A New Model for Meeting Today's Challenges

Every investment has an impact. The question is, will the impact be positive or negative, and will it complement or contradict your philanthropic goals?

Our local impact investments pursue opportunities that return both financial and social gains – right here at home. In 2015, we began making low-interest loans which now total over $21 million in capital deployed. Funds are loaned to nonprofits and businesses working towards solutions on social and environmental challenges while spurring economic growth on key issues in our community. Unlike traditional philanthropy which typically relies on grants, our impact investments are structured as flexible, cost-effective loans that are expected to be paid back, thus recycling the dollars to consistently fund new initiatives into the future.

Putting New Capital to Work

Our revolving capital makes loans to projects that address critical social issues we face in Santa Cruz County like housing affordability, supporting sustainable agriculture, and economic mobility for our county’s diverse workforce. We have partnered with local organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Housing Matters, DigitalNEST, Barrios Unidos, and California Farmlink to create local impact and local returns.

Together with Farmlink, we've helped immigrant and women farmers access the capital they need to expand production, secure long-term leases, and grow their farms. Bertha Magaña spent over 30 years as a farmworker which shaped her deep connection to the land but also inspired a passion for sustainable agriculture. "Farming isn't just work to me. It's a way to provide for my family and take care of the Earth at the same time.” FarmLink provided a loan and support to Bertha on her path to farm ownership and success.

With Housing Matters, we helped finance their Casa Azul project, providing permanent supportive housing for people in Santa Cruz County who have been chronically homeless.

New Tools for Conservation and Climate Resilience

Quick and inexpensive capital from another revolving loan fund will also help conservation, restoration, and nature-based climate solutions reach the finish line through our Central Coast Climate and Conservation Action Fund, known as the “Strike Fund.”

The Strike Fund is a revolving loan fund for the whole Central Coast region, empowering partners—including the Trust for Public Land, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, and the Amah Mutsun Land Trust—to quickly purchase prioritized lands before they are sold and developed.

An Opportunity for Donors

As our loans are repaid, the funds are reissued to new projects, and donors’ dollars are used time and again, multiplying the impact of each gift. If you are interested in using your fund’s investment capital for local social good, you can join us and other donors in making these loans. 

An Opportunity for Financing

Would a low-interest loan help make your social impact project happen? Find out more about how to apply by contacting Courtney Reed.