Partners for the Common Good: Financing Opportunity, Building Wealth

Partners for the Common Good: Financing Opportunity, Building Wealth

Partners for the Common Good (Partners) is a national intermediary and wholesale lender serving Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and the communities they serve. Since 2001, we’ve combined impact capital with local expertise. We specialize in structuring collaborative financing that delivers flexible capital to borrowers building strong communities.

Capital for High-Impact Borrowers

Partners finances affordable housing, community facilities, and other projects that promote financial inclusion and economic opportunities nationwide. We work alongside local mission-focused community lenders to provide larger, longer-term, fixed-rate loans that help nonprofits, affordable-housing developers, educational institutions, community-based health care providers, and community enterprises provide services in their communities.

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Impact at a Glance

$
0
M+

in capital management

0
+

people benefited 

0
+

jobs supported annually

Since Inception of Partners

$
0
B

financing leveraged from co-lenders

$
0
M

on balance sheet loans

$
0
M

managed under third party contracts

Invest With Purpose

Banks, foundations, faith-based institutions, and other impact-minded investors can support our work by purchasing Community Development Notes, making a low cost loans, or donating. Invested funds revolve through multiple projects, earning a measurable social impact return while preserving principal. Join our growing network of supporters today. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a community development financial institution (CDFI)?

A CDFI is a US Department of Treasury-certified lender that delivers responsible capital to low income people and communities, filling market gaps left by traditional finance. A CDFI can be a bank, credit union, loan fund or venture capital fund. Partners is a CDFI nonprofit loan fund.

What is a CDFI loan fund?

A CDFI loan fund is a nonregulated intermediary that raises capital from investors and redeploys it through loans that advance community development goals. A loan fund can be nonprofit or for profit. 

How is Partners different from traditional lenders?

Partners specializes in collaborative financing structures that include loan participation and syndicated lending vehicles. We do the deals that traditional lenders won’t. We help CDFIs nationwide to do bigger loans, manage greater risks, and generate more impact.

What is participation lending?

A participation loan is generally a loan in which a lead lender makes a loan to a borrower and then sells portions of that loan to other lenders. The loan participation can be sold at the time or origination or later. This type of loan allows the originating lender to provide larger amounts to a borrower than their lending limits typically allow and/or diversify and mitigate risk. 

What is syndicated lending?

A syndicated loan is generally a more complex participation loan involving multiple lenders (a syndicate). Typically, a very large loan requires multiple lenders to join together to agree to fund the project prior to origination. A multiparty agreement outlines the roles and relationship between the parties prior to origination.

Can a CDFI bank co-lend with Partners?

Yes. Bank CDFIs often partner with Partners to share risk, increase loan size and reach new markets, all while meeting Community Reinvestment Act objectives.

How do I begin a loan or investment?

Complete the brief inquiry form on our Lending or Invest pages, or call 202-689-8935 to speak with our team.