For more than 25 years, In Our Own Voices (IOOV) has stood as a beacon of hope, advocacy, and empowerment for LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities throughout New York’s Capital Region and beyond. Founded in 1998 as a grassroots movement, the organization has grown into one of the Capital Region’s most impactful organizations dedicated to serving individuals who have historically been overlooked, underserved, and underrepresented.
The organization’s story began with a simple but urgent need. LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals often found themselves navigating systems that lacked culturally responsive services, affirming spaces, and meaningful support. Community advocates recognized that people deserved more than just resources—they deserved a place where they could feel safe, valued, and understood. From that vision, In Our Own Voices was established.
Today, the vision continues to grow. IOOV has evolved from a small community-driven initiative into a nationally recognized organization serving thousands of individuals annually. Along the way, the organization has expanded its services to address the many challenges facing LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities. From HIV and STI prevention and testing to housing navigation, anti-violence advocacy, mental health support, youth leadership development, senior services and community-building events, IOOV has consistently worked to meet people where they are and provide pathways toward stability, wellness, and self-determination.
As the needs of their community continued to evolve, leaders at IOOV imagined a permanent space, an LGBTQ+ Community Empowerment and Equity Center, that would bring together critical services, community programming, supportive housing, wellness initiatives and opportunities for empowerment under one roof. However, they faced significant barriers when pursuing the capital needed to expand. Like many nonprofit organizations serving historically marginalized populations, securing capital for a large-scale project proved difficult due to rising construction costs, limited access to flexible funding and the hesitancy from traditional lenders.
That is where the Community Loan Fund once again became an important partner in IOOV’s journey. Recognizing both the importance of IOOV’s mission and the long-term value of investing in community-driven solutions, the Community Loan Fund provided not only financing but also guidance, technical assistance, and partnership throughout the lending process. That support helped IOOV strengthen project planning, better understand financing strategies, and move forward with confidence. In 2015, CLF supported IOOV by providing financing for building renovations and repairs at their current location, which will be expanded by the creation of the new Center. More importantly, CLF provided a mission-aligned funding source that understood the unique challenges faced by organizations working to advance equity and social justice.
Today, because of support from the Community Loan Fund, the LGBTQ+ Community Empowerment and Equity Center is moving closer to becoming a reality. Once completed, the Center will provide community gathering space, supportive housing opportunities, youth programming, wellness services, and access to critical resources that many LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals have struggled to find elsewhere. The Center represents far more than a building, it represents safety, opportunity, belonging, and a future where community members can access the support they need in a space built for them.
The continued partnership between IOOV and the Community Loan Fund demonstrates why access to mission-driven capital is so important. Community organizations often possess the vision, expertise, and trust necessary to create meaningful change, but without equitable access to funding, many transformative projects remain unrealized. By investing in organizations like IOOV, the Community Loan Fund helps remove barriers, strengthen communities, and create opportunities that benefit generations to come. Read more about the impact of IOOV on their website.
