Impact Investing
Community foundations use impact investing as a practical way to support communities beyond grants, by helping local nonprofit organizations and small businesses delivering impact access capital when traditional financing is out of reach. This approach addresses real, on-the-ground challenges like cash flow gaps and limited access to affordable loans.
| Regional Rise Fund - A Tool for Impact Investing
ACF is piloting an impact-first investing strategy that expands the philanthropic toolkit for donors, allowing you to further leverage charitable funds and multiply your impact locally. Â
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Our first pilot fund is with First Southwest Community Fund, which is a loan fund designed specifically for small businesses and nonprofits in communities from Parachute to Aspen.
Who is eligible?
Small businesses and nonprofits in the following zip codes: 81611, 81612, 81615, 81654, 81621, 81628, 81623, 81693, 81601, 81602, 81652, 81650, 81635
What can you use the program for?
Loan funds may be used for working capital and gap financing (e.g. purchasing equipment).
Loan Terms
Loan amount: $10,000 to $50,000
Interest rate: 4%-6.5%
Term: 5-7 years
| The Colorado Housing Accelerator Initiative (CHAI)
The Colorado Housing Accelerator Initiative (CHAI) is Aspen Community Foundation’s second impact investing fund, building on our commitment to use philanthropic capital in new ways to address some of the region’s most pressing challenges. CHAI will focus on expanding and preserving housing opportunities for the people who live and work in our communities, helping move promising projects from concept to reality by providing flexible, catalytic capital where traditional financing may fall short.
Across the region, from Aspen to Parachute, CHAI will work with nonprofit, public, and mission-aligned development partners to help accelerate housing solutions that respond to local needs. Investments may support the acquisition, preservation, predevelopment, construction, or rehabilitation of housing, while also helping projects leverage additional public and private resources.
Who is eligible?
Nonprofit, public, and mission-aligned development partners looking to help accelerate housing solutions in the region
81611, 81612, 81615, 81654, 81621, 81628, 81623, 81693, 81601, 81602, 81652, 81650, 81635
What can you use the program for?
Acquisition, preservation, predevelopment, construction, or rehabilitation of housing
Erica Snow
President & CEO
| Get Involved
If you are interested in learning more about impact investing and how to get involved, please email Erica Snow, President & CEO of ACF.