Intermediaries

Please be sure to conduct due diligence around the following opportunities. While most of these have been recommended by PRI Makers Network members, PRI Makers Network or its members assume no responsibility for any investments/support to intermediaries or other organizations mentioned on this site. If you have information or experience to add to any of these listed, please let us know by sending an email to PRI Makers Staff.

Calvert Social Investment Foundation
For over 10 years, Calvert Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, has been working to make community investment a safe and logical option for all investors seeking to make a positive social impact. Focusing on using investment capital, rather than conventional philanthropy, creates a sustainable, scalable model that enables nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to address critical social problems. www.calvertfoundation.org

Center for Applied Philanthropy
The Center for Applied Philanthropy (CAP) is focused on increasing the understanding, use and adoption of nontraditional funding streams among philanthropic organizations. Through highly focused engagements we provide foundations and non-profits alike a number of critical services including: PRI feasibility assessments, analysis of investment and leverage opportunities, financial due diligence, PRI integration strategies, strategic business planning, assessment of critical resources and development of internal PRI capability, and consolidation/M&A assessments. In addition to its advisory services, CAP offers philanthropic organizations the opportunity to invest in – or apply for – PRI investments through its Fund for Sustainability (TFS) - which makes select PRIs in nonprofits and social enterprises operating in the health and human services, arts and culture, environment and education sectors. Through TFS, CAP provides a real time “laboratory” for foundations and individuals to partner in program related investments (PRIs) with the level of risk appropriate to their mission.

Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit community development corporation (CDC) and community development finance institution (CDFI). Based in Wiscasset, Maine, CEI’s mission is to help create economically and environmentally healthy communities in which all people, especially those with low incomes, can reach their full potential. CEI provides financing and technical assistance to small, medium and micro enterprises, natural resource ventures in the farm, fish and forest sectors, community facilities such as health and child care, and affordable housing. With offices statewide, CEI also serves communities throughout rural New England and New York, and is active nationally in partnership with other rural CDCs/CDFIs with its New Markets Tax Credit program. CEI creates income, employment and ownership opportunities for people with low-incomes while benefitting the wider community. Its development philosophy and theory of change is based on strategically combining the market interventions of finance, development services and policy for social and environmental benefit – the so-called “triple bottom line” - economy, equity and ecology – of return on investment. CEI is CARS™ rated.

Community Development Credit Unions
Invest directly in funds established by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions or search the CDCU Locator for specific markets. More than sixty years ago, a small number of credit unions were founded with the specific mission of serving low-income and minority communities beyond the reach of banks and mainstream credit unions. These “community development credit unions” (CDCUs) specialize in serving populations generally considered the hardest to serve, including low-income wage earners, recent immigrants, and people with disabilities.

Community Development Financial Institutions
Search Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Member Locator for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) working in neighborhoods across the United States to provide affordable, responsible credit and to stabilize communities. CDFI customers include: small business, affordable housing developers, community service providers, and individuals who require affordable banking services, including basic checking and savings accounts, responsible alternatives to predatory financial companies, mortgages, and other kinds of loans.

Community Reinvestment Fund USA
As a nonprofit financial intermediary, CRF brings community development lenders together with socially conscious investors to funnel capital into economically distressed communities nationwide. With the help of your grants, donations, Program Related Investments, Equity Equivalent Investments, and the CRF Individual Investor Program, CRF purchases economic development and affordable housing loans. CRF pools these loans into asset-backed securities and New Markets Tax Credit Funds. These investment vehicles are then sold to investors through private placement to generate more capital for disadvantaged communities. Community Reinvestment Fund USA

Enterprise Community Investment
As a socially motivated for-profit corporation, Enterprise Community Investment currently finances and develops $1 billion of high-quality affordable housing and related community facilities per year. These include commercial, office and industrial development. Enterprise forges effective public-private partnerships and innovative programs that result in livable housing that benefits communities all across America. Enterprise Community Investment

Global Partnerships
Global Partnerships (GP) expands opportunity for people living in poverty by supporting microfinance and other sustainable solutions in Latin America. We partner with innovative, mission-driven microfinance institutions that reach people traditionally left behind—such as women and the rural poor—with microloans and other services that can help families break the cycle of poverty.

Our microfinance investment funds offer socially motivated investors a fixed income alternative with well managed risk, competitive returns and high social impact. Since 2005 we have raised and deployed three funds, totaling over $30 million in affordable financing for our partner microfinance institutions. As of January 2010, we have repaid our investors 100% on time and in full; during this time we have had zero payment defaults on our underlying loans. Please visit www.globalpartnerships.org or call Jason Henning at 206-652-8707 for more details.

Habitat for Humanity FlexCAP
Habitat for Humanities International’s investment vehicle that allows its affiliates to accelerate the receipt of income from their mortgages and leverage the approximately $1 billion pool of Habitat mortgages to serve more families in need of affordable housing. Traditionally, FlexCAP investors have been banks and insurance companies, along with the F.B. Heron Foundation. Now, with banks in crisis, PRIs are filling the gap and Heron has been joined by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Prudential, MetLife, and the State Housing Finance Agencies in Washington and Ohio as investors in the program. These commitments are particularly timely as the falling price of land provides HFHI an opportunity to serve many more low income families. For more information, contact Todd C. Garth, Director, Foundations, Organizations, and Institutions 1-800-HABITAT, x2607.

Living Cities
Living Cities is a pioneering partnership among major foundations and financial institutions that invests in revitalizing America’s cities. Members of Living Cities include leading foundations such as Ford, Gates, MacArthur and Rockefeller, as well as banks and insurance companies such as Chase, Bank of America, Prudential, and MetLife. The Living Cities Catalyst Fund is a pool of patient, flexible capital directed specifically toward investment in not-for-profit organizations that create opportunities and make markets work better for low income residents of America’s cities. Catalyst Fund FAQ Living Cities

Low Income Investment Fund
LIIF improves and strengthens underserved communities by providing loans, grants and technical assistance to community development organizations. LIIF provides capital and technical assistance for housing, education, child care and supportive community facilities. Low Income Investment Fund

National Community Stabilization Trust
Designed to be a more efficient and cost-effective mechanism for transferring foreclosed properties from servicers and investors to organizations and coalitions working to stabilize targeted communities. The Trust will aggregate capital from national philanthropic and private sources to make financing available to these groups. National Community Stabilization Trust

National Equity Fund
NEF, Inc., an affiliate of LISC, has directed more than $6.9 billion to 1,600 projects nationwide. Investments are made through multi-investor funds as well as single-investor funds. Those investor dollars have helped build 100,000 units of rental housing since 1987. NEF currently has 115 funds under management. Multi-Investor Funds pool capital from multiple investors to spread risk and leverage impact on projects such as "green" housing for families, permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans and the disabled, and service-enriched projects for seniors.
National Equity Fund

Partners for the Common Good
A nonprofit community development loan fund and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), PCG is operating as a wholesale loan participation network. By partnering with mission focused lenders and investors, PCG provides access to capital for low income people and communities. PCG offers socially responsible investors to channel their money into organizations working to serve communities left out of the economic mainstream. PCG lends money to nonprofit organizations and for-profit, mission driven organizations that promote affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, entrepreneurship, and healthy communities in the United States and abroad. Partners for the Common Good

RSF Social Finance
RSF offers investing, lending, and giving services to individuals and enterprises committed to improving society and the environment. RSF has made over $170 million in loans directly to high-impact for-profit and nonprofit organizations since 1984. The RSF PRI Funds are designed specifically to meet the needs of foundations who want to make loans to such projects, yet lack the internal systems or staff expertise to find and evaluate eligible projects, structure terms, and administer loans. Increase impact and mitigate risk by pooling your PRI in these funds, which leverage capital from other foundations and financial partners. Ensure mission alignment by choosing to direct your PRI toward specific issues (Food & Agriculture, Education & The Arts, and/or Ecological Stewardship) within specific geographic areas. Check out their
overview of investment options and Reimagine Money BLOG. RSF Social Finance.

The Reinvestment Fund
Combining expert knowledge with innovation and determination, we identify the “point of impact” where capital can deliver its greatest financial and social return. Our investments in homes, schools, and businesses reclaim and transform neighborhoods – driving economic growth and improving lives. The Reinvestment Fund

ShoreBank
ShoreBank is the nation’s first and leading community development and environmental banking corporation, committed to building vibrant communities and a healthy environment. There are now other community development financial institutions (CDFIs), but none are as large as ShoreBank. ShoreBank Shorebank's Capacity Plus Loan Program helps foundations invest to meet the working capital needs of all types of non profits (e.g. social service, arts and culture, and community development). Foundations secure bank loans to qualified nonprofit organizations via FDIC-insured CD deposits (up to $50 million of FDIC insurance is available in some options), enabling the foundations to leverage their financial resources without making direct grants. Shorebank Capacity Plus Loan Progam or call (773) 420-5135.