June 11, 2025 – Oakland, CA – Housing Trust Silicon Valley, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) committed to advancing equitable and affordable housing across the greater Bay Area, today announced the launch of its new pilot initiative, the Capital for Capacity Grant Program. This program provides grants of up to $50,000 to community-based housing developers to build organizational capacity and increase their long-term access to capital needed for impactful affordable housing development.
Developers often face significant barriers in securing funding to grow their operations and deliver meaningful community impact. The Capital for Capacity Grant Program addresses these challenges by supporting improvements in areas including financial management systems, staff expertise, project management capabilities, and partnership development. Over 12 to 18 months, Housing Trust will work closely with grantees to track clear goals and benchmarks while facilitating peer networking opportunities to foster shared learning and sector-wide growth.
“This critical investment from Housing Trust will allow Black Cultural Zone CDC to strengthen our real estate team, streamline our systems, and focus on scaling community-led development in East Oakland at a pivotal time in our growth,” said Carolyn Johnson, CEO of Black Cultural Zone, a grantee in the inaugural cohort program.
Funded by First Citizens Bank, The Wells Fargo Foundation, U.S. Bank, and Chinatrust Banking Corporation, the program provides a tailored approach to capacity building, with each grantee identifying the uses that best meet their unique needs. By building stronger internal systems, grantees will enhance their creditworthiness and competitiveness for future investments and larger development opportunities.
The first cohort includes Black Cultural Zone (East Oakland), The Unity Council (Oakland), Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Community Housing Development Corporation (Richmond/Bay Area), and the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza (San Jose).
“At Housing Trust, we recognize that the strength of our region’s affordable housing ecosystem is rooted in the capacity of community-based developers who are deeply connected to the neighborhoods they serve,” said Noni Ramos, CEO of Housing Trust Silicon Valley. “With the support of our funders, our new Capital for Capacity Grant Program enables us to invest in the long-term success of emerging developers—ensuring that more affordable housing projects can move from vision to reality across the Bay Area.”
For more information about Housing Trust’s developer financing initiatives and our commitment to building equitable, affordable communities, visit www.housingtrust.org.
About Housing Trust Silicon Valley
Housing Trust Silicon Valley is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to transforming housing finance and leveraging public-private partnerships to build more equitable, inclusive, and affordable communities. Since 2000, Housing Trust has invested nearly $645 million in programs supporting individuals across the housing spectrum—from those experiencing homelessness to renters and first-time homebuyers—creating over 27,580 affordable housing opportunities and serving more than 51,700 people throughout the region. Together with our partners, we have leveraged $8.3 billion.
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