Reinvestment Fund Winter Newsletter 2026
Launching the HBCU Brilliance Initiative Cohort
Reinvestment Fund hosted the first meeting of the HBCU Brilliance Initiative Cohort, bringing together presidents and leaders from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Cohort program pairs grants, financing, and capacity-building assistance to strengthen the financial health and long-term sustainability of HBCUs.
Each institution is receiving $40,000 in grants and access to up to $1 million in financing, alongside a curriculum designed to build capacity and share best practices. The initiative envisions HBCUs as community anchors and centers of excellence, supported through financial solutions, training, advocacy, and research.
“There was a palpable sense of energy in the room,” shared Christina Alexis, Head of HBCU Brilliance Initiative, Program. “When leaders unite for collective action and shared learning, we expand capacity—not just for individual institutions, but for the entire HBCU ecosystem.” The meeting ignited a call for collaboration and growth. We look forward to the amplified impact this Cohort will create.
We continue our development work with HBCUs across the country. Reinvestment Fund recently supported Wilberforce University in strengthening its financial position and fueling bold leadership so the historic HBCU could expand opportunity and drive community impact.
Steady by Design: Trust Built on Financial Stewardship
Reinvestment Fund has a reputation for responsibly and consistently managing our capital portfolio to strengthen the communities we serve. In December, we completed a $69.5 million general obligation bond sale, a clear market endorsement of our disciplined balance sheet and AA minus rating with S&P. This sale marks an important milestone as it expands our capacity to raise and deploy capital in projects including affordable housing and early childhood education.
“We are delighted with this execution. Particularly in this climate, the bond market emphatically voted in support of our mission, our management team, and our ability to responsibly raise and deploy capital into communities that need our support. We are excited about our next chapter, and the market clearly agrees with us,” said Tiffany Canady, Chief Financial Officer.
Advancing Reinvestment Fund’s mission means striking the right balance between financial stewardship and bold impact. Hear more from Tiffany Canady, Chief Financial Officer.
We were also awarded a $75 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the CDFI Fund, a certification of Reinvestment Fund’s ability to deliver complex, high‑impact projects. NMTCs support the people, systems, and partnerships we use to move multi‑stakeholder deals from idea to ribbon cutting, so that essential places like health centers, training facilities, and job‑creating businesses can open their doors faster.
Reinvestment Fund’s financial maturity and stability helps us align financial tools with community priorities. For example, in Summerville, SC, we partnered with Tesatura Capital, Ellavoz Impact Capital, and EQ Housing Advisors to preserve and expand naturally occurring affordable housing in three neighborhoods. This collaboration ensures the preservation of affordable homes near major employers and a planned rapid transit line.
News & Resources
- Welcome Hector Carmelo, Christine Feustel, Dyanne Glass, and Lauren Murphy to Reinvestment Fund’s team.
- Who is buying single-family homes in Philadelphia—and what happens next? A new analysis from Reinvestment Fund’s Policy Solutions team reveals how corporate investors are reshaping the market, driving eviction trends, and impacting neighborhoods.
- We are proud to support The Wright Center’s $10.9M Health City Hub expansion in Wilkes-Barre, PA bringing critical medical, dental, and behavioral health services to 37,000 patients annually.
- Congratulations to Ira Goldstein, Senior Advisor for Policy Solutions at Reinvestment Fund, on being named one of City & State’s 2025 Impact Award honorees—recognizing leaders making a difference across Pennsylvania.
- We’re proud to support Manna Food Co-op’s expansion to a new location in Detroit Lakes, MN. The expansion strengthens local food access, deepens partnerships with farmers, and is creating opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs through our HFFI FARE Fund.
- With support from Reinvestment Fund’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative, City Greens Market upgraded equipment, expanded programming, and deepened community engagement—transforming from a small church-basement grocer into a neighborhood anchor now planning a second location.
- At the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Fall Conference, Yolanda Moore, Director of New Markets Tax Credits at Reinvestment Fund, joined a panel on NMTC and homeownership to spotlight our work on the ANDP’s Atlanta Scattered Site Homeownership project.
- We’re honored to have led the New Jersey Building Healthier, More Equitable Communities initiative—working alongside incredible leaders to advance health and opportunity in Camden, Asbury Park, Newark, and Paterson. Explore new blogs showcasing how cross-sector collaboration is driving neighborhood revitalization.
- The new Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. VECTR Center at Columbus Technical College is rising in Georgia—creating a foundation for veterans to gain new skills and build purposeful futures, and we’re proud to help make it happen.
Work With Us
- 2026 Jeremy Nowak Fellow – The Nowak Fellowship supports a pre-graduate school fellow considering a future career aligned with community economic development and honors the legacy and memory of Reinvestment Fund’s founding Executive Director. Applications are due February 15, 2026.
Check back for new opportunities: Careers at Reinvestment Fund