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Community Giving, Local Real Estate, Your OlyFed

OlyFed Partners with FHLB of Des Moines to Award $20,000 to South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity

Member Impact Fund Grant program supports affordable housing and community development

Olympia Federal Savings (OlyFed), in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), is pleased to announce that South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity has received a $20,000 grant from the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund. This matching grant program, which was introduced in 2023, will provide nearly $12 million to eligible Washington organizations to strengthen communities in targeted areas of FHLB Des Moines’ district.

“We are honored and grateful to be the recipient of these grant funds, which will be used to further the development of our Tâlícn community in Tumwater,” Elizabeth Walker, SPSHFH CEO said.

“When completed this neighborhood will provide homeownership opportunities for 28 families with three- and four-bedroom townhomes built to Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards.”

OlyFed has been a proud sponsor of South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity for decades and this $20,000 contribution is in addition to the $10,000 OlyFed donated to the organization earlier this year. The local community bank has also helped with the financing for the land acquisition and development for the Tâlícn neighborhood and for years has been a mortgage lending partner for SPSHFH homebuyers. As part of its Neighbor2Neighbor program, each year OlyFed also designates funds to SPSHFH every time they close on a new home loan.

Jennifer Arnold“Together we have been dedicated to affordable housing and community development initiatives that have helped hundreds of people and families become homeowners that otherwise would not have had the opportunity,” Jennifer Arnold, OlyFed Chief Operating Officer and SPSHFH Board Member said.

“These dollars from OlyFed and the FHLB of Des Moines will play a critical role in further advancing our ability to help more of our community realize the dream and benefits of owning their own home.”

“Homeownership means stability, community, the opportunity to build wealth and to access capital through equity,” Arnold continued. “These are key differentiators when it comes to improving education levels, health outcomes and our overall quality of life. It is so inspiring to see the positive impact we can have when we work together and collaborate on meaningful solutions.”

L to R: SPSHFH Board President, Janine Ezzell; SPSHFH CEO, Elizabeth Walker; and SPSHFH Board Member and OlyFed COO, Jennifer Arnold.

 

ABOUT THE FHLB OF DES MOINES & THE MEMBER IMPACT FUND

FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions and liquidity to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund provides $3 for every $1 of an eligible FHLB Des Moines member’s grant donation to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to serve the affordable housing or community development needs of their communities. The Member Impact Fund awards are given in partnership with member financial institutions to communities in their districts to become more vibrant places to live and work.

The Member Impact Fund is part of FHLB Des Moines’ ongoing mission to offer a variety of funding options through its members to support affordable housing and community development needs. Kris Williams, President and CEO of FHLB Des Moines, shares, “We are thrilled to see grants from our Member Impact Fund having a direct, positive impact on the communities in which our members help advance affordable housing and community development needs in a meaningful way.”

In 2024, the Member Impact Fund matching program supported organizations located in Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Member institutions in these locations submitted applications in 2024; funds were distributed directly to the member institution, which then provide the funding alongside a matching grant from FHLB Des Moines for the partner/recipient organization.

Recipient organizations were selected based on the needs for grant funding to support capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs including job training, affordable housing, financial literacy, food banks and youth programs.

FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com.