Forging resilient communities of opportunity since 1981.
2024: A Year in Review LISC GREATER KANSAS CITY ANNUAL REPORT
Building on what makes us special – the unity we feel in being uniquely the Kansas City region – we stand strong in our values and mission of helping forge a vibrant, resilient community.”
Message from Leadership
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
What makes the Kansas City region special? Is it our legendary barbecue … celebrated jazz scene … scenic parks and boulevards? Is it the 200 bubbling water features that earned us the nickname “The City of Fountains,” or our world champion professional sports teams?
For me, Kansas City’s real strength is the resilience of our community – our ability to regroup and rebound in times of change and adversity. Through economic boom and bust, times of celebration and times of adversity, our region binds together in strength and common purpose. We roll up our sleeves, do the work and overcome.
With the current social and political challenges our communities are facing, it’s more important than ever to come together in that spirit of unity and hope. Despite the roadblocks in our way, LISC Greater Kansas City continues to work together with our many local, state and national partners toward our goals of shared prosperity and opportunity for all.
As we carry on in progress and perseverance, there are encouraging examples of our forward momentum throughout our 2024 LISC Greater Kansas City Annual Report. These achievements include:
- Celebrating with partners the completion of the 14-year Paseo Gateway initiative with the opening of Sam Rodgers Place, encompassing 380 new housing units across seven sites in the Historic Northeast neighborhood.
- Thrive: A Celebration of Community Development celebrating the power of community development and the positive impact it has on our neighborhoods.
- Connecting residents to resources and addressing vacant housing and nuisance building issues including the Promoting Equitable Neighborhoods Recommendations for the KCMO Land Bank
- Expanding the Regional Housing Partnership to help promote quality housing options.
With the support of our community partners, stakeholders and neighbors throughout the Kansas City area, LISC Greater Kansas City remains committed to continuing this work, building opportunity and growth that bring us together and lift us up.
Building on what makes us special – the unity we feel in being uniquely the Kansas City region – we stand strong in our values and mission of helping forge a vibrant, resilient community … a Kansas City that offers a spectrum of opportunity and resources our neighbors need to live, work, do business and raise thriving families. Please take a moment to review our accomplishments in 2024 and thank you for your support for our future.
In gratitude and partnership,
Geoff Jolley Executive Director LISC Greater Kansas City
By The Numbers
Impact is the heartbeat of a Community Development Financial Institution. It’s how we turn capital into opportunity and hope into progress.
Every dollar invested, home built, and space developed helps pave the path to opportunity. Here is a snapshot of our impact since 1981:
$199M
invested
6,025
affordable homes and apartments
$839M
leveraged
1.9M
square feet of commercial and community space
What does this impact look like on the ground?
Our Impact Stories
LISC Greater Kansas City remains committed to creating opportunities and fostering growth that uplifts everyone in the community. Our comprehensive approach addresses affordable housing, economic development, and financial stability, ensuring that Kansas City continues to thrive as an inclusive and resilient region.
Unlocking Dreams: How Family Self-Sufficiency Programs Empower Individuals
Beginning in 2017, LISC Greater Kansas City, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Community Services League (CSL) partnered to manage this innovative program at Hawthorne Place.
Since then, there are over 30 new homeowners, the majority of whom have chosen to remain nearby, in Independence, Missouri.
Emerging Developers Summit
On September 4-5, 2024, LISC Greater Kansas City and District VII of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development co-hosted an Emerging Developers Summit at Penn Valley Community College.
Over 250 people, including panelists and organizing committee members, attended the two-day event. Workshops focused on real estate development fundamentals, accessing capital, structuring deals and partnerships, working through challenged projects, and identifying sources of predevelopment and gap funding.
LISC Greater Kansas City Releases Report on Home Repair in Jackson County
Minor home repair is a critical but often overlooked means to combat displacement, maintain a home’s value that can be passed on to the next generation, ensure a safe and healthy living environment, reduce utility bills, preserve a home’s valuable and often historic building materials, and more. With generous support from Jackson County, Missouri, LISC Greater Kansas City commissioned a report on minor home repair resources within the county.
The Jackson County: Minor Home Repair Program Study, created by Hoxie Collective, surveyed providers of home repair and home modifications throughout the county to inform homeowners, policymakers, local government, funders, and intermediaries like LISC.
While the costs to maintain and repair the integrity and operation of homes are significant, they are a fraction of the cost of new construction. Maintaining existing housing stock is a key factor in the affordable housing challenge.”
Our Funders
2024 Private Sector Support
Arvest Bank
Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation
BMO
Children's Mercy
Commerce Bank of Kansas City
Country Club Bank
The Dunn Family Foundation
Evergy
Flaherty & Collins Properties
Full Employment Council
General Motors
Hall Family Foundation
Health Forward Foundation
Jack Henry & Associates
JPMorganChase
Kansas City University
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
James Martin
Mid-America Regional Council
Movement Strategy Center
PNC Bank
Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc
Victor E. Speas Foundation
James M. and Jane H. Stacy Charitable Fund
Travois
Angela Turner
John Turner
U.S. Bank Foundation
UMB Bank
University Health
VanTrust Real Estate
2024 Public Sector Support
Jackson County, Missouri
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development
Thank you to our supporters who make this work possible. Together, we are helping our communities thrive.”
Our Team
Our LAB helps to guide the organization, connect LISC Greater Kansas City with funding opportunities, and provide industry expertise for the development of LISC.”
Local Advisory Board (LAB)
Rodney Bland, Bland Consulting Group
Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, Heavy Constructors Association
Bill Dana, Central Bank of Kansas City*
Brandon Dial, U.S. Bank
Denise Dowd, M.D., Children’s Mercy
Matt Fulson, Fulson Housing Group
Greg Kindle, Wyandotte Economic Development Council
Randy Lopez, Wyandotte Health Foundation of Kansas
Linda Manlove, Community Leader
Sandra Olivas, First Federal Bank of Kansas City
Lauren Palmer, EverStrive Solutions
Melissa Patterson Hazley, KCMO City Council 3rd District at Large*
Mike Grube, MG Real Estate
Dr. Nicole Price, Lively Paradox
Rafiq Saad, MBA, BMO Harris
Kiley L. Sidman, Chase**
Shelley Penn, Full Employment Council
Diosselyn Tot-Velasquez, NeighborWorks America
Patrice Townsend - Chairperson, Community Leader
*Term Ended December 2024 **Joined January 2025
LISC Staff
Geoff Jolley Executive Director
Abigail Hayo Assistant Program Officer
Kelli Hearn Senior Program Officer, Financial Stability
Holly Long Development Officer
Daniel Serda, Ph.D. Program Officer, Economic Development
Jeremy Staab Program Officer, Lending
Carlie Turner Program Officer, Housing and Capacity Building
Amanda Wilson Senior Program Officer, Housing and Capacity Building
