New regional fund targets $100M to expand affordable housing, fuel economic gains in KC region

More than $25 million committed by Kansas City–area financial and philanthropic leaders

KANSAS CITY (Nov. 10, 2026) — A significant, new impact investment fund being launched today will provide flexible, gap-filling capital to development projects focused on housing affordability across nine counties in Missouri and Kansas.

The Kansas City Regional Housing Fund (KC-RHF) aims to raise $100 million to help developers build and preserve as many as 5,000 units. KC-RHF is designed to complement existing housing and economic development resources in order to support a critical aspect of the region’s economic infrastructure.

“Like much of the rest of the country, the Kansas City region faces significant housing availability and affordability challenges, as rising costs and widening financing gaps make it increasingly difficult for developers to deliver housing at the scale needed,” said Geoff Jolley, executive director of the Greater Kansas City office (LISC KC) of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which supported development of the KC-RHF alongside the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) and LISC Fund Management, LLC (LFM), a wholly owned subsidiary of LISC.

“For people with modest incomes, the outlook is particularly alarming,” Jolley continued. “In Greater Kansas City, our affordable housing gap is near an all-time high at 69,000 units, meaning families with low incomes have to cut back on other essentials like food, clothes and medical care to be able to pay higher cost rents. Those difficult choices have lasting economic consequences—not only for those families, but for their communities and our entire region,” he said.

Early Investors and philanthropic organizations have committed more than $25 million toward KC-RHF’s efforts. They include UMB Bank ($15 million), Health Forward Foundation ($5 million), Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation and The H & R Block Foundation (a combined $3 million) and Hall Family Foundation ($2 million). Additional funding comes from the Menorah Heritage Foundation and The Sosland Foundation.

“UMB is incredibly proud to invest in the Kansas City Regional Housing Fund to help address one of the region’s greatest challenges,” said Jim Rine, president of UMB Financial Corporation and president and chief executive officer of UMB Bank, n.a. “Access to affordable housing—and lower-cost capital to build them—is critical to meeting these needs and bridging the gap for many in our community. We’re honored to work alongside LISC and MARC on this impactful initiative that will make housing a reality for those who need it most.”

In working with developers, KC-RHF will deploy “catalytic capital,” a form of financing that is more flexible than traditional commercial lending products and many public funding programs. KC-RHF will support affordable, workforce and mixed-income housing, with an emphasis on projects serving households earning less than 80 percent of the area median income. Those affordable units will help meet the housing needs of a wide range of local residents.

“Housing is foundational to the health, stability, and economic vitality of our communities. Addressing the region’s housing challenges requires collaboration across sectors, and philanthropy has an important role to play in bringing partners and resources together,” said David Miles, president of the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation and The H & R Block Foundation. “At the Bloch Family Foundation, we see the Kansas City Regional Housing Fund as an opportunity to help catalyze additional investment, strengthen regional partnerships, and expand access to quality, attainable housing for more families.”

The idea for the fund emerged from collaborative work done over the past year by the Kansas City Regional Housing Partnership, an initiative convened by MARC and LISC KC. LFM will manage KC-RHF, in collaboration with the LISC KC team, to support outreach and underwriting with developers and oversee both financial performance and impact measurement.

LFM manages 12 other impact investing funds, including eight that are focused on expanding affordable housing in specific cities.

“KC-RHF pairs LFM’s experience managing place-based housing funds in cities like Charlotte, Dallas and Detroit with the deep local knowledge and relationships of LISC Greater Kansas City,” said Tiffany Durr, president of LFM. “Together, we help developers fill critical financing gaps and bring transformative projects across the finish line. It’s a model that combines national investment expertise with local market knowledge, and that combination is what makes our platform unique.”

Developers interested in learning more about KC-RHF are invited to an online Developer Information Session on Thursday, Nov. 19, from noon to 1:15 p.m. CT. Registration is available at registration link.

About Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and LISC Greater Kansas City

LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, driving affordable housing and forging vibrant, resilient communities across America. Through innovative, community-centric programs, LISC and its 34 local offices work with residents and partners across the country to close gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $38 billion to create more than 550,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 88 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. In Greater Kansas City, LISC has invested more than $118 million in community development, supporting the creation and preservation of nearly 5,000 homes, the development of 1.8M square feet of community and commercial space, and initiatives that strengthen local businesses and expand economic opportunity.

About LISC Fund Management

LISC Fund Management, LLC (LFM) is a mission-driven impact investment firm that has invested $887 million through 13 national and place-based funds across the United States. LFM is dedicated to expanding access to safe, high-quality affordable housing, fostering economic growth, and supporting small businesses and under-resourced communities. LFM is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of LISC, one of the nation’s largest community development financial organizations. These private funds are available only to eligible investors and are offered solely through their official offering documents.

To learn more about LISC Fund Management, please visit: https://www.liscfundmanagement.org/fund-managementTo learn more about Kansas City Regional Housing Fund, please visit: https://www.liscfundmanagement.org/kcrhf

For media inquiries, please contact Catherine Carlstedt, Senior Director, Marketing, LISC Fund Management ccarlstedt@lisc.org.

*References made to endorsements by any third party to invest with LISC or KC-RHF are not indicative of future performance and do not imply any guaranteed level of service, skill, or training. Investors should not rely on endorsements for any purpose and should conduct their own review prior to investing. None of Geoff Jolley, Jim Rine, David Miles, and Tiffany Durr is a “promoter” who is compensated for this statement.