Community Bonds

Community bonds are creating a new marketplace for investors to make a return while also doing good. While the majority of bonds are generally held by everyday people, they have also become popular among qualified community foundations who have earmarked funds for impact investing and local businesses looking to make a social impact. 

Impact investing, and particularly local/place-based investing, is a rapidly growing market. Every campaign we have administered for qualified community organizations to date has sold out. 

Community bonds create an opportunity for deep and meaningful community engagement. When a community member stands to financially benefit from a project, they suddenly become a cheerleader and ambassador. Investors get a double benefit – the financial return and a stake in shaping their own community.

Community bonds are typically priced to allow maximum participation. We have seen bonds priced as low as $250, as well as caps placed on investment to ensure widespread involvement. An average community bond campaign engages 90 investors for every $1M raised.

Community bonds are an extremely scalable funding solution. On average, 70% of investors choose to reinvest in a future project rather than redeeming their bond. This means that once an issuer has completed one campaign, they will have a pool of capital that they can continually deploy for future projects.

Community bonds build local economies. They allow capital to flow back into the hands of everyday citizens and residents. 

Why not allow your supporters to benefit financially rather than a bank? Community bonds allow you to align your organizational values with the way you finance your projects.

Community bond investments backed by an asset can increase investor confidence, and enhance the success of the campaign. In past projects we have worked on, these assets have ranged from solar panels to buildings.