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Community Investing Resources
Community investing directs investors' capital to poor communities and those underserved by traditional financial resources.
Organizations/Networks
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
1111 16th Street, #410
Washington, DC 20039
Phone: (202) 850-5580
Web: www.aeoworks.org
National membership organization dedicated to supporting the development of strong and effective US microenterprise initiatives to assist underserved entrepreneurs.
CERES 99 Chauncy Street, Sixth Floor Boston, MA 02111 Phone: (617) 247-0700 Fax: (617) 267-5400 Email: info@ceres.org Web: www.ceres.org
In November 2003 this Boston-based coalition of investors and environmental groups helped launch the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR).
Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) 1331 G Street NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 393-5225 Fax: (202) 393-3034 Web: www.cdfi.org
This unified national voice of community development financial institution was formed in 1992 as an ad hoc policy development and advocacy initiative.
Community Investing Center 910 17th Street NW, #1000 Washington, DC 20006 Web: www.communityinvest.org
This is a project of the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment and Green America (see below for both). The Center provides information about other community investing opportunities.
Equity Trust Inc. P O Box 746, Turners Falls, MA 01376 Phone: 413-863-9038 Fax: 413-863-9082 Email: info@equitytrust.org Web: www.equitytrust.org
The loan fund of Equity Trust is capitalized by socially motivated lenders and donors. It makes low interest loans for projects that protect the affordability and use of housing and farms.
FINCA 1101 14th Street NW, 11th Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 682-1510 Fax: (202) 682-1510 Email: info@FINCA.org Web: www.finca.org
Founded in 1984, FINCA is a charitable microfinance organization. Its Village Banking program provides solutions to poverty though small business loans. The fund is capitalized by donations.
First Nations OWEESTA Corporation 1010 95th St. #45 Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone: (605) 342-3770 Fax: (605) 342-3771 Email: info@ oweesta.org Web: www.oweesta.org
OWEESTA is national intermediary loan fund. OWEESTA helps build strong Native institutions and programs and capitalizes loan funds for Native peoples. It uses professional services designed to build local capacity and provide powerful tools for Native Community development. Primary programs and services are: training, TA and counseling; capitalization; and research policy and advocacy. Its motto is "investing in Native Opportunity."
Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (USSIF). (Formerly Social Investment Forum) 910 17th Street NW, #1000 Washington, DC 20006 Phone: (202) 872-5367 Fax: (202) 775-8686 Web: www.socialinvest.org
This trade association of SRI professionals and organizations has complete information on SRI opportunities, including mutual funds and community investing, recent trends, research and updates. It maintains a sustainable investing database.
Green America (Formerly Co-op America) 1612 K Street NW, #600 Washington, DC 20006 Phone: (800) 584-7336 Web: www.greenamericatoday.org
This national nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization was founded in 1982. It was Co-op America until January 1, 2009. It provides strategies for socially and environmentally responsible investing.
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) 475 Riverside Drive, #1842 New York, NY 10115 Phone: (212) 870-2023 Email: info@iccr.org Web: www.iccr.org
Founded in 1971, this coalition of 300 faith-based institutions includes denominations, religious communities and others. The Episcopal Church's Executive Council is a member. Members promote corporate transformation from the inside by engaging and advising management toward sustainable practice while improving their environmental and social impact. Shareholder action is frequently utilized.
Investor Responsibility Research Center, Inc. (IRRC) 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, #700 Washington, DC 20036-1702 Phone: (202) 833-0700 Web: www.irrc.org
A source of information on corporate governance and social responsibility issues affecting investors and corporations worldwide.
National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions 116 John Street, 33rd Floor New York, NY 10038-3300 Phone: (212) 809-1850 Toll free: (800) 417-8711 Fax: (212) 809-3274 Web: www.natfed.org
An organization of community development credit unions that helps low and moderate income people achieve financial independence through credit unions.
National Housing Trust (NHT) 1101 30th Street, #400 Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 333-8931 Web: www.nhtinc.org
NHT preserves affordable homes and strengthens communities through three affiliated organizations: the NHT Enterprise Preservation Corporation, the NHT Community Development Fund, and the Institute for Community Economics.
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) 620 Chestnut Street, #572 Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone: (215) 923-4754 Fax: (215) 923-4655 Web: www.opportunityfinance.net Email: info@opportunityfinance.net
This is a network of 170 private sector community development financial institutions (CDFIs). OFN's CDFI locator list has information about all funds in your area, including regional and local loan funds
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
Individuals and congregations can invest in these funds.
Calvert Foundation www.calvertfoundation.org www.calvert.com It is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that makes below market loans to over 250 nonprofit and social justice enterprises for affordable homes, small businesses, essential community services, and job creation in communities worldwide.
Related groups
Calvert Community Investments
Calvert Social Investment Foundation
Calvert Social Investment Fund
Community Capital Management, Inc 2500 Weston Road, #101 Weston, FL 33331 Email: info@comfixedincome.com Web: www.comfixedlincome.com
Established in 1998, this is a privately-held registered investment advisor which customizes institutional investment accounts for specific community and economic development initiatives and/or for low- to moderate-income and minority communities.
Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund (CRAIX) Web: www.crafund.org
The CRA Qualified Investment Fund was launched in 1999. In 2001 the firm expanded to include separate account management in behalf of clients such as foundations, religious organizations, pension funds and insurance companies. It invests in low-income housing.
Domini Social Investments 536 Broadway, 7th Floor New York, NY 10012 Phone: (202) 352-9200 Toll free phone: (800) 762-6814 Web: www.domini.com
Domini offers a number of socially responsible funds based on financial, social and environmental factors.
Related group: Domini Social Money Market
This is an FDIC insured money market account.
MicroPlace San Jose, CA Phone: (866) 978-3229 Web: www.MicroPlace.com
It makes it possible to invest on-line in microfinance projects on a worldwide basis.
Parnassus 1 Market Street, #1600 San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (800) 999-3505 Fax: (415) 778-0228 Email: shareholder@parnassus.com Web: www.parnassus.com
This is a socially responsible mutual fund.
Pax World Mutual Funds 30 Penhallow Street, #400 Portsmouth, NH 03801 Phone: (800) 767-1729 Email: info@paxworld.com Web: www.paxworld.com
This is a socially responsible mutual fund.
Micro enterprises active in other countries:
ACCION International 56 Roland Street #300 Boston, MA 02129-7080 Phone: (617) 625-7080 Fax: (6170 625-7020 Web: www.accion.org
Established in 1961, this microfinance organization has been a leader in microfinance since 1973. It is active in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, plus the United States.
BRAC USA 11 East 44th St. #1600 New York, NY 10017 Web: www.bracusa.orgt
Makes microloans for self-employment and small business development in Asia, Africa, and Haiti.
Oikocredit P O Box 2136 3800 CC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Email: info@oikocredit.org Web: www.oikocredit.org
In 1975 the World Council of Churches (WCC) established this faith-based microfinance and investment organization. It lends working capital to micro-finance institutions all over the world, who disburse life-changing loans to the poor and disadvantaged, with special emphasis on the poor and women looking for investments and donations for their work: funding farmers, micro-enterprises and other community economic development activities.
Shared Interest 121 W. 27th Street, #805 New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 337-8547 Fax: (212) 337-8548 Email: info@sharedinterest.org Web: www.sharedinterest.org
Guarantees South African banks loans to low income communities and to their financial institutions to create businesses, jobs, affordable homes and services.
Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) (Formerly Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua) 122 State Street Madison, WI 53703 Mailing address: P O Box 1534, Madison, WI 53701 Phone: (608) 257-7230 Fax: (608) 257-7904 Toll free: (888) 224-6422 Web: www.capitalforcommunities.org
Focused on Central America and Ecuador, it has a Capital for Communities Fund.
Other Investment opportunities for individuals and congregations
Kiva 3180 18th Street San Francisco, CA 94110 Phone: (415) 358-7500 Web: www.kiva.org
Kiva works with microfinance institutions on 5 continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems.
Microcapital P. O. Box 55071 Boston, MA 02205-5071 Phone: 1-617-648-0043 Fax: 1-617-648-0050 Web: www.microcapital.org
Microcapital provides candid information on microfinance: covers news, events, research and special features.
MicroVest 7315 Wisconsin Ave #300W Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 664-6680 Fax: (301) 664-6686 Email: info@microvestfund.com www.microvestfund.com
This intermediary for microfinance institutions (MFIs) was founded in 2003. It manages a family of funds.
Banks/Credit Unions
Self Help Credit Union P. O. Box 3619 Durham, NC 27702 Phone: (919) 956-4400 Web: www.self-help.org
This is one of the largest community development credit unions in the U.S. It lends to organizations and individuals unable to secure loans at mainline commercial banks.
Community Bank of the Bay 1790 Broadway Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 433-5400 Fax: (510) 433-5431 Web: www.communitybankbay.com
It has offices in Oakland, Danville and San Jose, CA.
Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union 840 Echo Park Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: (213) 482-2040 Web: www.efcula.org
(Diocese of Los Angeles) Opened in 1994
Urban Partnership Bank
7054 South Jeffrey Blvd. Chicago, IL 60649 Phone: 1 (800) 905-7725 Web: www.upbnk.comEstablished August 19, 2010, it took over the assets of Shorebank closed by the FDIC that year.
Publications/periodicals
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice, Community Investing: An Alternative for Religious Congregations Seeking a Social as Well as a Financial Return. September 1999. Web: www.enej.org/resources
Episcopal Network for Economic Justice, Economic Justice How-To Manual. Episcopal Network for Economic Justice. June 2006. See Chapter 5: "Socially Responsible Investment" by Sue Lloyd Web: www.enej.org/resources Domini, Amy, Ethical Investing. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1984. Domini, Amy, Socially Responsible Investing: Making a Difference and Making Money. Chicago: Dearborn Trade, 2001. Kinder, Peter, Seven D. Lydenbert and Amy L. Domini, Investing for Good Making Money While Being Socially Responsible. New York: Harper Business, 1993. Schut, Michael, editor, Money & Faith: The Search for Enough. New York: Morehouse Publishing. 2008 Includes a study guide. See Chapter IX: "Moving Toward Jubilee--Investments and Retirement." Seedco, Religious Institutions as Actors in Community-Based Economic Development. New York: Seedco, 1988. Shabecoff, Alice. Rebuilding Our Communities: How Churches Can Provide, Support, and Finance Quality Housing for Low-income Families. Monrovia, CA: World Vision, 1992. Yumas, Muhammed, Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty. New York: Public Affairs, 1999, 2003. Muhammed Yumas, a native of Bangladesh, is the founder of the Grameen Bank, a microlender.
Periodicals
Business Ethics: The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility 2856 Harriet Ave. #207 P O Box 8439 Minneapolis, MN 55408 Phone: (612) 879-0695 Fax: (512) 879-0699 Web: www.business-ethics.com
Green Money Journal P O Box 67 Santa Fe, NM 87604 Phone: (505) 988-7423 Email: info@greenmoneyjournal.com Web: www.greenmoneyjournal.com
Published since 1992, it includes information about socially responsible investing (SRI);
Education
Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries P. O. Box 328 Oak View, CA 93022 Phone: (805) 649-1327 Fax: (805) 649-2179 Email: inquiries@bcm-net.org Web: www.bcm-net.org Web, www,ChedMyers.org (Contact for resources)
From Mammon to Manna: Sabbath Economics and Community Investing. Two DVDs (three 30-minute sessions per DVD) $27.50. Features Ched Myers and Andy Loving. Facilitator's notes are free.
Founded in 1998, Sabbath Economics collaborative is an ecumenical Christian nonprofit cooperative.
News
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