HELPFUL LINKS
These links are a helpful starting place for CBOs who may be interested in affordable housing development.
STRATEGIC PLANNING RESOURCES
• SMARTIE Goals — Alpha Group
• Monitoring and Evaluation Worksheet - Design Kit
• Logic Modeling
•Community Toolbox
• University of Wisconsin Course
• Strategic Planning in Nonprofits (SPiN)
LEARN ABOUT LIHTC
• The Low Income Housing Tax Credit: How It Works and Who It Serves — Urban Institute
• LIHTC Basics — Novogradac
• LIHTC Lexicon — Novogradac
•What Happens to LIHTC Properties at Year 15 and Beyond? — HUD User
HELPFUL LINKS
• Nonprofit Association of Washington
• Resources for Housing Professionals — Housing Development Center NW
•
Housing 101 — Enterprise Community Partners
•Housing Development Finance Training Series — Grow America
•
Affordable Housing Finance 101
— Shelterforce
Housing WA YouTube Channel
• Affordable Housing 101
• 2022: Advancing Equitable Development Partnerships
• 2023: Expanding Access to Capital for More Diverse & Community-Led Development
CBO Partnerships
New! (Updated June 2025)BACKGROUND
This webpage is for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) interested in developing and owning affordable housing with support from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC). The Commission is focusing on building relationships with these CBOs as part of its renewed commitment to equity, transparency, and meaningful engagement. The Commission is beginning this work in the Bond/4% program by building relationships with CBOs who have expressed a desire for support. This webpage serves as a starting point for engagement, fostering connections, and providing resources specifically for CBOs.
This is a page in development—please check back often as we update it with new resources, policies, and opportunities for engagement.
We want to partner with you, support you, and hear from you!
Learn more about us and tell us more about yourself here: Interest Form
CBO-DEVELOPER PARTNERSHIPS
CBO-Developer partnerships are intended to improve the experience of residents living in 4% buildings and promote the capacity development of Community-Based Organizations, particularly residents and communities from BIPOC and marginalized backgrounds. Points are allocated based on the inclusion of a CBO in operations, cashflow, and decision making, as well as the ownership share of a CBO.
Promising Practices: evolving examples of practices successful CBO partner projects receiving allocations since 2021.
PROGRAM CONNECTION POINTS
BOND/4% TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
The Bond/4% tax credit program provides financing for affordable apartments using federal tax-exempt bonds and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. In 2021, the Commission introduced new policies and scoring criteria for this competitive program, prioritizing developers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and community-based organizations.
Section 4.5 of the Bond/4% Tax Credit Policy attempts to codify a practice of including, expanding, and giving ownership to BIPOC-led and community-based organizations by allocating points based on the extent of these partnerships. Housing projects that involve and are owned by BIPOC-led and community-based organizations receive extra points in the competition.
We also award extra points when a housing developer includes a CBO in ownership, operations, cashflow, and decision making, as well as the engagement of potential residents. Encouraging these partnerships is intended to increase the development capacity of community-based organizations and improve the experience of residents in buildings financed through the program, especially residents who are BIPOC or from other marginalized communities.
RESOURCES FOR CBOS
Housing Development Consortium CBO Affinity Group
Housing Development Consortium CBO Affinity Group Meetings
Funding Opportunities — General
WA State Department of Commerce- Funding Opportunities for Multifamily Rental Housing
HUD Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Program
LISC Puget Sound Affordable Housing
Enterprise Community Partners PNW
Habitat for Humanity of Washington State Affiliate Members
Seattle/King County Resources
King County Housing and Community Development Funding Opportunities
King County Communities of Opportunity- Funding Opportunities
Seattle Equitable Development Initiative
A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH)
Bellevue Housing Affordability
Tacoma/Pierce County Resources
Pierce County Affordable Housing
South Sound Affordable Housing Developer Portal
Tacoma-Pierce Couty Affordable Housing Consortium
Tacoma Community and Economic Development Division
Everett/Snohomish County Resources
Housing Development Consortium of Everett & Snohomish County
Snohomish County Division of Housing and Community Services
Snohomish County Applications for Available Funds
Everett Community, Planning, and Economic Development – Grant Opportunities
Olympia/Thurston County
Thurston County Affordable Housing and Community Development
Thurston Council Regional Homeless Council
Spokane/Spokane County
Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium
City of Spokane Funding Opportunities
Bellingham/Whatcom County
City of Bellingham Partnerships and Funding
Vancouver/Clark County
Vancouver Affordable Housing Fund
NONPROFIT FACILITIES
The Commission's Nonprofit Facilities Program is a smart way to save money and maximize your capital campaign. Relevant resources for nonprofits are available on the Nonprofit Facilities Webpage.
QUESTIONS
You are invited to start your relationship with WSHFC by reaching out to Keri Williams, Nonprofit and Community Outreach Lead.
Keri (she/her pronouns) can be reached at keri.williams@wshfc.org.