About Us
Building Communities from Within: Empowering the Next Generation of Local Developers
The Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) is a community-anchored program designed to empower local real estate developers through technical, networking, and financial resources. By fostering collaboration among its members and providing access to capital and industry experts, CDR strengthens the local development ecosystem and ensures that neighborhood growth is inclusive and responsive to resident needs.
Our Cohorts
From our inaugural Dallas pilot to our recent expansion into Fort Worth, these cohorts represent the evolving reach of the CDR network and the collective power of community-anchored real estate.
Cohort 3 (Fort Worth)
Expanding our impact across the Metroplex, the Fort Worth Cohort consists of 9 local leaders dedicated to creating equitable housing and vibrant community amenities in the city’s most promising neighborhoods.
Cohort 2
This specialized group of 7 developers focused exclusively on the residential sector, utilizing the program's resources to accelerate the delivery of high-quality, attainable single-family homeownership opportunities.
Cohort 1
Our inaugural cohort of 15 developers set the foundation for the CDR mission, advancing over $18 million in development value to jumpstart transformative residential and commercial projects across Dallas.
CDR Program Overview
Here is a breakdown of the CDR program, detailing how we combine technical expertise with peer-to-peer collaboration to strengthen the local development ecosystem across North Texas:
Who?
The Community Developers Roundtable is a program that provides a developer-led structure to a select group of experienced nonprofit and for-profit real estate professionals. Our mission is to help developers scale their businesses and advance projects that address housing affordability and community-focused commercial development. This is accomplished through monthly sessions, targeted financial resources, professional coaching, and networking opportunities with other practitioners.
How?
Through targeted partnerships, tailored financial resources, and monthly sessions, the CDR provides a longer-term, developer-led structure. This allows participants to engage with established practitioners, share resources, stay informed on local policy, and align opportunities for catalytic real estate development. The program is designed to help developers scale their organizations and advance projects that build lasting community wealth.
Why?
Participants in the Roundtable gain access to key resources designed to help them scale their businesses and projects. This includes a dedicated pre-development fund with flexible terms, rates, and repayment. Additionally, participants receive dedicated funding for staff training, professional coaching, and organizational feasibility studies.
Who is Eligible?
Participants must have a minimum of 2 years of real estate development experience and either have completed projects or a demonstrated pipeline of existing assets. The goal is for participants to scale their organizations.
TARGETED PRODUCT TYPES:
- Affordable Housing: Single-family homes for buyers earning up to 120% of AMI.
- Multifamily Housing: Attainable for renters earning up to 80% AMI
- Commercial Real Estate:
Projects in underserved or distressed communities
Session Structure
From intensive workshops to site tours and networking dinners, our session framework is intentionally designed to move participants through every critical stage of the development lifecycle.
CDR Funding
The CDR partners with BCL of Texas to manage, underwrite, and administer a dedicated pre-development fund for our members.
This partnership leverages BCL's existing fund structure to ensure our developers have access to flexible capital.
Eligible uses for these funds include:
- Acquisition
- Market analysis and appraisals
- Environmental assessments
- Site plans and surveys
- Architectural and engineering plans
- Permitting
- Infrastructure
- Site development
Loan Amount:
$25,000 – $100,000 /
Term: 18 months, with options for renewal
Forgivable Note:
A percentage of the loan may be forgiven if key project milestones are met.
Additional Benefits
The CDR provides additional resources to help participants strengthen their organizations.
Staff Development Resource Pool
Access matching-grant funding of up to $1,500 per staff member to increase your organization's internal capacity for growth.
2022-2024 Pilot Program Results
Impact Report
Since its launch in September 2022, the Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) Pilot Program has significantly elevated the impact of 22 community-oriented real estate developers in Dallas. This two-year initiative has successfully empowered its members with vital technical, networking, and financial resources, fostering their growth in business, skills, and community impact.
This collaborative approach led to remarkable collective impacts. Click on the button below to view the full report.
Innovan Team
The Innovan Team is the driving force behind Community Developers Roundtable.
They are the dedicated leadership committed to fulfilling the CDR's mission, ensuring that every participant receives tailored access to flexible financial resources, expert technical assistance, and a high-caliber network.
Maggie Parker
Mary Wells
Olympia Newman
Consulting Partner:
