Liz Ward ‘14, a graduate of the Belk College’s Master of Science in Real Estate program, has recently opened Give Impact, an independent advisory services firm that focuses on solutions for affordable housing and upward mobility in Charlotte.
Give Impact works closely with companies in the Charlotte region that are looking to use their resources to make a lasting impact on the community. By partnering with the firm, companies can explore new strategies and solutions to help fight the shortages and inequality within the Charlotte housing market.
“Bringing people together with like-minded missions gives me immense joy,” Ward says.
Ward says she came up with the idea for Give Impact this spring after reaching some major milestones on big public-private partnerships she was working on.
“The need for housing and upward mobility investment is greater than ever, and it is also more apparent than ever that time is precious," she says. "Now was the time to step out and do my best to increase connectivity and action across the market."
As a Charlotte native, Ward’s own background and experiences have helped shape her scope of the importance of affordable housing and resources as they impact Charlotte residents.
Through the organization, Ward wants to bolster the development pipeline of local affordable housing developers by connecting them with additional resources. She is also looking to increase the supply of non-LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) affordable units in the marketplace by developing new tools that enable market rate developers to more easily include units within their existing and planned projects.
Ward hopes Gives Impact will accomplish these goals within the next year while continuing to address the needs of, and impact, the Charlotte community.
Photo provided by Liz Ward.
