This summer, we’re launching an $800,000 character-based lending fund that was designed, by and for underfunded BIPOC businesses and ecosystems. 


** July 2021
------------------------------------------------------------


** Reimagining the Capital Landscape
------------------------------------------------------------

For the last 20 years, we at Common Future have prioritized collaboration with those who have been closest to their communities and, in our belief, most proximate to the challenges our sector seeks to solve. We believe we cannot offer support purely based on technocratic models, theory and transactional relationships.

We treat people with dignity ([link removed]) , not as digits, and understand that greed is not good, and that good should be shared. These relationships and intuition are unbelievably valuable assets that are both hard to find and unpurchasable. They are also undervalued, because if the world saw them as we do, our movement would be flush with financial resources.

So much of the impact investing or “capital for good” ([link removed]) fields talk about tradeoff—asking, “do I have to sacrifice financial return for social impact?” And as the space has evolved to argue there is no tradeoff—“Doing well by doing good”— efforts are still grounded in this compromise. Problem is, the protagonist here is almost always the investor (or relatively better off party), not those we seek to serve. Shouldn’t this be different ([link removed]) ?
So little of the conversation focuses on the how. And the tremendous opportunity and potential that doing things better and more inclusively may have on society. Who originates ideas for new, more creative capital flows? How is the ideation and design process ([link removed]) managed for investments? When and for how long are “those closest to the issue” empowered? What affirmative role do the, relatively, more privileged and powerful entities play in raising, structuring and deploying capital?

What if we didn’t see things as a tradeoff? Or a compromise? What if we saw the tremendous assets and potential of those most proximate to the problems as core leaders in the ownership and allocation of financial resources? To achieve racial and economic justice, we need stories and interventions with these new protagonists empowered.

This summer, we’re launching an $800,000 character-based lending fund ([link removed]) (CBL) that was designed, from the ground up, by and for underfunded BIPOC businesses and ecosystems. We’ve set out to do this because we believe in our people. And to meet the rhetoric around a new economy, we must be biased towards empathetic action, especially when it comes to capital flows. As we launch this exciting pilot, be sure to check out our explainers and behind-the-scenes looks with our team and community:
* What is Character-Based Lending? ([link removed])
* Why Credit Scores Are Racist ([link removed])
* Behind the Scenes: Building A Character-Based Lending Fund in 12 Months ([link removed])
* Solidarity, Character, and Capital: Breaking Down Barriers in Traditional Lending Through a Community-Centered Fund ([link removed])

CBL will start deploying capital this summer through our partners. We’re just getting started.

— Eric Horvath, Common Future, Director of Capital Strategies

We hope you’ll take this time to reflect with us and share what we’re doing to create a more inclusive economy. Like the stories you read? Share them with your network on social and be sure to tag @commonfutureco ([link removed]) .
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]


** More from Common Future
------------------------------------------------------------
Corporations have long held the idea that socially responsible business models are economically unviable. And yet, most social enterprise continues to promote the status quo. Caitlin Morelli focuses on ways corporations can build responsible enterprises ([link removed]) .

A few weeks ago, the Supreme Court invalidated a California rule that requires charitable organizations to disclose the names of contributors. Common Future Staff explain ([link removed]) how this decision made it easy for donors to secretly funnel dark money.

We’re Hiring!

Manager of Capital Strategies ([link removed])


** Caught Our Attention
------------------------------------------------------------
Racial Justice in the Workplace: In-depth Look at Diversity’s Struggle to Crack Corporate Boardrooms ([link removed])

This Community Foundation Wants to Change the Face of Who Controls Wealth ([link removed])

Whose Dollars Are These Anyway? Foundations Rethink Their Model ([link removed])

How the Rich Avoid Paying Taxes ([link removed])

Support Our Mission and Work ([link removed])

============================================================
** Website ([link removed])

** Medium ([link removed])

** Twitter ([link removed])

** Instagram ([link removed])

** Facebook ([link removed])

** LinkedIn ([link removed])
Contact
Common Future
2323 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
USA

** Forward this newsletter to a friend ([link removed])

or ** unsubscribe ([link removed])
.