Mission & Values
Our Mission
The mission of Community Investment Corporation is to promote economic inclusion for all members of Southern Arizona, regardless of socioeconomic status, through the pursuit of three distinct program areas that are foundational to individual and community well-being: Homeownership, Entrepreneurship, and Education.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a better life in Southern Arizona through economic inclusion, which increases quality of life, not only for individuals, but for entire communities.
Our work ensures that more people in our community can buy homes, receive the funding they need to start, sustain, and grow their small businesses, and access the education they want for their children.
The guiding principle we live by is: Nobody who has the desire and diligence to participate in our economy should ever be on the outside looking in.
Our Values
Resiliency
We understand that CIC is dynamic and that our responsibilities will change with our business. This does not hinder or scare us – it is exactly the type of challenge to which we look forward. We will be resilient and adaptable in face of setbacks and change and are committed to improving CIC, ourselves, our colleagues, our clients, and our community.
Self-Reflection
Regardless of the outcome, good or bad, it is part of each of our jobs to ask if our approach, service, or performance can be improved. We are willing to question our own perspectives, recognize and articulate our own potential biases, and to change our approach based on input and feedback from our stakeholders.
Support
Be present for the people who work in front of us. Check in regularly with stakeholders, practicing inquiry first before advocacy (e.g. fighting their battles for them). Offer help and ask for help proactively.
Humility
We are willing to pitch in and perform any & every task that is essential to keep the organization running and succeeding regardless of our title, position on the organizational chart, or job description as needed.
Working to Put Our Families First
We understand the importance of families and their proxies. They are our support systems, and we often do what we do, first and foremost, for them. We prioritize work when we are at work so that we can prioritize our families always. And we maintain responsibility for the quality and timeliness of the work that that is done on our behalf or that we do on the behalf of others so they may meet their families' needs.
Innovation
We are creative problem solvers whose ideas are welcomed. We build our knowledge base consistently and research the answers to problems we face to better serve our clients and CIC. And we understand that ideas only come to fruition through disciplined implementation and follow-up. We embrace technology to improve our efficacy and efficiency.
Self-Sufficiency & Sustaining
We strive to make all of our programs and services self-sustaining by making them as cost-efficient as possible and by looking for a diverse set of stable funding sources. None of our programs are sustainable unless our programs in aggregate and our organization as a whole and are too.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
Danny Knee
Executive Director
CIC believes that a just and equitable economic system must eliminate structural barriers for communities who have been historically underserved by financiers.
TRUST
In a system stacked against the average person, it’s important to have someone on your side. CIC is here to help our clients make the right decisions to meet their goals, not necessarily the easy decisions.
EQUITY
Leveling the playing field means removing the weights on the shoulders of those left out of our system. CIC empowers those typically left behind to realize their value and find their place among the larger community.
OPPORTUNITY
We believe that everyone has the strength to rise to the challenge if given the opportunity. CIC provides access to resources normally reserved for the powerful because everyone deserves a chance to participate.
CIC believes that a just and equitable economic system must eliminate structural barriers for communities who have been historically underserved by financiers.
We must empower those in need of a financial boost, but struggle to find help through traditional means.