Impact Investing
Good Stewards for Greater Impact
With over 30 years of experience, we are trusted stewards of resources for our communities. We invest and direct funds responsibly and use assets to leverage other resources for greater impact.
Impact investing is one of the tools that allow us expand our sources of community support.
Through impact investing, we can help small businesses and strengthen the local economy, both of which are critical to our region’s vitality
Investments and impact since 2022
THE NUMBERS
invested from our endowment portfolio
loans made by our CDFI partners
entities receiving small business loans
leveraged beyond our initial investments
jobs created or retained
counties represented in small business loans
Supporting Local Business through Local Partnerships
As a Community Foundation, we exist to invest in the people and places of our region and steward community assets for lasting impact. We do this by promoting generous donor giving, funding pressing needs and promising opportunities through grants to area nonprofit organizations, awarding meaningful scholarships to local students, and engaging in collaborative leadership efforts all while building endowments that make a lasting impact for generations to come.
Over our 33-year history, we’ve grown to hold over $100 million in endowment assets. Our endowment financial and spending strategy allows for annual disbursements of almost $4 million annually in grant and scholarship awards. In addition to serving our communities through our grant support, we are determined to expand our capacity and have a positive impact serving all in our region.
Impact investing, also known as program-related investing, is one avenue that expands our capacity. Impact investing involves deploying a portion of our assets locally to achieve both a social and financial return. This investment strategy allows us to expand our sources of community impact beyond grantmaking alone and provides an effective tool to support strengthening our local economy, helping the business and nonprofit community secure federal and state government financial support, and enhancing our ability to have community impact in the region.
Local Small Businesses & Organizations Supported
| CDFI Partner | Year Supported | Organization/Business | Support Description | # of Jobs Created or Retained | County Represented |
| IFF | 2024 | Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation | 10 apartments at or below 80% AMI in TC | 2 | Grand Traverse |
| IFF | 2024 | Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation | 12 apartments at or below 80% AMI in Frankfort | Benzie | |
| NI | 2023 | NoBo Mrkt, LLC. | start up capital for micro food hall | 12 | Grand Traverse |
| NI | 2023 | Rising Phoenix Business Services, LLC | working capital for business | 2 | Grand Traverse |
| NI | 2024 | Function Rehabilitation | refinance and pay off high interest loan, working capital | 3 | Grand Traverse |
| NI | 2024 | Northland Precision | working capital for business | 8 | Grand Traverse |
| VN | 2024 | Lake Ann Manufacturing LLC | specialized equipment purchase and installation | 0.5 | Benzie |
| VN | 2024 | Grocer's Daughter Chocolate | bridge loan to secure inventory | 10.5 | Leelanau |
| VN | 2023 | TC Golf Carts | purchase golf carts to support business expansion | 6 | Grand Traverse |
| VN | 2023 | BOS Wine (LeBos LLC) | working capital | 3 | Antrim |
| VN | 2023 | Mission Proper | new business development | 9 | Grand Traverse |
| VN | 2023 | Grocer's Daughter Chocolate | capital for facilities expansion | 0 | Leelanau |
| VN | 2022 | MI Farm Co-op | bridge loan while awaiting federal grant | 1 | Grand Traverse |
| VN | 2022 | TNT Lighting & Electric Services | business purchase | 6 | Grand Traverse |
CDFI PARTNERS KEY
- IFF = IFF
- NI = Northern Initiatives
- VN = Venture North Funding & Development