Lift Orlando

Results: Since our founding in 2013, Lift Orlando has influenced more than $100 million in capital investments into the West Lakes community. We have done this by leveraging Low Income Housing Tax credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and strong partnerships. Located at the heart of the 32805 ZIP code, the West Lakes Community Campus is a 480-acre campus designed to reflect a holistic, master plan of tailored infrastructure, community, and support services. Facilities and programmatic resources established alongside partners include Pendana at West Lakes Apartments (200 mixed-income units with housing rates at 20% market rate, 70% affordable, and 10% low income); Pendana Senior Residences (120 affordable units for seniors age 62 or over); the West Lakes Early Learning Center (a state-of-the-art facility serving 152 children ages 6 weeks - 5 years old); the Jacqueline Bradley-Clarence Otis Boys & Girls Club (the largest club in Central Florida); the renovated and historic Lake Lorna Doone Park; the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center (a resident-focused health and wellness center that provides convenient access to holistic health, financial, and lifestyle services); the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center, the Small Business Institute, and West Lakes Market Street District. Per capita income in West Lakes has increased approximately $10,000 since our founding, childhood poverty has decreased from 54.8% in 2014 to 19.1% in 2021, and 400+ jobs have been created directly or indirectly from West Lakes Campus projects. During the 2022 community survey, 77.1% of residents surveyed felt positive about neighborhood changes, focusing on new building developments and positive changes in their neighborhood environment. As a result of our collaborative efforts, Lift Orlando was named Floridian of the Year by Florida Trend in 2021.

Target demographics: strengthening neighborhoods so people can thrive.

Geographic areas served: The Communities of West Lakes in Central Florida’s 32805 ZIP code.

Programs: Lift Orlando believes a community’s greatest asset is its people. We amplify the voice of residents by supporting them as agents of change, while investing in the places where they live, learn, work, and grow, as well as partnerships that help the whole community prosper. We strengthen neighborhoods through four organizational objectives: 1) Mixed-Income Housing: develop high-quality homes that are affordable for residents and attract families back to the neighborhood. 2) Cradle-to-Career Education Pathways: partner with local schools to deliver a high performing educational pathway beginning with early childhood all the way to promising careers. 3) Health and Wellness Services: provide a mix of high-quality facilities, programs, and services that enhance health, quality of life, and increase overall life expectancy. 4) Economic Viability Opportunities: stimulating the neighborhood economy through investments in employment and entrepreneurship programs that increase income levels for families. In recognizing that no single organization has the capacity to solve these complex challenges alone, with our partners, we leverage community assets for greater impact surrounding our organizational objectives. This Collective Impact approach includes five key components: common agenda, shared measurements, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a separate lead organization with staff and a specific set of skills to coordinate all participants. As the lead organization in West Lakes, also known as the Community Quarterback, Lift Orlando helps to facilitate and coordinate open collaboration between residents, nonprofit partners, businesses, and community leaders, who are collectively working to strengthen The Communities of West Lakes and 32805 ZIP code. We operate as a bridge between partners, continually establishing and maintaining crucial relationships that advocate for residents, while holding one another accountable to a common vision and a shared agenda.