Impact Investing - Community Foundation of Central Illinois

Investing in a Stronger Central Illinois

At the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI), we understand that the needs of our community go beyond what traditional grantmaking can address. Issues like job creation, affordable housing, and wealth building often require more than just funding, they require strategic investments.

Through impact investing, CFCI is unlocking new sources of capital, building meaningful partnerships, and driving systemic change. This approach allows us to go beyond grants by using loans or equity investments to support initiatives that generate both social and financial returns.

The wealth that built CFCI came from this community, and now, impact investing gives us the opportunity to reinvest in its future.

As we work toward a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous region for generations to come, we’re broadening our perspective and expanding our toolkit. Impact investing is one powerful way we’re helping create lasting, transformational change in central Illinois.

Impact Investing provides a loan, equity investment or guarantee to nonprofits, for-profits, and intermediary partners, with the central purpose of social good that also provides a financial return.

Impact Investing puts people and community ahead of financial returns. This does not mean we don’t care about returns – it means that the returns are measured not solely in financial gain, but in lives impacted.

An Impact Investment can be a loan, equity investment, or guarantee that advances the mission of CFCI, generates measurable community impact, and achieves some sort of financial return. Many local Impact Investments are made at rates of return that prioritize community impact.

Impact Investing funds come from a small percentage of assets in our portfolio. Investments can be made in nonprofits, for- profits, and with intermediary partners. Investment opportunities are identified by members of the community, embraced by CFCI, and become a reality through collaborative efforts of CFCI and its partners.

Community challenges are complex and often require resources beyond the reach of grantmaking. There is a gap between the need for capital and what the private market provides.

Impact Investments will target programs that would not happen without CFCI’s capital. Local banks and other financial intermediaries are considered partners, not competitors.

Impact Investing has the potential to create long lasting and systemic changes that will benefit the most vulnerable populations in our community for years to come.

CFCI seeks direct investments in our service area that:

complement our mission and/or support the vitality of marginalized or under-resourced residents.
contribute to the livability of our region, especially in at- risk neighborhoods or communities with high rates of poverty or that are inadequately served by existing community assets.

Investments may be tailored to address social drivers of health and well-being in the community, such as: food access, quality behavioral health, accessible transportation, affordable housing, childcare and early childhood education, dependent care, neighborhood revitalization, or strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial, small business, or nonprofit infrastructure.

With Impact Investing, money circles back to CFCI with a return, so dollars can be recycled back into the community. We will ensure that this new tool aligns with and complements our continuing work in grantmaking. The careful, gradual allocation of these resources will have little to no impact on our grantmaking budget.

Impact Investing embraces CFCI’s value of collaboration. CFCI staff will be responsible for initial investment solicitations as well as conducting preliminary due diligence. Local banks, credit unions and other lenders, housing organizations and other stakeholders may help identify important investment opportunities in our community.

The Impact Investing Committee will follow CFCI’s Board-approved guidelines and policies to evaluate potential investments. Committee members are local leaders with expertise relevant to the practice of local investing.

Due diligence and underwriting on investments will help the committee mitigate risk. External support partners will be contracted to assist in risk mitigation, and up to 5% of CFCI’s investable assets may be allocated to Impact Investments. Ultimately, the CFCI Board of Directors will approve all investment decisions.

Impact Investing Committee

Chris Setti – Chair
CEO, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

Will Ball
Retired, Caterpillar

Doug Cruitt
Executive Director, Distillery Labs

Christell Frausto
Host, El Morning Chou

Kip McCoy
Vice President, Innovation Studio at OSF Healthcare

Lea Anne Miller
Operations Manager, State Farm

Julie Schifeling
Paralegal, RLI Insurance

Don Shafer
Executive Director, IT Workforce Accelerator Project at Illinois Central College

Nora Sullivan
Retired, American Red Cross and Methodist College

Tammy Waterworth
Senior Vice President, PNC

Arthur Welch
Retired, PCCEO

“Impact investing aligns our capital with our mission, unlocking greater potential for social change than ever before.”

– Mark Roberts, CEO, Community Foundation of Central Illinois

For more information:

Email Mark 309.674.8730