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KeyBank Celebrates its Bicentennial with a $200,000 Foundation Grant to Cook Inlet Lending Center
Grant is part of program designed to strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and foundations that play a critical role in fostering economic opportunity and strengthening communities
Anchorage, AK – November 19, 2025– To celebrate 200 years of KeyBank’s service to communities across the nation, the KeyBank Foundation is awarding a $200,000 philanthropic grant to Cook Inlet Lending Center (CILC).
This is part of Key’s special bicentennial grant program designed to strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and foundations that play a critical role in advancing affordable housing and small business development.
CILC was created in 2001 as a social enterprise of Cook Inlet Housing Authority to address the need for affordable home financing and development services in the Cook Inlet Region of Alaska (CIRI). In 2007, CILC was certified as a Native Community Development Financial Institution (NCDFI) through the U.S. Department of the Treasury CDFI Fund. CDFIs are private financial institutions that are 100% dedicated to increasing access to affordable lending products, services, and financial education for low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities. By helping people build credit, buy homes, access affordable consumer credit, and start businesses, CDFIs support the financial health of underserved communities.
“KeyBank is committed to helping our community thrive through investments that promote neighbors, education and workforce,” said Lori McCaffrey, Alaska Market President, KeyBank. “We are not only here to serve our clients, but to invest in neighborhoods where we live and work, providing opportunities and making a difference in people’s lives.”
"We are deeply grateful to KeyBank for investing in the financial health of Alaska’s communities,” said Jeff Tickle, President and CEO of Cook Inlet Lending Center. “This grant strengthens our Financial Wellness Program, which helps individuals and families build credit, reduce debt, and take confident steps toward homeownership, creating small businesses and long-term financial stability.”
The KeyBank Foundation is donating $200,000 to community development efforts in each of KeyBank’s 27 markets. These milestone grants, totaling $5.4 million, reflect KeyBank’s enduring legacy of service, resilience, and commitment to fostering economic opportunity and strengthening communities. They will provide flexible funding to help CDFIs and community foundations achieve their broader mission – whether through expanding services, enhancing infrastructure, or deepening their community impact—ensuring long-term sustainability.
“As KeyBank marks two centuries of service, we are proud to invest in organizations that share our mission of creating lasting, positive change in the communities we serve,” said Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank and CEO of the KeyBank Foundation. “These grants celebrate these organizations that foster economic empowerment, business growth, and financial stability, and help build and sustain neighborhoods block by block.”
ABOUT KEYCORP
In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at September 30, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.
ABOUT KEYBANK FOUNDATION
KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation that supports organizations and initiatives aimed at improving financial wellness, education, and community development. Through strategic philanthropy, KeyBank Foundation works to create thriving communities and drive meaningful, lasting change.
