How It Works

From donation to deed — here's the path.

The Equitable Homeownership Fund uses a transparent, community-funded structure to turn charitable donations into pre-purchase mortgage guarantees for qualified families.

The Structure

Donations → SPV → Guarantee → Home

Your donation flows through a transparent, legally structured Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that issues the mortgage guarantee. Here's how each piece connects.

Your Donation

Tax-deductible charitable gift

→

EHF (501c3)

Nonprofit holds & deploys funds

→

SPV

Issues the mortgage guarantee

→

Qualified Buyer

Closes on their home

→

Homeownership

Generational wealth begins

Step by Step

The journey from giving to keys.

1

Community members donate to the Fund

Donors of any amount contribute to the Equitable Homeownership Fund via our secure donation platform. All donations are charitable contributions — not investments — and are fully tax-deductible. The Fund's initial goal is $250,000 to launch its first guarantee cohort.

2

The Fund deploys capital to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)

The Fund channels contributed capital into a legally structured Special Purpose Vehicle. The SPV is the entity that holds the financial reserves needed to guarantee individual mortgages. The SPV structure ensures clear separation between charitable assets and guarantee obligations.

3

Qualified buyers are identified and underwritten

Applicants are evaluated through a rigorous credit underwriting process. We look for families with the income, credit history, and capacity to sustain homeownership — the gap we are filling is the guarantee, not the creditworthiness. Priority is given to applicants from disadvantaged communities historically excluded from homeownership.

4

The SPV issues a pre-purchase mortgage guarantee

Here is what makes this program unique: the guarantee is issued before the purchase closes. This is a pre-purchase guarantee — the only one of its kind currently available in the market. Traditional programs guarantee after the fact; we underwrite the family before they go to contract, giving lenders the confidence to close.

5

The family closes on their home

With the guarantee in place, the buyer works with a participating lender to close on their home using a standard mortgage product. The guarantee backs the mortgage, enabling lenders to approve buyers they otherwise could not serve within their existing credit frameworks.

6

Donors are recognized and updated

All donors receive their Certificate of Thanks and are listed on our public Donor Wall. Donors at the Foundation Friend level and above receive cohort impact updates showing exactly what their contribution helped fund. We do not share identifying information about individual homebuyers.

What Makes Us Different

Pre-purchase, not post-purchase.

Most mortgage guarantee programs work retroactively — they provide coverage after a loan has already been originated. This still leaves the hard part to the buyer: finding a lender willing to approve them without that guarantee already in hand.

The Equitable Homeownership Fund issues its guarantee before the purchase closes. This changes everything. Lenders see a guaranteed loan from the start, which opens credit channels that would otherwise be closed to these buyers.

We are the only pre-purchase mortgage guarantee program of this type currently on the market.

A pair of house keys in an outstretched hand
Disclosures

Important information for donors.

Donations, Not Investments

Contributions to the Equitable Homeownership Fund are charitable donations. They are not securities, investments, or financial instruments of any kind. Donors receive no financial return, no equity, no ownership, and no economic interest in the Fund, the SPV, or any guaranteed mortgage.

No Refunds

Donations are irrevocable charitable contributions and are not refundable. All funds received are dedicated to the Fund's charitable mission. If a fundraising goal is not reached, funds remain with the Fund and are applied to its mission.

Independent Organization

The Equitable Homeownership Fund is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It is legally and operationally separate from any technology platform or for-profit entity. Charitable assets are governed by the Fund's independent board of directors.

Tax Deductibility

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Fund's EIN will be published upon receipt of IRS determination. Donors are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific treatment of charitable contributions.

FAQ

Questions about the guarantee program

PMI protects the lender after a loan is originated and is paid by the borrower as an ongoing premium. Our pre-purchase mortgage guarantee is issued before the loan is made and is funded by charitable donations — not by the borrower. It is a fundamentally different instrument that unlocks access to credit rather than insuring an existing loan.
The guarantee program is currently in development as we build our initial capital base. Once the Fund reaches its initial fundraising goal and the guarantee program launches, application information will be available on this website. Please contact us to be added to our notification list.
Priority is given to applicants from communities historically excluded from homeownership — including low-to-moderate income (LMI) households, first-generation buyers, and communities of color. Geographic focus and specific eligibility criteria will be published when the program launches.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, in the event of dissolution, the Fund's remaining assets must be distributed to another qualifying nonprofit organization with a similar charitable mission. Assets cannot be returned to donors or distributed to any private individual.