A holistic approach to enhancing people and places.
Where people live affects their quality of life like almost no other factor.
Established in 1974, South Bend Heritage Foundation, Inc. (SBH) is a not-for-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC) that is committed to the stabilization and enhancement of neighborhoods. Enhancing the beauty, value, and efficacy of neighborhoods and their residents is at the center of our work: beauty in the form and function of buildings, value in terms of building economic worth, and efficacy in the ability of people to improve their lives through housing stability, connection to resources, and a caring community. Working in partnership with government organizations, the financial sector, non-profits, and residents, SBH strives to create a united community where diverse neighborhoods are considered choice places to live, as well as operate a business, and where all residents have equitable and just opportunities.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMMUNITY BUILDING & ENGAGEMENT
REAL ESTATE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
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Donate to a fund
South bend heritage
GENERAL FUND
SBH relies on supportive and passionate donors to ensure that we can pursue vital community initiatives. The general fund allows us to advance critically needed programs and projects. Donations help us continue to build and rehabilitate homes, offer programs for youth, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness, and bring investment to our neighborhoods.
charles martin
youth center
Donations made to the Charles Martin Youth Center support the daily operations of the Community & Youth Center, including youth development programs, leadership initiatives, and critical events and programs. The Charles Martin Youth/Community Center is also home to the Augustus F. Hawkins Literacy Center, a program that is aimed at helping students who struggle to read at grade level.
Jeff Gibney
Mission Fund
The Jeff Gibney Mission Fund was established to honor Jeff Gibney’s vision for community building. His unique approach to neighborhood revitalization brought a number of long lasting improvements to South Bend. The Jeff Gibney Mission Fund supports various types of special projects and community building activities that Jeff would identify as important for the good of community.
Audrey Gilbert Ratner Housing Fund
The Audrey Gilbert Ratner Fund supports the development and preservation of affordable holistic housing for women and children in the community. Audrey Ratner was raised in South Bend, and the Fund is guided by her deep commitment to ensuring that a home is more than four walls. It is a space where women and their families can feel safe, nurtured, and empowered to realize their full potential.