Stronger Nonprofits Initiative launches in Kansas City, MO, addressing barriers leaders of color face in accessing resources

IFF program aims to provide nonprofits led by people of color the resources necessary to empower decision making and navigate barriers to accessing capital and real estate opportunity

KANSAS CITY, MO — IFF, a nationally recognized mission-driven lender for Midwest nonprofits, is proud to expand its Stronger Nonprofits Initiative (SNI)—a free program providing nonprofit leaders of color with greater access to financial management tools and real estate planning resources. 10 Kansas City-based nonprofits will comprise the next cohort of this regional program. The cohort will participate in a 14-month curriculum presented by IFF and BDO FMA (formerly Fiscal Management Associates). The SNI program is sponsored and funded by JPMorgan Chase, with additional financial support from the Health Forward Foundation for the Kansas City program.

“The Stronger Nonprofits Initiative has proven to be a highly impactful way to support leaders of color throughout the Midwest in navigating structural barriers to accessing capital and real estate resources,” said Stephen Westbrooks, IFF’s Executive Director of the Southern Region. “As a leader of color myself, I am excited to have the opportunity to bring this impactful program to Kansas City and to partner with the selected organizations.”

The 10 organizations will partake in a comprehensive curriculum including: virtual training sessions focused on team-based fiscal management, one-on-one financial coaching, customized real estate consulting, expert panel discussions, special networking opportunities and other events.

The Kansas City, MO cohort includes: Black Economic UnionCounselors Obediently Preventing Substance AbuseEmmanuel Family & Child Development CenterEvangel Spiritual Temple/Sweet ChariotGuadalupe Centers Inc.Neighborhood Housing Services of Kansas City, Inc.Poetry for Personal Power Inc.Sisters in ChristStart at Zero, Inc.; and Teachers Like Me.

 “Ensuring that leaders of color can access the resources they need is a matter of economic justice,” said Qiana Thomason, Health Forward Foundation President/CEO. “The Stronger Nonprofits Initiative is one way of supporting those closest to the systemic issues in our community. Removing capital barriers helps leaders of color rebuild systems to make all of our communities truly healthy, powerful, and inclusive.” 

IFF first launched SNI in Chicago in 2017, and has since expanded to Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, and Kansas City with plans to return to Chicago in Fall 2022.

For more information on SNI, visit https://strongernonprofits.org/.