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FHO Impact Snapshot: FY2026

Updated: 3 days ago


Nearly ten years ago, a group of funders came together around the belief that through collaboration, they could have a greater impact than any one funder could alone. Since then, FHO has approved over 145 grants totaling more than $31 million. FHO members have separately contributed at least an additional $16.6 million in aligned funding to these organizations. In FY26, FHO approved 21 new and/or renewal grants totaling nearly $3 million.


In this year's Impact Snapshot, we highlight progress across FHO's grantmaking and work to align philanthropy behind complementary strategies that move us closer to a just and equitable housing system, from organizing wins to rapid response funding to meet the moment.




A letter from FHO Executive Director Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie:


At a time when American democracy is being tested, federal housing programs with proven track records are deprioritized, effective responses to homelessness are under attack, and inequities are widening, housing philanthropy is at a crossroads. This year, federal agencies moved to strip housing assistance from mixed-status immigrant families, expand the criminalization of homelessness, and unwind decades of progress in fair housing enforcement and community investment, even as rents, insurance costs, and displacement pressures keep climbing nationwide.


Stable housing is the foundation for thriving lives—it connects people to opportunity, health, education, and community. Across ideologies and sectors, there is broad agreement on the importance of having a place to call home. Where we may differ is how to get there.


America’s housing system was built on a foundation of inequality, from redlining and land theft to persistent wage gaps, leaving far too many people one crisis away from losing their homes or shut out entirely. Any serious response must contend with that history while meeting urgent needs today and driving long-term change.


The passage of the historic 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this summer and new investments in housing production and preservation are encouraging—much of it focused on increasing supply. We do need more homes. But supply alone will not ensure affordability or stability for everyone, especially people with the lowest incomes. Without the right policies and protections, the benefits of new housing are uneven, and too many people are left behind.


At the same time, nonprofit housing developers and operators are under growing strain, facing rising costs and funding gaps as they work to keep residents in their homes.


A complex problem requires a comprehensive approach. We need to build and preserve more housing and also ensure it is affordable and accessible. That means pairing new supply with tenant protections, support and subsidies for nonprofit and mission-driven owners, and policies that preserve long-term affordability and foster strong communities.


At the Fund for Housing and Opportunity, we see every day how collaboration strengthens this work, creating space for honest dialogue and enabling coordinated investments that reflect the complexity of housing systems. Our shared goal is clear: safe housing for all.


As we enter our tenth year as a funder collaborative and refresh our strategy, we are grounding our approach in both evidence and equity. Our data shows progress, and our partners tell us that how we fund—flexibly, respectfully, and in true partnership—sets us apart. We’ve also engaged Community Advisors to ensure our work draws insights from people with lived experiences of housing insecurity and advances inclusive practices.


This moment calls for urgency but also alignment across differences. Together, we can build not just more housing, but a housing system that delivers dignity, and opportunity for everyone.

A N








If you’d like more information about the organizations FHO supported in FY26,

 
 
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