From California’s State Capitol to Washington, D.C., Community Vision joined fellow CDFIs to advocate for policies that expand access to capital, strengthen local economies, and support communities that have experienced generations of disinvestment.
In a recent ImpactAlpha article on the growing role of impact investing in advancing community and employee ownership, Community Vision was highlighted for receiving a $5MM loan from Calvert Impact to expand financing for nonprofits and social enterprises across California.
Owning your space starts with real estate readiness—but what does that really mean? For nonprofits, it’s about developing the leadership, operational, and financial capacity needed to navigate a real estate project and plan for the future. With a strong foundation, organizations can move toward long-term stability and lasting community ownership.
As a Mission District anchor, The Women’s Building uses mission-aligned investing to extend its impact beyond its own space. Through its partnership with Community Vision, their investment helps other nonprofits secure permanent homes, sustain essential services, and strengthen community resilience.
Community Vision has provided $350k in financing to help South Tower Community Land Trust purchase its new home in Fresno’s Tower District. The permanent, community-owned space will support nonprofit collaboration, neighborhood organizing, and essential services—strengthening local control and expanding access to stable space in the South Tower neighborhood.
Community Vision provided early advisory support and $2.31MM in financing to help bring La Placita to life in East San José. The 28,000-square-foot project will transform a long-vacant building into a cultural hub with a theater, wellness center, cafe, and affordable space for artists and small businesses—strengthening community health and economic opportunity in the Mayfair neighborhood.
Community Vision invested $5.075MM to help Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) acquire its future headquarters in LA. The permanent home will allow PACE to consolidate operations, expand programs, and strengthen services for more than 35,000 individuals, families, and small businesses each year.
After nearly a decade at Community Vision, we are saying farewell to colleague and friend Saul Ettlin. Through his consulting, strategic leadership, and role in launching initiatives, Saul helped nonprofits secure mission-aligned space and advance community ownership across California.
We’re excited to welcome Veronica Saldaña to Community Vision’s Board of Directors. As Vice President of Lending at Inclusive Action for the City, she brings nearly 20 years of CDFI experience and has helped deploy more than $500MM to projects serving low-wealth communities across California. Her leadership strengthens our statewide impact as our first Southern California–based board member.
Community Vision has launched the Real Estate Readiness Toolkit, a free, self-paced digital series designed to help nonprofit leaders navigate commercial real estate and facility development. With short videos and practical tools, the Toolkit equips organizations to assess readiness, plan for space needs, and move confidently from vision to action.
Community Vision has been awarded $75 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund—its eighth award, totaling $293 million to date. The allocation will help drive private investment into distressed California communities, supporting critical infrastructure, economic growth, and expanded access to capital where it’s needed most.
When Western Ballet began exploring how to purchase a permanent home, they turned to Community Vision for support. In this blog, Senior Community Real Estate Consultant Jacqueline Carlisle reflects on their collaboration and the lessons any nonprofit can learn from their approach to facility planning.
Learn more about our work and those we serve.
