Equity Impact Investments

NGIN INITIATIVES

Program Overview

Equity Impact Investments (EII) aims to foster collaboration between community-based organizations (CBOs) and economic development organizations (EDOs). NGIN, and its partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and HBCU Community Development Action Coalition ( HBCU CDAC), has provided capacity building and training to 141 organizations, along with offering partnership assistance to 24 sites.

Capacity Building and Training

Phase 1 of EII is comprised of two comprehensive training courses, one for community-based organizations (CBOs) and one for economic development organizations (EDOs), designed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the International Economic Development Council. The courses, entitled Strategic Synergy, are comprised of 5 modules and are delivered virtually over three months

Completion of the training provides leaders with a certificate of completion and provides the opportunity to interview for Phase 2: Partnership Assistance.

Phase 2 of the program offers personalized support to selected communities through in-person strategy workshops and monthly remote meetings. This assistance aims to foster trust, collaboration, and transformative change among Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

Key focus areas include asset mapping, local data analysis, understanding community dynamics, rebuilding trust, engaging BIPOC stakeholders, and accessing additional funding sources for sustained partnerships across sectors.

The comprehensive EII Playbook will be available for practitioners in September 2025.

Partnership Assistance

Our Current Partnership Assistance Sites

NGIN and it’s partners provide partnership assistance to a total of 37 Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and 35 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) from across the U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Cohort 1: Sacramento, CA; Detroit, MI; Bangor, ME; Providence, RI; Yuma, AZ; Omaha, NE; Honolulu, Hawaii; Omaha, NE; Cleveland, OH; Pottstown, PA; Baton Rogue, LA; Sarasota, FL; Memphis, Tennessee 

Cohort 2: San Diego, CA; Santa Fe, NM; Tampa, FL; El Paso, TX; Houston, TX; Shreveport, LA; New Orleans, LA; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Milwaukee, WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Greenville, MS; Detroit, MI; and Sacramento, CA. 

  • "I find it very exciting that this type of project helps to bridge what has traditionally been very siloed areas of practice— community development and economic development. I think that what we’re seeing [through EII] is the bridging of these two spheres to be much more thoughtful and intentional. The component of anchoring things around equity bridges so many opportunities."

    -Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development

  • "NGIN's EII training provided me with the tools, strategies, and the know-how of inclusive and equitable economic development. Authentic partnerships are key to this emerging economic development approach that will reduce racial inequities and get us on the road to achieve economic justice."

    EII Program Participant

  • "The EII program is a great way to take a deep dive into your community's organizational network to help identify opportunities to pool resources, leverage relationships, and reach a common goal. CBOs and EDOs have been separated for too long, and this program brings this issue to light while guiding teams on how to unite efforts for a more well-rounded approach, benefitting the whole community."

    EII Program Participant

  • "EII is a great way to understand new practices and trends related to ecosystem building, community development and economic development. You'll derive a lot of value by interacting with people in other areas facing similar issues and identifying resources and opportunities."

    EII Program Participant

  • If you want to build trust and economic equity, the EII program is a MUST.

    EII Program Participant

Program Documents

Activate Partnerships In Your Community by Downloading the Curriculum!

Two new training courses are available: one for community-based organizations (CBOs) and one for economic development organizations (EDOs). Designed by NGIN, LISC, and IEDC, these courses offer foundational knowledge for building inclusive economic development partnerships.

Curriculum for CBOs

  • Module 1: Economic Development Ecosystems 

  • Module 2: Economic Development Methods 

  • Module 3: Inclusive Ecosystem Building 

  • Module 4: Leveraging Community Assets 

  • Module 5: Strategy, Measurement, and Evaluation 

Curriculum for EDOs

  • Module 1: An Introduction to Developing EDO and CBO Collaborations 

  • Module 2: Working with Community Based Organizations 

  • Module 3: Mobilizing EDO and CBO Partnerships 

  • Module 4: Equitable Ecosystem Mapping and Economic Development Ecosystem Building 

  • Module 5: Evaluating the Impact of EDO and CBO Partnerships 

Watch the Launch Discussion with EDA

NGIN CEO and President M. Yasmina McCarty sat down with Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, to discuss the launch of the Equity Impact Investments program.

They delved into the importance of equity, the goals of the program, who will benefit, and the anticipated impact over the three year grant period.

Meet the EII Team

  • M. Yasmina McCarty

    CEO AND PRESIDENT

  • Swati Ghosh

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Sean Thompson

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

  • Bernita Johnson-Gabriel

    SENIOR ADVISOR

  • Cuevas Peacock

    ADVISOR

  • Mari Kate Mycek

    ADVISOR

  • Franklin Alverez

    ADVISOR

  • Taylor Dudley

    MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

  • Autumne Sneed-Lyons

    EVENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Supported by U.S. Economic Development Administration

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the award of a $5.5 million grant to New Growth Innovation Networkto design and launch Equity Impact Investments.

Funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this initiative is a part of EDA’s commitment to ensuring the consistent and systemic, fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities.