About us
Contact UsOur Approach
Our work
Mission and vision
NFF helps mission-driven organizations achieve communities’ aspirations through tailored capital, strategic advice, and accessible insights.
We envision a society where money and knowledge come together to support vibrant communities.
Why we’re here
It’s time to improve the way money flows to community-centered organizations that have historically and systemically been denied it: those led by and serving people of color.
These organizations understand the communities’ aspirations, know the challenges communities face, have the greatest stake and accountability in creating positive social change, and have the clearest insights about how to do it.
From affordable housing to education and the arts, these organizations provide the services our society relies upon. Yet what these organizations rely on is an inequitable funding system that often impedes their ability to make a difference.
Race-neutral policies often unintentionally exacerbate the inequities funders seek to address. Because of this, organizations led by and serving people of color don’t always have sufficient access to or control of the resources that let them do their powerful work. When funders seek out and fund leaders of color, value lived experience as expertise, and cede control, community-centered organizations can achieve their missions and help communities achieve their goals.
We have contributed to this inequitable system. And because of this, we commit to changing ourselves and improving the nonprofit funding system we're a part of.
When nonprofits need funds for a new facility or critical maintenance and need a lender with a deep understanding of their work, we can help. When delayed payments from government contracts make it hard for them to meet payroll, we can help. When leaders need to consider business model changes, we can help. When they need to budget, forecast, and predict their cash flow, we can help. When they need an ally in advocating for racial equity in nonprofit finance, we can help.
To learn more about NFF’s commitment to make the community finance sector more equitable, visit our Equity at NFF page.
Financing
We invest in communities through loans and other financing for mission-driven organizations. We get to know you so that we can offer the financing solution that works best for your organization and your community.
Consulting
Our deep consulting services equip social-sector leaders to make financial decisions that serve their organizations’ missions. We’ll work together to craft solutions tailored to your organization and the communities you serve.
Partnerships
We work with community-centered organizations, networks, organizers, funders, and other lenders that support community-led solutions. Together with our partners, we can collectively advance more equitable outcomes.
Knowledge
We share accessible insights with nonprofits and funders to advocate for a more equitable funding system and support nonprofit leaders in achieving their missions. These resources include webinars, reports, tools, videos, and stories highlighting social sector leaders.
Our story
Where we are today
Our access to financial and social capital gives us privilege that many community-centered organizations do not have. We actively use our position to advocate for more equitable funding practices and to support grassroots organizations in championing their needs. To see how our work has evolved over the last 40 years, visit our History page.
Where we’re going
In 2021 we launched Plan 50%+: an organization-wide effort to hold every department of NFF accountable to concrete targets around racial equity. We are currently on track to meet each of these goals. Going forward, we will continue to set ambitious targets to further embed equity into our work with our clients and with each other. Learn more about Plan 50%+ here.
Our team
NFFers are knowledgeable, caring professionals with diverse experiences and backstories.
