JIFFI: Empowering South Bend through Microfinance

The Jubilee Initiative for Financial Inclusion (JIFFI) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that works to mitigate the impact of predatory lending organizations on the financially vulnerable in South Bend, Indiana.

JIFFI seeks to counteract payday lending by offering a loan program that eliminates the lump sum payment structure of payday loans, which is the main culprit of long-term indebtedness. JIFFI has successfully mitigated much of the damage payday lending causes through our microloan process over the past nine years. However, we look to break the cycle of debt that affects so many members of the South Bend community. JIFFI has recently developed an incentivized savings program in which we work with at-risk individuals to develop a savings goal. We then connect our clients to the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, where they are given access to institutional banking instruments like savings and checking accounts. We work with our clients throughout the whole process, and when they meet their savings goal, we match 20% of the total directly. Through this program, our clients develop productive savings habits and receive access to credit to ensure they never have to turn to a payday lender in the first place.

Please consider helping us reach our goal by donating to this campaign. With your help, we can develop a full suite of services to help at-risk individuals get out of debt and

stay out of debt.