Pay It Forward Program
Funding Amount
Grants up to $50,000; Loans up to $250,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Other requirements
- National (all states)
- Participating developers may access PIF grants and loans to assist with completing any combination of the following approved uses necessary to apply for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC):
- Site Acquisition
- Architect Design
Overview
Pay It Forward Program
Funder: NEF Housing Charities, Inc. (affiliate of National Equity Fund)
Program Type: Recoverable grants and application assistance loans to support non-traditional developers
Overview
The Pay It Forward (PIF) program augments NEF and partner equity investments in non-traditional developers by providing flexible and patient capital bridge to tax credit applications and awards. Grants are recoverable and up to $50,000; loans are up to $250,000.Geographic Scope
National (all states)Eligible Uses
Participating developers may access PIF grants and loans to assist with completing any combination of the following approved uses necessary to apply for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC):- Site Acquisition
- Architect Design
- Surveys
- Environmental Studies
- Entitlements
- Tax Credit Fees
Eligibility Requirements
Developer Profile Requirements:
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development
- Support for non-traditional developers
- Predevelopment financing
Focus Areas
Key Contact
Lydia Smith, Managing DirectorContact Information:
How to Apply
How to Apply
Application process and materials not specified on the website. Applicants should contact the key contact directly for application instructions and requirements.
Contact for Application Information
Lydia Smith, Managing Director
What National Equity Fund Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990 filing, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 3
- Total given
- $17.45M
- Median grant
- $40K
- Range
- $15K–$17.4M
- By dollars: New York >99%, California <1%, Illinois <1%. Top recipient cities: New York, NY; North Hills, CA; Chicago, IL.
Example grants
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY
Support community development
$17.4M
Abbey Road Inc · North Hills, CA
Support low-income housing development
$40K
Chicago Rehabilitation Network · Chicago, IL
Support low-income housing development
$15K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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