Community Investment Corporation 2025 Impact Report
A message from the Executive Director
Dear Friends and Supporters,
2025 was a year of challenge and resilience. As federal funding priorities shifted and many nonprofits faced economic uncertainty, CIC focused on deepening the roots of our work. We invested in the long game by strengthening community-owned capital, expanding inclusive pathways to funding, and equipping families with tools to navigate systems that were never designed with them in mind.
This past year, CIC focused on preserving what our communities have built (and what we have built with them), growing what they’ve entrusted to us, and innovating where systems continue to fall short. We assumed stewardship of the Southern Arizona Kiva Hub and the Rising Arizona Investor Network (RAIN), ensuring these community-rooted resources continue to thrive amid leadership transitions. We supported the BIPOC Loan Fund in forming its first independent board and advancing toward nonprofit status—laying the groundwork for a self-governed future shaped by the very entrepreneurs it was created to serve.
Our approach recognizes that sustaining trusted infrastructure can be just as transformative as building something new. At a time when capital ecosystems remain fragile and inequities persist, we’re committed to strengthening what works and reimagining what’s possible. That same commitment guided our Family and School Engagement work which supported hundreds of parents and families navigating school enrollment and preparing their children for kindergarten with confidence and care through our Countdown to Kinder program. Whether in classrooms or loan committees, our work is grounded in the belief that equity and trust grow through proximity, consistency, and deep community partnership.
As we look ahead, we are focused on building durable systems that can adapt to changing conditions without compromising values. This means growing infrastructure that is community-led, financially flexible, and grounded in relationships.
To our partners, funders, and neighbors who stand with us:
THANK YOU. Your trust makes this work possible, and your belief in a more equitable future keeps us moving forward.
With warm appreciation,
Danny Knee
Executive Director, Community Investment Corporation
Lending Program 2025 Impact Report
Small businesses keep our community strong, but many entrepreneurs struggle to get the funding they need to grow. Traditional financial institutions like banks prefer to lend to those who already have money or assets, making it harder for people with fewer resources to build wealth and a better future for themselves and their families.
Access to fair and affordable capital is essential in achieving CIC’s goal of creating an equitable and inclusive economy for all. CIC provides a variety of innovative financing options that break from the norm of traditional lending, and provide tangible and impactful support for the dreams of qualifying Southern Arizona small business owners. Learn more about CIC’s financing programs here.
In 2025, CIC lent $640,404 to Southern Arizona Small Businesses via 28 loans,
and met with over 230 businesses to provide 1:1 support.
Offering small business financing in:
Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties
CIC's Small Business Loan Recipient Demographics
Top industries represented:
Food & Dining (16%), Health & Medicine (37%), Personal Care & Services (16%), Retail merchants (21%)
Over 85% of borrowers in 2025 were members of underserved demographics,
including low-income, rural, female, BIPOC, or first-time entrepreneurs.
CIC is proud to participate in the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity’s Microbusiness Loan Program, in collaboration with Groundswell Capital. The Microbusiness Loan Program provides crucial funding to Southern Arizona’s smallest businesses, strengthening local economies and supporting entrepreneurs.
Governor Katie Hobbs visited two of CIC’s small business clients that received funding thanks to the Microbusiness Loan Program, showcasing the impact of our work and increasing visibility for both our clients and program.
Over time, CIC has lent $18,000,000 to Southern Arizona Small Businesses.
In total, over $1,000,000 in funding has been lent to rural entrepreneurs.
In 2025, CIC hosted 35 financial education presentations to 287 attendees.
CIC is now an SSBCI lender and is working with the Arizona Commerce Authority to support businesses via capital and education.
In 2025, the BIPOC Loan Fund issued 13 loans, with $113,541 distributed to local businesses.
68% of the BIPOC Loan Fund Recipients were women.
In 2025, CIC proudly supported the BIPOC Loan Fund in a major step toward long-term sustainability – forming its first independent board of directors and beginning the process to secure 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
This transition marks a shift in ownership and leadership, ensuring that the fund’s future is guided by the very communities it was built to serve. CIC continues to provide infrastructure and technical support while honoring the fund’s vision for self-determination and equity in lending.
BIPOC Loan Fund Committee
It matters who has a seat at the table.
Over time, 93 loans have been issued through the BIPOC Loan Fund's innovative character-based lending program, with $776,210 in total funds distributed.
Homeownership Program 2025 Impact Report
For most Americans, owning a home isn’t just about having a place to live – it’s the most important investment they’ll ever make. Homeownership makes up 62% of the total wealth for middle-class Americans and is a key path to financial stability and long-term security. Learn more about CIC’s homeownership programs here.
CIC’s Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program offers qualifying first-time homebuyers a federal tax credit of up to $2,000 annually, reducing the ongoing cost of owning a home. It’s a powerful tool that helps buyers not only afford their home today, but to stay in their home and build equity for tomorrow.
In 2025, CIC issued 159 new MCCs to first-time homeowners, leading to $318,000 in tax credits in the first year of their mortgage.
CIC's MCC Holder Demographics
80% of MCC holders used the program to qualify for their home loan.
In 2025, $353,159 was distributed in Down Payment Assistance, empowering individuals & families with the access to capital to get into a home.
Over time, CIC has issued 8,500 Mortgage Credit Certificates,
leading to millions in tax savings for first-time homebuyers.
Education Programs 2025 Impact Report
When parents are engaged in their children’s education, kids do better in school and in life. Decades of research show that when parents are actively involved, students attend school more regularly, earn higher grades, and develop stronger behavior and social skills. Parent engagement is also linked to higher rates of high school graduation and college enrollment for students from all income and demographic backgrounds.
CIC’s My Schools Tucson website and staff help parents navigate the K-12 educational landscape with confidence, while CIC’s Countdown to Kinder program focuses on supporting families going through the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten. When working with parents and the teachers, administrators, and case managers that support them, the mission is simple: Connect. Inform. Empower. Through free classes, online resources, one-on-one support, and a Pima County-focused school locator, CIC and My Schools Tucson break down barriers and provide parents with the knowledge and skills to help their children succeed.
In 2025, the My Schools Tucson team provided direct support to 672 families
and early childhood educators.
A = Family understanding of school letter grades
B = Family awarenes of school funding opportunities
C = Family awareness of open enrollment deadlines
After a My Schools Tucson presentation, parents are 5x more likely to understand their resources for researching schools and 13x more likely to explore their options.
Every child deserves to thrive at school.
In 2025, My Schools Tucson built on their strong partnership with local Head Starts by increasing the number of sites served and parents reached through in-person presentations to better prepare children and families for kindergarten.
After a My Schools Tucson presentation, parents are 5x more likely to understand their resources for researching schools and 13x more likely to explore their options.
Every child deserves to thrive at school.
In 2025, My Schools Tucson built on their strong partnership with local Head Starts by increasing the number of sites served and parents reached through in-person presentations to better prepare children and families for kindergarten.
60% of families began researching schools six months+ before enrollment
after attending a My Schools Tucson presentation.
In 2025 My Schools Tucson prioritized helping families understand the critical role they play in their child’s success. They emphasized practical strategies for engaging with teachers, communicating with schools, and supporting learning at home, because when families are engaged, students experience stronger academic and social outcomes. The new Family Engagement Guidebook to Supporting School Success was viewed 6,434 times in just five months after its August launch, showing significant interest in practical, easy-to-use guidance.