About Us

Committee Members, 2010-2011 Marti Barnes, Associate S. Pat Marie Bernard S. Mary Catherine Faller S. Agnes Ann Gardt S. Franette Hyc S. Carol Leveque Tim Moller, ex-officio S. Irene Mraz S. Ruth Ann Rody S. Helen Therese Scasny Dave Thorsen, ex-officio S. Martha Walsh,     ex-officio S. Clarann Weinert S. Marie Josetta     Wethington What is the Seton Enablement Fund? The Seton Enablement Fund is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, who through their Vision Statement are “committed to live simply in a complex world, committed to the healing of our global home, and to learn from and stand in solidarity with the poor.” The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati have a long tradition of responding in faith to human needs. The Seton Enablement Fund, a low-interest revolving loan fund, is a contemporary expression of this faith commitment. Since 1979 a portion of the congregation’s unrestricted funds has been set aside to provide low-interest loans to organizations and projects unable to qualify for conventional financing. This Seton Enablement Fund now assists just fewer than 100 not for profit organizations in 30 st ates and the District of Columbia. Several of the organizations th at are assisted serve needs in Central and South America, in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Through the Seton Enablement Fund the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati hope to enable the economically disadvantaged to develop themselves and their communities. The simple living and wise stewardship of many generations of Sisters of Charity make this sharing of resources possible.

 

About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Application Form

 

SINCE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM (1979) Cumulative Number of Loans/Investments= 320 Cumulative Dollars Loaned/Invested= $19,578,000

 

LOANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance (DCPA) attempts to fill the gaps in services left by the closing of 35 city churches. Five programs were formed to operate under their auspices: Housing, Economic Development, Anti-Racism Training, Community Action and Senior Network. Currently DCPA’s membership includes 14 churches and more than 500 parish members and residents of the Detroit, Mich., area.  Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund (L2523F) is a financial intermediary, motivated by faith, that offers investors a socially responsive means to serve low-income neighborhoods. The Fund provides flexible capital and financial services for the development of affordable housing and community facilities, especially child care centers.  

Global Partnerships was founded with the mission of expanding opportunity for people living in poverty, with a focus on women and rural popul ations. This is accomplished by collabor ating with microfinance institutions in six Latin American countries. These organiz ations are vetted by six n ative L atin American financial analysts based in Nicaragua. All these partners reinvest their profits back into their mission, whether it’s through lower cost of capital for their clients, the offering of social services such as health and educ ation, or through a more diverse set of financial products.

Colonias Development Council (CDC) provides community organizing support, social enterprises and affordable housing for colonia residents in southern New Mexico. CDC’s primary focus is community development through youth development, child care centers and adobe production.

The Disability Opportunity Fund initiates and financially supports programs that further the goals and needs of physically and mentally disabled adults and children within the community. The corporation will provide financial assistance in areas relating to: educational/vocational training, obtaining affordable housing and/or home ownership, as well as seeing to various basic financial needs and technical assistance.

Oikocredit USA is an international community development financial institution that seeks to alleviate poverty through income-generating loans to people living in poverty. Oikocredit also seeks capital to perform its mission from socially responsible investments primarily from religious constituencies.

Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, Inc. provides safe, decent, affordable housing for very low- to moderate-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities in order to promote their self-worth and dignity. They employ innovative techniques and solutions in delivering housing services that are of the highest quality.  

Workforce strengthens community primarily in the Indianapolis, Ind., area. This is being done with two goals in mind:

• To become the most comprehensive recycler in the state of Indiana; and
• To help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully re-enter society by providing paid employment and training complemented by a host of social services.

Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. (AHSTI) delivers products and services to a broader target popul ation while reducing overhead expenditures in South Texas. AHSTI currently has more than 63 million in assets with 41 million in equity in those assets.

Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC) provides microloans, business loans, short-term consumer loans, credit builder loans, auto loans, IDAs, financial education and credit counseling, and one-on-one customized business consultations to entrepreneurs.

Root Capital works solely with grassroots cooperatives in rural areas of the developing world. The small-holder farmers and artisans who belong to these producer cooperatives live in remote regions of Latin America, Africa and Asia, and most earn below $2 a day. Root’s mission is to fight rural poverty and conserve natural resources by supporting businesses that foster environmental stewardship and increase income and market access for those living in poverty.

The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund provides loans, training and business consulting to entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofit organizations throughout the state of New Mexico and the entire Navajo nation. Its services are focused toward hard-working, low- to middle-income people whose financing needs may not fit a bank’s lending guidelines.  

Foundation for the Challenged (FFC) is engaged in direct service programs and social change philanthropy to provide critical services to people with developmental disabilities; support capacity-building and sustainability for organizations serving people with developmental disabilities and that impact the everyday lives of this population; and strengthen the capability of developmental disabilities providers, advocates and funders to achieve lasting social change.  

Shared Interest is one of the most successful and impactful nonprofit investment funds working in South Africa. It has established an effective partner organization, the Thembani International Fund, with which it works to provide access to capital and technical assistance to microfinance institutions, small and growing businesses producing food in rural areas, and low-cost housing providers.

Holy Name Housing has been revitalizing neighborhoods in North Omaha by renovating and building homes that are sold to low- and moderate-income families. Loans allow them to acquire and develop property for sale.

Forge, Inc. helps businesses that provide services and stable employment opportunities to families living in rural areas, as well as assists low-income families to become homeowners.

The San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund is a loan fund and a certified Community Development Financial Institution. Its mission is to increase the supply of affordable housing for very low, low- and moderate-income households, including households with special needs.

 

 

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