Low Income Investment Fund: Strengthening childcare businesses, strengthening communities
Our programs
The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that mobilizes capital and partnerships to expand access to funding for more Americans.
How Low Income Investment Fund is strengthening the small business ecosystem in the United States
How Low Income Investment Fund is strengthening the small business ecosystem in the United States
- Family childcare providers play a critical role in supporting working families and improving early childhood outcomes — yet many are excluded from traditional small business programs. Often home-based and under-resourced, family childcare (FCC) providers face unique challenges in accessing capital and technical support, and many do not self-identify as business owners.
- The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is working to change that. By offering capital and targeted technical assistance LIIF helps FCC providers stabilize and grow their operations. In doing so, they support the economic security of both care providers and working parents, while strengthening long-term community and workforce resilience.
Program overview
Our work together
- With support from Mastercard Strive USA, LIIF is launching the Family Child Care (FCC) Capital Initiative — a three-year pilot microlending program supporting licensed FCC businesses in California.
- In partnership with another leading CDFI, Ascendus, the initiative will provide small-dollar microloans alongside tailored training and business resources. While Ascendus oversees loan disbursement through a tech-forward platform, LIIF will lead program design and delivery to ensure FCC providers get tools that fit their specific needs.
- This pilot will not only expand access to capital for home-based childcare businesses, it will also lay the foundation for national replication — demonstrating that with the right tools, FCC providers can become stronger small businesses and more visible contributors to local economies.
By the numbers
LIIF has helped drive $3.8 billion in community investments as part of their goal to reach $5 billion by 2030.
“We are proud to partner with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, through the Mastercard Strive program, to launch a new financing initiative that increases access to capital for family childcare small businesses. This critical support enables LIIF to continue driving innovative solutions that strengthen these essential community anchors — small businesses that have supported generations of working families. Together, we’re investing in the long-term sustainability and success of family childcare providers, ensuring they remain a vital part of our economic and social fabric.”
Kimberly Latimer-Nelligan
President, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF)
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