The Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas (ULI NWA) invites community stakeholders, development partners, and faith institutions to the Faithful Foundations Pitch Event, on October 20, 2025, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville.

The ULI Faithful Foundations program offers educational and networking opportunities to regional churches in efforts to transform underutilized property into affordable housing. The program’s primary focus is mission alignment and capacity building, with an objective to activate development of affordable housing on faith owned land.

Over the past six months, six local congregations have participated in classroom style workshops and technical assistance sessions with industry experts to create innovative housing proposals that reflect each church’s vision. Churches include Trinity United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas United Church of Christ JRD in Springdale, Christ and Neighbor Church in Rogers, First Christian Church in Rogers, and First United Methodist Church in Bentonville.

At the pitch event, these churches will present their projects publicly for the first time, then afterwards consultants and community partners will have a chance to connect with each church to learn more about their ideas. The evening is designed to open conversations and inspire partnerships with developers, designers, financial investors, and philanthropic organizations who are committed to addressing the region’s growing housing challenges.

“The region’s housing shortages are evident in every range of affordability from the unhoused to workforce housing” said Candi Adams, Director of Programs. “By leveraging community trust and mission-driven land stewardship, Faithful Foundations opens the door for innovative, cross-sector collaborations to directly address Northwest Arkansas’s urgent housing needs. Each church has an opportunity to present housing options that are appropriate to their capacity, place, and purpose.”

This event will highlight the powerful role churches can play in capitalizing on the value of their unused land holdings to expand their missions, while partnering with organizations to realize those projects. All are welcome and registration is free, but RSVPs are required. Click here to save your spot.

Faithful Foundations is supported by the Walton Family Foundation.