About SELF
SELF is a mission-driven nonprofit lender that helps families, Housing Developers, local governments, and community partners finance projects that focus on making homes and communities healthier, safer, resilient, and more affordable.
Empowering Underserved Communities
We provide affordable financing for single-family home upgrades, new green and affordable housing development, commercial solar and EV infrastructure, and water quality projects.
Our work is rooted in serving low- and moderate-income households and communities that are often overlooked by traditional financing. By combining mission-aligned capital, community partnerships, contractor networks, and practical underwriting, SELF helps families, housing providers, local governments, and community partners complete projects that improve quality of life, reduce energy burdens, and strengthen long-term resilience.
As SELF grows, our focus remains clear: expand access to financing where it creates measurable community impact, supports climate resilience, and strengthens the long-term sustainability of the communities we serve.
Our mission is to build thriving, sustainable communities by providing equitable access to capital that strengthens resilience, improves affordability, and advances financial inclusion for households, businesses, and nonprofits.
Our History
Founded in 2009 by St. Lucie County, Florida, SELF was initially established with a small grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The organization was created to address demand for accessible financing solutions for low- and moderate-income homeowners looking to make sustainable home improvements. By 2013, we transitioned into an independent nonprofit ‘green’ CDFI, continuing our mission as a standalone entity.
Over the years, we broadened our scope to support a wider range of housing and community development initiatives. Today, we support over a dozen nonprofit lenders with a ‘white label’ lending platform that helps them deploy capital to LMI communities for energy efficiency and clean energy projects.
As a certified CDFI, SELF has gained national recognition for promoting environmental sustainability and economic development, and for helping communities build resilience and achieve long-term economic and environmental benefits.
SELF envisions a nation where every person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to live and work in safe, healthy communities from where they can build their dreams, their communities, and thrive.
Our Impact
Since its inception, SELF has helped thousands of families and property owners improve their living conditions, lower utility costs, and contribute to a healthier planet. Our impact extends beyond financial benefits, fostering economic mobility, reducing carbon emissions, and strengthening community resilience against climate-related challenges.
Leadership
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Jose Enrique Rodriguez Martinez
View Bio: Jose Enrique Rodriguez MartinezSAGE & Commercial Lending Sr. Officer
Board Members
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Valerie Dekle Slack AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
View Bio: Valerie Dekle Slack AIA, NCARB, LEED APBoard Member
