Other Ways to Invest
Socially responsible and sustainable investing directly in individual small food enterprises near where we live is the goal. There are many steps along the way. To get you started, here are examples of professionally managed funds that are generally consistent with the direction of Slow Money and are available to individual investors today.
Remember: if the minimum investment amounts indicated below represent too much of a hurdle, or if you want to target your dollars more directly at the kind of small food enterprises featured by Slow Money, you can make a small donation to the Soil Trust.
Funds for everyone:
|
Organization Name |
Eligibility |
Minimum Investment |
Minimum Term |
Description |
|
RSF Social Finance (RSF): Social Investment Fund* |
Everyone |
$1,000 |
90 days |
Offers the everyday investor a secure vehicle for financing social enterprises while earning returns similar to those of a bank CD (Nationwide) |
|
Equal Exchange CD |
Everyone |
$1000 |
3 years |
A hybrid CD/investment where you can tell the bank to put your savings to work directly for small farmers, Fair Trade, and worker and farmer co-ops. |
|
Equity Trust, Inc. |
Everyone |
$1,000 |
1 year |
Makes low-interest loans for community development, education or agricultural projects (Nationwide) |
|
FORGE (Financing Ozarks Rural Growth and Economy) |
Everyone |
None ($500 preferred) |
None |
Provides loans to sustain the rural communities in the Ozarks and preserve the Ozark environment of Northwest Arkansas |
|
MOFGA: Organic Farmer Loan Fund |
Everyone |
Varies |
Varies |
Helps Maine farmers by providing loans for working capital or farm equipment |
|
Montana CDC |
Everyone |
$5,000 |
2 years |
Partners with socially responsible investors who seek a modest financial return to deliver a significant community impact in Montana |
|
New Spirit Ventures, LLC |
Everyone |
No Minimum |
5 years |
Helps Mid-Western farmers (Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, N. Dakota, Wisconsin) committed to organic and sustainable agriculture start, maintain and grow their operations by linking them with socially motivated investors This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
|
ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia |
Everyone |
$5,000 |
3 years |
Relies on donations, grants and loans from religious, business, banking and philanthropic institutions to support community development in Oregon and Washington |
|
The Carrot Project |
Everyone |
Varies (Usually $10,000 or $25,000) |
5 years |
Collaborates with private investors, lenders and farm support organizations to meet needs of small and mid-sized farms in the Northeast region |
|
The Cooperative Fund of New England |
Everyone |
$1,000 |
1 year |
35 years investing in New England's food systems, supporting cooperatives, worker ownership, and community nonprofits without one investor losing a penny |
|
The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) |
Everyone |
$1,000 |
3 years |
Builds wealth and opportunity for low-income communities in the Mid Atlantic region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC) through the promotion of socially and environmentally responsible development |
| Conservation Fund: Natural Capital Investment Fund | Everyone | $50,000 | Varies |
Provides debt and equity financing to small businesses in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee http://www.ncifund.org/ |
Funds for Accredited Investors:
|
Organization Name |
Eligibility |
Minimum Investment |
Minimum Term |
Description |
|
RSF Social Finance (RSF): Mezzanine Fund* |
Accredited investors |
$500,000 |
7 years |
Provides growth capital as a complement or alternative to pure equity financing, giving social enterprises the financial flexibility to stay mission-focused as they expand (Nationwide) |
|
RSF Social Finance (RSF): PRI Funds* |
Accredited investors |
$100,000 |
5 years |
Offers a streamlined means of recycling program payouts through low-interest loans to fully charitable projects (Nationwide) |
|
Trillium's Community Investment Portfolio* |
Accredited investors |
$25,000 |
None |
Invests directly in community development institutions to assist under-served communities. http://trilliuminvest.com/our-approach-to-sri/community-investing/ |
|
The Sustainability Group Impact Portfolio* |
Accredited investors | $500,000 | 5 years |
Tailored portfolio for individuals seeking higher impact. |
|
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund: Flexible Capital Fund* |
Accredited investors |
$100,000 (Institutional) $50,000 (Individual) |
10 years |
Providing “near equity” royalty financing to growth companies in Vermont’s natural resource sectors. |
|
Cape Cod Fisheries Trust** |
Accredited investors |
$250,000 |
3 years revolving (5-10 years preferred) |
Protects depleted fisheries resources to reinvigorate fishing businesses and revitalize coastal fishing communities on Cape Cod |
|
Ecotrust: Forests LLC** |
Accredited investors |
$500,000 |
7 years |
Makes investments in key sectors, businesses and projects which significantly enhance the capacity for appropriate development and conservation in the coastal temperate rain forest region along the West Coast |
|
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) |
Accredited investors |
$5,000 |
3 years |
Financing for micro, small and medium enterprises, natural resource-based ventures, affordable housing and community facilities that meet triple bottom line criteria, primarily rural regions of Maine. |
|
Farmland LP** |
Accredited investors |
$50,000 |
3 years |
Acquires conventional farmland and converts it to high-value organic farmland (Nationwide) |
*These funds are Slow Money Founding Members and have provided sponsorship to Slow Money's National Gathering in addition to membership.
**These funds are Slow Money Founding Members
“We must learn to invest as if food, farms and fertility mattered. We must connect investors to the places where they live, creating vital relationships and new sources of capital for small food enterprises.” – Slow Money Principle IV
