CommonBond Communities announces largest campaign in organization’s history

$65 million campaign will enhance support, services, and reach of the organization’s mission

Since 1971, CommonBond Communities has been synonymous with stable homes, strong futures, and vibrant communities across the Upper Midwest. More than 50 years later, the need for affordable housing remains, and renters in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota are facing new and greater challenges.   

“Now is the time to invest in affordable housing and services,” said Deidre Schmidt, CommonBond president and CEO.    

CommonBond has launched “Framing the Future: People, Places, Progress.” The multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign aims to raise $65 million to enhance and build affordable homes and support services.    

Already, an historic $57 million has been raised.   

“Our neighbors are at risk of being left behind,” added Schmidt. “Everyone deserves a place to call home, but that is becoming out of reach for many. Home is not just a building—it’s a place of stability and community. That’s what this campaign is all about.”   

CommonBond’s unique approach to affordable housing is people-focused, providing stable, comfortable homes with a range of programs and support services available to all residents. The organization prioritizes housing stability and eviction prevention, and their unique Advantage Services offer education opportunities, employment and career support, health and wellness options, and much more directly to residents.   

Adapting to ever changing needs of residents is at the core of CommonBond’s Advantage Services programming, which aims to keep residents housed and independent. “The past few years have been incredibly challenging for residents we serve,” said Alecia Leonard, vice president of Advantage Services at CommonBond.  

“Their needs today are not the same as they were in 2019 or 2020. For example, the cost of living is rising but wages are not keeping pace. As a result, we are seeing increased requests for support with basic needs like food. As service providers, we need to be agile and adapt to best serve the community.”  

CommonBond’s new campaign will bring opportunities to thousands of other residents, each with their own story waiting to be written.  

“This campaign will allow us to preserve, develop, and reinvest in affordable homes,” said Schmidt. The campaign has already supported properties like The Lumin, CommonBond’s newest property in St. Paul specifically designed to support older adults with low incomes. Solidly constructed, full of amenities, and conveniently located in the hottest new neighborhood, The Lumin is changing perceptions of what affordable housing can look like.   

The average household income of adults over 55 living in a CommonBond community is around $16,000. For older adults living on a fixed income, finding a home that meets their needs can be a challenge. The Lumin provides 60 units of affordable housing for adults 62 and older, filling a vital need in the highly desirable Highland Bridge neighborhood.   

 In May, CommonBond opened Rise on 7, a one-of-a-kind 120-unit affordable housing community in St. Louis Park. At Rise, CommonBond has partnered with nonprofit Rise Early Learning and Way to Grow to provide the state’s first combined housing and childcare community.   

 “When we joined the St. Louis Park neighborhood, our focus was on building partnerships and learning from the organizations already in that community,” said Schmidt. “We are investing in childcare and education because that’s what residents are asking for.”

CommonBond is meeting an immediate need for working families and supporting a strong future for the community.  

 “We feel the community behind us in this campaign,” said Schmidt. “More than 85 percent of CommonBond’s funding is from philanthropy. We are excited and grateful to have our community join us in this campaign.”