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The Enterprise Foundation Building Solutions for America's Communities Across the country The Enterprise Foundation is helping organizations strengthen their bonds with neighborhoods and communities. Their mission is to see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for fit and affordable housing, and to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life. By raising more than $2.7 billion in loans, grants and equity investments as well as providing 30,000 full-time jobs in the process, The Enterprise Foundation has made great progress in fulfilling their initiatives. In Portland, Oregon, Revitalize Outer Southeast Community Development Corporation (ROSE), has worked with Enterprise to take vacant space and abandoned buildings and turn them into decent, livable homes and parks. After becoming a member of Enterprise, Westown Community Development Corporation (CDC), located in Cleveland, Ohio, was able to expand their job force and increase their offerings to the community. The Aquinas Housing Corporation, located in New York’s South Bronx, has blossomed from a small, 18-unit housing organization into a fully self-sufficient organization that is growing by the day thanks to Enterprise. While many foundations have an endowment, Enterprise has a modest cash reserve. They fund their programs through contributions from individual donors, corporations, foundations and the government. Through a combination of loans, grants, and equity they help locally based nonprofits to serve people by expanding the possibilities in America’s communities. The Foundation's Network began in 1982 with six organizations from five states and the District of Columbia. Jim and Patty Rouse launched Enterprise to support organizations that were interested in improving the state of the community. Currently, Enterprise is helping more than 1,200 community-based organizations working in over 400 locations across the United States to produce more than 100,000 homes for low-income families and people. The Enterprise Foundation offers free membership to non-profits that share their mission of revitalizing communities. The criteria for membership is to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a Tribe/Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) and provide an IRS determination letter/proof of nonprofit status with a completed application/survey; have a mission supporting or complementing the mission of The Enterprise Foundation — "to see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for fit and affordable housing, and to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life. Lastly you must complete a biannual membership application/survey. The Enterprise Foundation has local offices nationwide and their headquarters is located at:
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