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The Pacific, a blue affordable apartment complex built by the Vancouver Housing Initiative with the help of SIIFT funding

SWIIFT Initiative

Support lasting social impact, while growing our region’s charitable assets by allocating funds toward the Southwest Washington Impact Investment Fund for Transformation.
Invest in SWIIFT
An illustration depicting the thriving community made possible through the SWIIFT Initiative sits atop the letters S W I I F T.

What is SWIIFT?

The SWIIFT Initiative is an impact investing strategy that puts philanthropic dollars to work in greater ways. By providing low-interest loans to high-impact projects, we scale tangible community benefits. These investments build affordable housing faster and unlock major funding streams to address local needs. As loans are repaid, your charitable assets generate returns that can be reinvested into the community, time and time again.
Invest in SWIIFT

How SWIIFT Works

Our innovative approach recycles charitable capital to create lasting impact.
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A graphic depicting how SWIIFT investments recirculate for ongoing community impact.

1. Invest

Donors and fundholders choose one of two ways to invest in the SWIIFT Initiative based on their goals.

Invest in SWIIFT

2. Finance

The Community Foundation disburses low-interest loans to finance projects led by nonprofits and housing providers.

3. Impact

Borrowers use loans to accelerate affordable housing development, scale effective programs and attract additional funding to our region.

4. Repeat

Repaid loans generate returns that are reinvested in SWIIFT OR returned to your Donor Advised Fund after 5 years.

A venn diagram illustrating how impact investing blends financial returns with community benefits.

What is impact investing?

Impact investing is a strategy that aims to generate positive social impact alongside a financial return. While traditional investing is focused on financial returns and philanthropy aims for social returns, impact investing sits in the middle ground. By directing loans to projects and organizations that address critical community needs—such as affordable housing and nonprofit capacity building—impact investments create meaningful change and modest growth in a sustainable way.

Why SWIIFT?

Supporting the SWIIFT Initiative means making a meaningful impact while earning a modest return on your charitable assets. Here are a few reasons why you should add your support.

Local Focus

Put your charitable dollars to work through low-interest loans to local organizations addressing critical community needs.

Accelerate Impact

Complement traditional grantmaking by providing short-term loans that help organizations move projects forward faster.

Sustainable Model

Our revolving loan model ensures continuous impact and reinvestment for transformative change.

Ready to make an impact?

There are two ways donors can support the SWIIFT Initiative. Choose how you want to help transform southwest Washington today!

Donor Advised Funds

Request a consultation to discuss how you can use a Donor Advised Fund to invest in the SWIIFT Initiative.

Schedule a Meeting

Direct Donations

Anyone can make an online gift to support the SWIIFT Initiative and its ongoing impact investments in perpetuity.

Press

Read about our SWIIFT Initiative in the news.
A blue affordable housing apartment building in Vancouver, WA

Community Foundation launches loan program to help nonprofits build affordable housing

The Columbian

Venn Diagram showing the area of overlap between Financial Return on Charitable Assets and Community Benefit, which is Impact Investing

Community Foundation for Southwest Washington Set to Launch Impact Investments for Community Growth

Vancouver Business Journal