In this episode of Hustle Harder, James sits down with Tiffany Taylor and Aloni Harris to explore the mission-driven work of the C3 Impact Fund, a subsidiary of Renovo Financial and a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). They share personal stories, the transformative role of C3 in underserved communities, and the ways they’re using real estate to close the wealth gap, create jobs, and revitalize neighborhoods.

Key Points from This Episode

[00:00:23] – Welcome and introduction to Tiffany and Aloni

[00:01:54] – What C3 Impact Fund is and the mission behind the work

[00:03:07] – What a CDFI is and why it exists

[00:06:06] – C3’s origins and the meaning behind the name

[00:07:58] – Lending focus, loan types, and differences from Renovo

[00:09:52] – How C3 expands access to capital with flexible underwriting

[00:11:22] – Tiffany’s personal story of housing insecurity and community ties

[00:17:29] – CRA explained: how banks support C3’s mission through impact investing

[00:19:41] – Aloni’s background, identity journey, and introduction to CDFIs

[00:26:55] – Launching the Real + Rehab mentorship program

[00:28:56] – Educational support, capital access, and building investor pipelines

[00:30:56] – Teaching wealth-building strategies post-renovation

[00:33:00] – How the Cook County Land Bank helps unlock affordable inventory

[00:34:23] – Tiffany’s background in banking and raising capital through CRA

[00:38:01] – What banks look for when investing in CDFIs

[00:41:01] – C3’s current markets and strategy for expanding nationally

[00:44:12] – Aloni’s site visits and local borrower engagement

[00:45:39] – Key impact numbers: $70M in originations, 4,000+ jobs, 500+ units

[00:47:01] – New construction success story: transforming West Woodlawn

[00:50:15] – How these investments set new comps and change neighborhood perception

[00:52:44] – What’s next: goals for capital, growth, and investor diversification

[00:55:14] – Client story: from taxi fleet to developer through C3 mentorship

[01:00:00] – Final reflections and team appreciation

[01:01:10] – How to connect with Tiffany and Aloni

Links

Renovo Financial - https://renovofinancial.com/

James Gaskin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-gaskin-b675593/