Cinnaire Culture

We believe the idea of healthy communities starts within our walls.

We actively create a culture of trust and caring, of respect and service and we do business in a way that values people and relationships over transactions.

Cinn Mark Stay helping at Food Bank 2023

A Unique Culture

culture: cul·ture | \ ˈkəl-chər, noun – The shared set of values, attitudes and behaviors that define and shape an organization.

Cinnaire’s culture begins and ends with – It’s All About the People. The basis for our award-winning culture is as simple as The Platinum Rule –Treat people the way that they want to be treated.  It starts by creating a team of independent thinkers at the top of their game with a shared set of values. We demonstrate the trust and value we have for each member through our communication and actions. Then, we provide each of our team members with the tools, resources and the empowerment to lead and work with passion. As a result, our partners, investors and the communities we serve feel valued and empowered as well.

We invest in people and places to transform lives through equitable financial and development solutions

Cinnaire staff in front of a stone building in Wilm

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

In the work we do, in our interactions with each other and in the communities we serve, Cinnaire has a keen awareness of the need for respect, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI+B). We embrace diversity and strive to create an environment where differences are celebrated, and all voices are heard. We could list all the differences and similarities that we embrace and protect, but it would be a very long list. To put it simply:

“No matter who or what we are because of birth, choice or experience, no matter how we identify or what our affinities may be, we are accepted, accommodated, and validated by each other and by Cinnaire as an organization.”

To say that we are stronger because of our differences is not an idle platitude. It is an inextricable part of our culture and we work hard to make sure we live up to it.

Cinnaire staff visit PAL Center in Detroit

Involved in the Community

At Cinnaire, We Care. It shows in every area of our work. It’s also why we focus on being active in our communities and responsible in our decisions. We make ethical business choices and each of us gives back to the places where we work and live.

Whether using Cinnaire’s paid Volunteer Time Off benefit or volunteering on our personal time, staff engage in activities that make a positive impact on the lives of others. Our “on the ground” personal involvement with the communities we serve is also one of the values we bring to investors, developers and nonprofit partners.

Regardless of where we live, work, and serve, each member of our team is continuously seeking ways to advance communities and enhance the lives and prospects of their residents.

Leadership Academy jazz hands

Staff Empowerment

Cinnaire is enthusiastic about supporting staff--offering opportunities for personal and professional development.

Our Staff Engagement Committee is an active, staff-led committee that solicits feedback from employees at every level and are empowered to introduce programs, technology and trainings to enhance engagement. Initiatives include hosting a Beyond The Why Book Club, enacting health in the workplace initiatives that take a holistic approach to wellness, and overseeing Cinnaire Cares.

Cinnaire also encourages growth by offering all employees the opportunity to take part in the Art of Leadership Academy (ALA). This program is designed to help individuals recognize their existing work style, skills, and effectiveness, and build on those skills to become effective leaders.

Donation check presentation Aspire

Cinnaire Cares

Cinnaire Cares is our flagship program, a 100% employee-driven initiative that gives our team members an opportunity to support communities and community organizations financially and through direct service activities – providing funding for books for preschoolers, agencies that serve trauma survivors, and families in need of assistance following a natural disaster.

Every year, employees are encouraged to nominate organizations that benefit our community. From this list, five nonprofits from around our footprint are selected and presented with a check to help advance their mission. A portion of the funds are also placed into Cinnaire’s Emergency Fund to assist our partners in times of crisis.

Since Cinnaire Cares launched in 2017, our staff has raised more than $175,000 to directly support 47 mission-driven organizations across our geography. More than half of Cinnaire staff contributes to Cinnaire Cares each month. Every dollar raised by our team is matched by Cinnaire to double our impact.

10 cinn staff Mark w 30th swoosh

Thirty Years Serving Our Communities

Cinnaire has been transforming communities and transforming lives for more than 30 years. It all began in 1993 with our CEO Mark McDaniel launching a housing tax credit fund with little more than a card table, a phone and a rolodex. Today, Cinnaire has six offices, more than 150 team members and has generated more than $10 billion in impact in underinvested communities. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about Cinnaire and the capital and development tools we provide to create communities where all people have the opportunities to thrive. 

Our Locations

Home Office - Lansing
1118 South Washington
Lansing MI, 48910

Indianapolis
320 North Meridian, Suite 516
Indianapolis IN, 46204

Wilmington
100 W. 10th Street, Suite 502
Wilmington, DE 19801

Chicago
225 West Washington, Suite 1350
Chicago, IL 60606

Madison
10 E. Doty Street, Suite 617
Madison, WI 53703

Grand Rapids
100 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Suite 202
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Detroit
2111 Woodward Avenue, Suite 600
Detroit, MI 48201

Milwaukee
231 E. Buffalo Street, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53202

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