Strategic Priorities

Expand Community Impact

Affordable Housing: CDCs can develop or renovate housing for low-income families, seniors, or transitional populations, directly addressing a common community need.

Job Training & Employment: They can create workforce development programs that uplift the community economically, especially for youth or underemployed adults.

Small Business Support: CDCs often provide technical assistance, microloans, or incubator space for local entrepreneurs.

Strengthen Church Mission

Ministry Beyond the Sanctuary: A CDC allows the church to carry out its mission in tangible, measurable ways—feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and supporting families.

Grant Access: Many public and private funding sources are available to CDCs, which may not be accessible to churches directly due to separation of church and state.

Outreach Infrastructure: A CDC can serve as the nonprofit arm of a church, formalizing community services like food pantries, youth programs, or financial literacy workshops.

Foster Local Partnerships

Public-Private Collaborations: A CDC can partner with city governments, schools, hospitals, or local businesses to address systemic issues like health disparities or food deserts.

Educational Programs: Partnering with local schools or early literacy nonprofits, CDCs can bring tutoring, after-school programs, or parenting education into the community.

Health & Wellness: Through partnerships with clinics or health organizations, a CDC can address mental health, nutrition, and preventive care access.

Preserve Culture & Promote Civic Engagement

Community Planning: CDCs often lead neighborhood revitalization efforts that preserve cultural heritage and engage residents in shaping their own future.

Advocacy Platform: They provide a structured way to advocate for policy changes or infrastructure improvements on behalf of the community.

Community Ownership: By involving residents in decision-making and board leadership, CDCs foster local empowerment and resilience.

Economic Development and Sustainability

Real Estate & Property Development: Churches or communities with land can leverage it through a CDC for multi-use buildings, community centers, or retail spaces that create revenue and services.

Sustainable Revenue: Unlike a church’s tithes, a CDC can generate income through development projects, social enterprise, and government contracts, supporting long-term sustainability.