About GCLF

The best way to think about what we are is somewhere between a bank and a charity. As a lending institution, we believe that fiscal accountability is an essential component of long-term economic success. As a community organization committed to serving disadvantaged individuals and groups, we know that there are people out there who have what it takes to make good on their dreams, but who don't yet have what it takes to prove that to a bank. They might not have a credit history, collateral, the right job, or match up to the statistical standards of "acceptable risk."

But GCLF doesn't deal with statistics, we deal with people: evaluating each community group and each proposal on its own merits and putting the full force of our individual expertise and network of connections behind the clients we choose to partner with. By creating access to capital and expertise, we support people in generating equity (both fairness and property) for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Mission

To foster equity in Georgia's communities, the Georgia Community Loan Fund provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to community groups who do not have access to traditional sources of capital, particularly groups in rural, low-income, and/or minority communities working on affordable housing and other environmentally and economically sustainable community development projects.

Target Area and Impact

GCLF lends capital and provides technical assistance to community groups outside the Atlanta metro area. Since its inception in 2002, GCLF has worked with many organizations around the state, including the Georgia Trade Association of Nonprofit Developers (GSTAND), People of Hope, Newtown Florist Club, McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development, Heifer International and others. We have pulled out-of-state organizations into Georgia for projects, including the Raza Development Fund, Equity Trust, the Association for the Study and Development of Community, and CFED.

For more on GCLF's work, see our Presentation to the Southeast Council of Foundations, 11/8/05 (PDF).

Leadership

Oscar Cardenas, Treasurer, Executive Director of People of Hope, Inc.

Barbara Champion, Board Member, President of People of Hope, Inc.

Elizabeth G. Gavrilles, Secretary, Project Coordinator for the River Basin Center at the University of Georgia Institute of Ecology.

Paul D. Hirsch, Board Member, Doctoral student in Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Charlie Lester, Board Member, Partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP.

John Littles, Board Member, Executive Director of McIntosh Sustainable Economic and Environmental Development, Inc.

Judy O'Brien, President, Partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP.

Shirley Sherrod, Board Member, Director of Rural
Development for Georgia, USDA; State of Georgia Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.

Jonathan Tescher, Board Member, Market Manager of the Morningside Farmers Market.

Jack Beckford, Program Coordinator for Georgia Community Loan Fund, Inc.

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