Investment Strategy
At Genesis LA, our investment strategy is informed by over 25 years of work in our community and is grounded in the following tenets:
CAPITAL
We offer flexible and customized loan products to finance borrowers and projects in communities that have historically been cut off from financial resources.
CAPACITY
We work hands-on to build the capacity of community organizations, nonprofits, and local developers who have innovative projects and strategies but need support to find a viable path forward.
COMMUNITY
By delivering capital and building capacity, we bring about positive change by delivering goods, services, jobs, and housing to residents of low-income communities, making the Los Angeles region a more equitable place.
GENESIS
ACTIVITIES
CDFI Lending
CDFI Lending
We make direct CDFI loans to non-profits, small businesses, and women and minority-owned enterprises. Our provision of flexible capital funds various development phases, including acquisition, predevelopment, construction, and permanent financing. Each project in which we invest must be economically viable and yield tangible benefits to underserved communities and individuals.
NMTC Lending
California Community Owned Real Estate (Cal CORE)
Since 2005, Genesis LA has received New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund. NMTC’s leveraged finance structure generates tax credits that subsidize approximately 20% of the capital needed to make financing viable for community and economic development projects.
PROGRAMS
Genesis LA initiates or co-creates programs with a variety of partners to address specific community needs. These programs often involve intensive capacity building, cross-sector collaboration, and the implementation of pilot projects.
Block by Block
The Block x Block Project (BxB) launched at the start of 2023 and is a 10-year community development initiative focused on revitalizing urban neighborhoods: one in South Los Angeles and another in Pacoima.
BxB partners established community organizations in each neighborhood – Pacoima Beautiful (PB) and Community Coalition (CoCo) – with experienced developers, including Primestor, Holos Communities (Holos), Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), and Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD).
Cal Core
In May 2021, Genesis LA and Community Vision (CV) co-launched the California Community Owned Real Estate (Cal CORE) program a 6-year, state-wide capacity-building initiative for Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Land Trusts (CLTs), and other local nonprofit real estate efforts.
CV implements Cal CORE trainings in Northern California while Genesis LA implements our Cal CORE program in LA County.
Cal Core
In May 2021, Genesis LA and Community Vision (CV) co-launched the California Community Owned Real Estate (Cal CORE) program a 6-year, state-wide capacity-building initiative for Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Land Trusts (CLTs), and other local nonprofit real estate efforts.
CV implements Cal CORE trainings in Northern California while Genesis LA implements our Cal CORE program in LA County.
INTERMEDIARY SERVICES
Genesis LA provides intermediary services upon request by third parties, where we provide community finance services for public and/or private partners. This work involved deploying subgrants, administering programs, and underwriting loans/PRIs.
Los Angeles County Commercial Acquisition Fund (LACAF)
In 2024, Genesis LA served as a local intermediary on behalf of LA County to deploy forgivable loans to nonprofits to finance the acquisition of vacant commercial properties. Recipients of LACAF funds are revitalizing the properties for use by small business tenants in support of local economic development.
Strong Prosperous and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC)
In 2021, Genesis LA partnered with the Low-Income Investment Fund to function as a fiscal sponsor for SPARCC, a recoverable grant program financing due diligence costs for community land trust projects.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Genesis LA provides development assistance services, which can consist of training and 1-on-1 peer support to potential borrowers. This assistance prepares our borrowers to access our financing resources, setting them up for long-term success.
Project Formulation
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- Real Estate Fundamentals
- Property Acquisition
- Site Identification
- Construction Bidding & Monitoring
- Property & Asset Managements
Project Feasibility
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- Sources & Uses Budget Preperation
- Underwriting Process
- Operating Proforma Forecasting
Project Capitalization
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- Vetting & Structuring Capital Terms
- Assembling Capital
- Capital Raising Support