a secondary code of BPADAOAI, Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 7370.