For Marcia Griffin, Founder & CEO of HomeFree-USA, expanding access to homeownership starts with collaboration.
HomeFree-USA prepares aspiring homeowners with the education and resources they need to build lasting financial capability and achieve homeownership.That mission depends on bringing together organizations that share a commitment to helping people succeed.
“We really need to come together,” Griffin said.”We need to talk about how we can work together to reach the homebuyers we all want to serve, help them get approved and move them into homeownership.”
According to Griffin, meaningful partnerships extend beyond organizational boundaries.
“I don’t care whether you’re a nonprofit, a for-profit, government or whomever,” she said. “We’re all in the people business.”
That shared focus requires understanding how to reach people and recognize the unique needs of different communities.
Building partnerships with purpose
When evaluating potential partners, Griffin values more thanexpertise.She looks for organizations that combine innovation, data-driventhinkingand a genuine commitment to serving people.
“Experian is really a perfect example for us, certainly of an ideal partner,” Griffin said. “Corporate executives who are smart, innovative, caring, openabout business,openabout data, and who have the breadth of understanding that there are all kinds of people in this world.”
For Griffin, those qualities help organizations better understand how to engage,educateand support diverse populations.
Empowering financial success
One of the most significant examples of thepartnership isHomeFree-USA’s Center for Financial Advancement (CFA), which provides financial education and resources that help consumers build credit, improve financialcapabilityand prepare for homeownership.According to Griffin, Experian supports the organization across many of its initiatives.
“Experian works with us, with CFA, our Center for Financial Advancement, in just about everything that we do,” she said. “Honestly, we could not have CFA without Experian.”
Griffin saysthecollaboration has helpedHomeFree-USA expand financial education opportunities on college campuses, includingHistorically BlackColleges andUniversities(HBCUs).
“Our ability to go on campuses across thiscountry(with B.A.L.L. For Life™), many of whom areHBCUswho have never had this kind of exposure to credit, to finances, tomoney, to homeownership,” Griffin said. “We bring all of this together through Experian.”
For Griffin, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to strengthening communities alongside businesses.
“Experian’s desire to impact communities and people—not just businesses, but to impact all of us—is felt, is heard, and is being delivered very well.”
About HomeFree-USA
HomeFree-USA is a HUD-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps individuals and families prepare for and sustain homeownership through housing counseling, financial education and foreclosure prevention services. Founded in 1995, the organization works with a nationwide network of community partners to expand access to financial knowledge and support long-term economic opportunity.
Learn more at https://homefreeusa.org/
