Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately $490,000 (2022 grants reported)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $40,000 - $250,000 (based on 2024 awards)
• Geographic Focus: City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, with focus on most distressed neighborhoods
• Charity Navigator Rating: 4/4 Stars (96% score)

Contact Details

Address: 1240 Huron Rd E, Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44115

Phone: 216-592-2274

Email: cda@greatercle.com

Website: www.clevelanddevelopmentadvisors.com

Pre-Application Contact: Jessica Coffey, Vice President, Lending (jcoffey@greatercle.com) for project inquiries

Overview

Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund Inc (CDA-CRF) was established in 2012 as a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), receiving initial certification in 2018 and recertification in 2025. The organization provides management services to Cleveland Development Advisors (CDA), which has been operating since 1989 as an affiliate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. CDA-CRF's mission is to promote community development and revitalization by supporting and providing investment capital for low-income communities and persons in Northeast Ohio. Since 1989, CDA's investment funds have invested more than $586 million in 180 projects resulting in over 8,100 new housing units and 14.9 million square feet of commercial space. In 2024, the organization closed on new loans totaling $4.8 million and continues to expand its grant programs specifically targeting emerging and underserved developers in Cleveland's most distressed neighborhoods.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Predevelopment and Acquisition Grants

• Grant Range: $40,000 - $250,000
• Purpose: Specifically designed for predevelopment and acquisition needs of emerging developers
• Focus: Real estate development projects in low-income communities
• Application Method: Initial consultation required; contact jcoffey@greatercle.com to schedule consultation and submit intake form

Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative (CLE EDI) Awards

• Grant Range: $20,000 - $50,000 (competitive awards)
• Purpose: Support for emerging minority developers
• Requirements:
  • Participants must identify as BIPOC and/or racial/ethnic minority
  • Commitment to community development in Cleveland
  • Attendance at in-person training (Wednesday afternoons, 3:00-6:00 PM EST)
  • Additional 4-6 hours monthly for assignments and mentor meetings
  • Commitment to respond to RFPs within 4-6 months of program completion
• Application Method: Annual cohort selection (application windows typically announced in summer)

Priority Areas

Geographic Priorities:

• Most distressed neighborhoods in the City of Cleveland
• Cuyahoga County and surrounding Northeast Ohio counties
• Focus on economically distressed low-income communities

Project Types:

• Real estate development projects including community facilities
• Job creation projects
• Affordable housing development (with focus on 116+ unit projects)
• Acquisition and predevelopment activities
• Business expansion in underserved communities
• Projects serving low-income persons

Developer Priorities:

• Emerging developers (particularly those from underserved communities)
• BIPOC developers and entrepreneurs of color
• Developers committed to neighborhood revitalization
• Projects that prove the market and attract additional private sector investment

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their CDFI mission and focus areas, CDA-CRF likely does not fund:

• Projects outside Northeast Ohio
• Projects not serving low-income communities or persons
• Non-real estate development activities
• Projects without clear community development impact

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Yvette Ittu, President & CEO, Cleveland Development Advisors

Yvette Ittu leads Cleveland Development Advisors and has provided "deft management, astute leadership and a clear strategic vision" since joining the organization. Under her leadership, CDA has managed a portfolio of over $410 million since 2000, which has leveraged over $3.3 billion in additional public and private sector investment. She is a certified public accountant with a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Cleveland State University. Prior to CDA, she practiced public law and public finance at Calfee, Halter and Griswold LLP, served as finance director for the City of Lakewood, and held financial management positions for the City of Cleveland. She is the current past President of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition.

Jessica Coffey, Vice President, Lending

Jessica Coffey joined Cleveland Development Advisors in 2013 and focuses on identifying and analyzing real estate and business development projects for investment consideration. Her public finance experience includes New Markets Tax Credits, federal and state of Ohio historic tax credits, tax increment financing, and federal, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, and City of Cleveland loan and grant programs. She holds a master's degree in urban planning and development from Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resource & Environment.

Board of Directors

Cleveland Development Advisors has an experienced Board of Directors who work together with staff and a Community Advisory Committee to ensure support for projects that improve neighborhoods. The board includes professionals from The Cleveland Foundation, Haslam Sports Group, KeyBank, Paradigm Institutional Investments, CHN Housing Partners, Benesch Law Firm, and Squire Patton Boggs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For General Financing (Loans and Grants):

1. Contact Jessica Coffey at jcoffey@greatercle.com to schedule an initial consultation
2. Each project will be asked to submit an intake form for formal consideration
3. CDA-CRF evaluates projects based on community development impact, focus on low-income communities/persons, and alignment with organizational priorities

For Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative (CLE EDI):

• Annual cohort selection with specific application windows (typically announced in summer)
• Application and selection process for 12 cohort members
• Top three participants receive competitive awards ranging from $20,000 to $50,000
• Requires commitment to training program and ongoing participation

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should inquire about expected timeframes during the initial consultation process.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. In 2024, CDA-CRF awarded grants to three real estate development projects out of an undisclosed number of applications. The CLE EDI program selects 12 cohort members annually, with three receiving competitive cash awards.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Contact the organization directly for guidance on reapplication procedures.

Application Success Factors

Based on CDA-CRF's documented priorities and recent grant awards, successful applications demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment: Projects must be located in Cleveland's most distressed neighborhoods or other low-income communities in Cuyahoga County and surrounding areas. Recent successful projects include developments in Clark-Fulton, Fairfax, Hough, and Glenville neighborhoods.

Transformative Community Impact: CDA invests in "catalytic, strategic, and transformational projects that promote inclusive, thriving neighborhoods and economic growth." The organization explicitly states it "identifies, positions, and invests in projects across the city, especially in neighborhoods that may not otherwise attract investment, helping to prove the market, build wealth, and lead to additional private sector investment."

Service to Low-Income Persons: Projects must serve low-income communities and/or low-income persons, consistent with CDFI requirements and organizational mission.

Developer Readiness and Capacity: For emerging developers, CDA-CRF prioritizes those who demonstrate commitment to community development and are willing to engage in technical assistance and capacity building. The organization has expanded its products specifically to "increase access to capital to emerging and underserved developers."

Community Benefits: CDA supports Community Benefits Agreements which "encourage and establish goals for community impacts including the hiring of minority, female, and local workers and contracting firms." Projects that demonstrate these commitments align well with organizational values.

Project Types with Proven Success: Recent grants support:

• Community facilities (Pivot Center - $75,000 for Cleveland Rape Crisis Center headquarters)
• Affordable housing development (9410 Hough - $250,000 for 116 quality affordable housing units with supportive services)
• Construction support and owner's representation (We Rise Development - $40,000)

Alignment with Equity Goals: CDA has created the Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative specifically to support BIPOC developers and "eliminate barriers to success," recognizing "the lack of diversity in real estate." Projects led by or benefiting communities of color demonstrate strong alignment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Initial Consultation is Required: Unlike traditional grant applications, CDA-CRF requires prospective applicants to schedule an initial consultation with Jessica Coffey before submitting a formal intake form. This relationship-based approach suggests the importance of early engagement.

• Focus on Cleveland's Most Distressed Neighborhoods: CDA-CRF's CDFI certification specifically targets the "most distressed neighborhoods in the City of Cleveland." Projects in these areas receive priority consideration.

• Emerging Developer Support: The organization has specifically expanded its grant products for "emerging and underserved developers," making it particularly appropriate for newer development organizations seeking predevelopment and acquisition funding.

• Technical Assistance Complements Grants: CDA-CRF's "Development Services Programs" provide technical assistance to emerging developers. Applicants willing to engage in capacity building alongside financial support demonstrate stronger alignment.

• Leverage Additional Investment: CDA values projects that "prove the market" and lead to "additional private sector investment." Applications should articulate how the grant will catalyze further development activity.

• Community Benefits Matter: Support for Community Benefits Agreements and commitment to hiring minority, female, and local workers and contracting firms strengthens applications.

• Consider the CLE EDI Program: BIPOC developers should explore the Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative, which provides not just funding but "training, technical assistance, mentorship, networking and pathways to financing."

References

1. Cleveland Development Advisors - Official Website: https://www.clevelanddevelopmentadvisors.com/ (Accessed March 2026)
2. Cleveland Development Advisors - About Page: https://www.clevelanddevelopmentadvisors.com/about/ (Accessed March 2026)
3. Cleveland Development Advisors - Staff Page: https://www.clevelanddevelopmentadvisors.com/staff/ (Accessed March 2026)
4. Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund Inc - GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-1051875 (Accessed March 2026)
5. Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund Inc - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/461051875 (Accessed March 2026)
6. Community Development Financial Institutions Fund - Awardee Profile: https://www.cdfifund.gov/awards/state-awards/awardee-profile/221FA059637 (Accessed March 2026)
7. Cleveland Development Advisors - Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative: https://www.clevelanddevelopmentadvisors.com/edi/ (Accessed March 2026)
8. Charity Navigator - Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund Inc Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/461051875 (Accessed March 2026)
9. CDFI Coalition - Cleveland Development Advisors Community Reinvestment Fund: https://cdfi.org/cdfi-branch/cleveland-development-advisors-community-reinvestment-fund/ (Accessed March 2026)
10. Greater Cleveland Partnership - Making Real Estate Visions a Reality: CLE EDI 2025 Cohort Winners: https://greatercle.com/blog/gcp-news/making-real-estate-visions-a-reality-cle-edi-2025-cohort-winners/ (Accessed March 2026)