CIF 30 Years

30 Years of children’s Investment Fund

Today, with designation as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) from the U.S. Treasury, Children’s Investment Fund (CIF) sits at the nexus of early childhood education and community development. Through CIF’s professional development workshops for educators, early-stage predevelopment grants and loans, and ongoing technical assistance, they have seen the powerful impact of investments in early childhood education and out-of-school time infrastructure, and look forward to carrying this knowledge into the next decade and beyond. Keep scrolling for highlights and a 30-year timeline below.

Read the Full CIF Report

CIF’s Impact (1991-2020)

CIF’s Facilities

577

Facility Projects Completed

CIF’s Dollars

$80M

in Loan/Grant Volume

Leveraging

$170M

in Additional Private/Public Funding

CIF’s Education

32K

Early Education/After School Slots Created or Approved

1991

Children’s Investment Fund Established

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley creates Children’s Investment Fund, aka Child Care Capital Investment Fund, as a five-year pilot program with capitalization from a handful of foundations, including the Ford Foundation.

1991
1997


CEDAC logo

CIF Moves to CEDAC

United Way transfers the Children’s Investment Fund to the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), enhancing its capacity and reach.

1997
2001

First Building Stronger Centers Training Institute

CIF holds its first intensive, multi-day training that gives child care providers insights into renovating or building high-quality child care facilities.

2001
2001

CIF and CEDAC Help Connect Child Care, Affordable Housing

Working with Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), CEDAC and CIF fund a new facility for Escuelita Boriken, IBA’s bilingual child care program in Boston’s South End neighborhood.

2001
2010

CIF Partners with Providers to Build Natural Playgrounds

CIF provides funding for a natural playground at the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center in Dorchester, along with many others.

2010
2011

Building An Infrastructure For Quality - Facilities Inventory Report

CIF commissions and publishes the first-ever comprehensive review of Massachusetts child care facilities, setting the groundwork for the Early Education and Out-of-School Time Capital Fund.

2011
2013

Capital Fund Established

State’s Housing Bond Bill includes $45 million authorization over five years for early childhood education and out-of-school time facilities.

2013
2015

First Capital Fund Project Opens

The Beverly Children’s Learning Center, one of the first child care facilities utilizing funding from the Capital Fund, celebrates its grand opening.

2015
1985

Design Guidelines

CIF’s Design Guidelines present standards and best practices unique to early childhood education and out-of-school time facilities.

2017
2018

CIF Increases Capacity Through CDFI Certification

The U.S. Department of the Treasury certifies CIF as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), enabling CIF to apply for federal funding to increase low-cost lending capital for facility improvements throughout Massachusetts. CIF is awarded its first funding from the CDFI Fund the same year.

2018
2018

Over 30 Capital Fund Projects Funded: Capital Fund Reauthorized

The Massachusetts legislature’s Housing Bond Bill reauthorizes the Capital Fund with $45 million for an additional five years.

2018
2021

CIF Celebrates 30 Years

2021

Fiscal Year 2020 Projects Funded by CEDAC and Children's Investment Fund

  • Acton Housing Authority
    348-364 Main Street, Acton
  • Asian Community Development Corporation
    Parcel P-12C, Boston
  • Belchertown Day School
    Belchertown Day School: Operation New Home, Belchertown
  • Bethany Community Services, Inc.
    Merrimack Place, Haverhill
  • Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham, Inc.
    Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham (New Construction), Stoneham
  • Coalition for a Better Acre
    555 Merrimack Street, Lowell
  • Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
    Four Corners Plaza, Boston
    Waldeck Street Acquisition & Rehabilitation, Boston
  • Construct, Inc.
    Pine Woods Apartments, Stockbridge
  • Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
    Dudley Terrace, Boston
  • Father Bill's & MainSpring
    Housing Resource Center (Phase 1), Quincy
  • George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association
    Blackstone Valley Children's Place Indoor Space, Northbridge
  • Greater Lawrence Community Action Council
    370 Essex Street, Lawrence
    555 South Union Street, Lawrence
    Child Care Center, Lawrence
  • Harborlight Community Partners
    Anchor Point Phase 1, Beverly
    Granite Street Crossing, Rockport
  • Heading Home, Inc
    37 Wales Street, Boston
  • Hilltown Community Development Corporation
    Chester Commons, Chester
  • Holyoke Housing Authority
    South Holyoke Homes, Holyoke
  • Home City Development, Inc.
    Amethyst Brook, Pelham
    Elias Brookings Apartments, Springfield
  • Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
    3371-3375 Washington Street, Boston
    Cheney Street, Boston
  • Lawrence CommunityWorks Inc.
    Island Parkside Phase 1, Lawrence
  • Main South Community Development Corporation
    Grand Street Commons aka 92 Grand Street, Worcester
  • Metro West Collaborative Development, Inc.
    Glen Brook Way Senior Apartments, Medway
  • Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center
    Veterans Housing, Winchendon
  • Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Inc.
    Aileron, Boston
    Union Block, Taunton
  • New Americans Community Development Corporation
    Uptown Village of Main Middle Initiative, Worcester
  • NewVue Communities
    Bigelow-Riverbend Schools, Athol
    Fitchburg Arts Community, Fitchburg
  • North Shore Community Development Corporation
    Harbor Village, Gloucester
    Tabernacle Church Redevelopment, Salem
  • Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation
    Bartlett Station Building A, Boston
    Dudley Crossing, Boston
  • Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Inc.
    872 Morton Street Village, Boston
  • Retirement Housing Foundation
    Hillcrest Acres, Attleboro
  • Rural Development, Inc.
    Sunderland Affordable Senior Housing, Sunderland
  • The Caleb Foundation, Inc.
    Sirk and Chestnut Redevelopment, Lowell
  • The Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, Inc.
    Veterans Home, Dennis
  • The Community Builders, Inc.
    250 Centre Street, Boston
    3368 Washington Street, Boston
    North Commons at Village Hill, Northampton
  • The Neighborhood Developers
    181 Chestnut Street, Chelsea
  • Urban Edge Housing Corporation
    1589 Columbus Avenue, Boston
    Bancroft/Dixwell Apartments, Boston
  • Valley Community Development Corporation
    Amherst Supportive Studio Housing, Amherst
  • Valley Opportunity Council
    Maple Belcher Apartments, Chicopee
    Voces de Esperanza, Chicopee
  • Vietnamese American Initiative for Development
    191-195 Bowdoin Street, Boston
    Hamilton & Mt. Everett Senior Housing, Boston
  • Way Finders, Inc.
    Rosewood Townhomes, Agawam
  • Worcester Common Ground
    20 & 24 Merrick Street, Worcester
  • Worcester Housing Authority
    A Place to Live, Worcester
  • YMCA of the North Shore - Beverly
    71 Middle Street, Gloucester
    Pattillo Building, Gloucester
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