Is there a move in your future? Are you a nonprofit organization searching for a
building, planning to relocate or renovate space?

Then you should know about the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund (The Loan Fund) and how it works to connect money to mission by creating opportunities for nonprofit organizations serving low –and-moderate income families to meet their program goals.

The Loan Fund, a statewide non-profit lending institution with $49 million in assets, provides loans and technical assistance to promote housing, economic opportunity and essential  community services. The Loan Fund can be a useful financing resource to help move a nonprofit facility project towards completion. 

In 2001, the non-profit Keene Housing Authority (KHA) wanted a comfortable indoor place for residents of Harper Acres to socialize.

“A lot of residents live in single rooms and don’t have space to entertain,” said Lola Grab of KHA, which runs Harper Acres, an elderly and disabled housing facility. “Our idea was that it would be an extension of their home, like a living room.”

The $150,000 loan from the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund was, “the final
piece of the jigsaw puzzle” to move the renovation forward of two pre-Civil War
buildings for the now spacious and bright indoor recreation area, said Curtis Hiebert, Chief Executive Officer of KHA.

The loan was made through the Community Facilities Program at the Loan Fund. Since
1984, this program has offered loans to non-profit community organizations, which serve low- and moderate-income people. The loans are made to acquire, renovate or build facilities that help further the mission of the groups, which include housing organizations, child care centers, Community Action agencies, and other direct service providers.

“The work of the Loan Fund is to help low-and-moderate income individuals gain a firm
foothold in the mainstream economy by making capital available for housing, jobs and
essential services like child care. After 24 years, we have observed that if people have the right tools, knowledge and capital, they do succeed. ” Juliana Eades, President.

The Loan Fund is among the oldest, best known and most respected community loan
funds in the country, and has attracted support for our innovative housing work from
national funders such as the Ford Foundation and the Fannie Mae Foundation. The Loan
Fund is a recipient of national awards for Innovation and Financial Excellence.