Community Impact Investing
Since then, Trillium has helped our clients make community impact investments domestically and on five continents. These investments are typically directed to domestic and international non-profit loan funds as well as community development banks and credit unions that help provide a flow of capital to historically underserved sectors of society.
Available to Private Clients
Community impact investing provides our clients with the opportunity to support community economic development, revitalization, growth, and sustainability. Many investors choose to allocate a portion of their overall portfolio holdings to this high social impact asset class. Community investments are customized for each client, and can be targeted both geographically and by area of interest. These areas include:
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Low Income Housing
- Job Creation and Retention
- Native American Community Development
- Financial Services as an Alternative to Predatory Payday Lenders
- Community Economic Development
- International Development
- Environmental Sustainability
- Childcare
Trillium helps our clients participate in community impact investing by facilitating selection and administration of investments primarily with two types of vehicles: certificates of deposit and promissory notes.
Certificates of Deposit
- Federally insured
- 0.3% to 1.8%
- Minimum two-year term
- Choice from a variety of community banks/credit unions
- Choice of community organization based on geography and/or issue
- 0.5% to 4.0% interest rate
- Minimum two-year term
- Choice from a variety of community loan funds
- Choice of community organization based on geography and/or issue
These investments provide much needed capital to help finance a wide range of products and services, including responsible mortgage financing and re-financing for homeowners, financing for needed community facilities, commercial loans and investments to start or expand small business, loans to rehabilitate rental housing, and financial services needed by low-income households and local businesses. In addition, community development banks, credit unions, and loan funds provide services — such as technical assistance to small businesses and credit counseling — that help ensure that credit is used effectively.
While each investment poses unique risks, promissory notes issued by loan funds and non-profit organizations generally pose special risks by their nature. Typically, they involve an uncollateralized and uninsured promise to pay. The issuer’s only obligation is to repay the principal at maturity with interest payable at stated times. The promissory notes are not securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sample Investments
Below is a list of CD’s and Promissory Notes that are subject to the risks described above. The securities do not represent a complete list nor do they represent a recommendation to buy or sell these investments. It should not be assumed that investments in securities mentioned have been or will be profitable. The information contained herein is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is for informational purposes and should not be construed as a research report.
Name
Type
Geography
Borrower/Community Impact
Boston Community Loan Fund
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Coastal Enterprises
Cooperative Fund of New England
Genesis Fund
Hope Community Credit Union
MCE Social Capital
Mercy Loan Fund
Root Capital
Self Help Credit Union
Vermont Community Loan Fund
Investing For A Stronger Future
Learn how Trillium’s impact investing strategies transform investor capital into a catalyst for change.
