Historic Timeline
From an idea to reality…
- 1984: Planning began for Michigan Housing Trust Fund (MHTF) via the Michigan Housing Coalition funded by a grant of $125,600 from Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
- 1985: MHTF is incorporated.
- 1986: Capitalization of MHTF began (first loan received from Adrian Dominican Sisters).
- 1987: MHTF made its first loan to Salem Housing Task Force.
- Planning began for what would become the Bishop H. Coleman McGehee Economic Justice Fund.
- 1988: MHTF hires its first paid staff.
- Bishop H. Coleman McGehee brings plan for an Economic Justice Ministry to the National Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in Detroit.
- 1989: The convention of the Diocese of Michigan creates an Economic Justice Commission (EJC) whose first priority was a development of a community loan fund. The Trustees of the Diocese and the Economic Justice Commission established the Bishop H. Coleman McGehee Economic Justice Fund.
- MHTF begins providing technical support in partnership with Michigan LISC, Michigan Housing Coalition, Development Training Institute, and Habitat for Humanity-Michigan.
- 1990: MHTF founding Executive Director leaves. The Trust Fund hires its second Executive Director and formalizes its Technical Assistance program.
- EJC and McGehee Fund receive grant from Lilly Endowment with a matching component from the National Church and the Diocese to assist three Detroit nonprofits with advance planning for successful bootstrap operations.
- 1991: MHTF reaches $1 million+ in cumulative affordable housing loans.
- 1992: McGehee Fund holds first Celebration Dinner.
- MHTF sponsors its first rural conference.
- 1993: McGehee Fund makes first business development loan to Core City Neighborhoods and first nonprofit facility loan to St. Francis Episcopal Church in Grayling for a community counseling center.
- MHTF revises mission to focus more clearly on the social justice reasons for assisting with affordable housing development.
- 1994: Interfaith investment received from the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Detroit by the McGehee Fund.
- MHTF committed $1 Million to Detroit’s new Empowerment Zone application.
- 1995: New Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan maintains its participation in McGehee Fund.
- MHTF celebrates 10-year anniversary.
- 1996: The Trustees of the Diocese of Michigan resolve to transition the McGehee Fund to become an Interfaith Fund.
- MHTF receives certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
- 1997: MHTF Executive Director leaves and Fund hires third Director.
- McGehee Fund receives grant from Community Foundation to hire part-time loan officer.
- 1998: McGehee reaches $1 Million+ in investments with MHTF.
- 1999: MHTF receives first award from CDFI Fund.
- Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan makes first investment in McGehee Fund.
- 2000: The Michigan McGehee Interfaith Loan Fund is incorporated with a new Board of Directors.
- MHTF begins planning with four other Lansing-based nonprofits for a comprehensive shared office space.
- 2001: McGehee Fund relocates to community-based building, hires additional full-time staff (fund development and loan officer) and celebrates 10 years.
- MHTF commissions comprehensive organizational review, retains Rennslearville Institute, and begins new strategic planning process.
- 2002: MHTF relocates Lansing headquarters, establishes Detroit office, and receives second award from CDFI Fund.
- McGehee Interfaith Fund receives official transfer of assets and liabilities from Trustees of the Diocese of Michigan.
- Discussions begin regarding possibility of merge.
- A dual task force is founded to explore merge.
- Founding Executive Director of McGehee Fund retires.
- 2004: WE MERGE! The new Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund is formed.
