Community development intermediary systems in the United States: Origins, evolution, and functions

Acting between the forceful capital market and the state, community development intermediaries are finding ways to assist resource-poor community development organizations to increase production volume and to gain access to a wider capital and political market. This article presents a brief historical review of how the intermediary system originated and how it has evolved into different large-scale models since the 1960s. The philosophies and programs of three major intermediary organizations-the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, The Enterprise Foundation, and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation-are considered. The article concludes by recognizing the contributions of intermediaries while raising issues with their accountability and future direction.