Northwest Central USA via Calvert Foundation CIN
Loan
Raises funds for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in both the US and around the world
For millions of disadvantaged people in the U.S. and internationally, the door to financial opportunity is closed. Since 1995, Calvert Foundation has been working to open that door and let people in. Calvert Foundation is a nonprofit that has pioneered a new type of investing through our Community Investment Note that delivers a social and financial return. We make it possible for everyday people to invest in organizations around the world that empower people living in low-income communities.
The Note was the first retail impact investment with a global reach available to non-accredited investors, and through our new Women INvesting in Women INitiative (WIN-WIN), Calvert Foundation is the first organization to offer a retail impact investment product with a gender lens. We believe in giving a hand-up and enabling people to lift themselves out of poverty.
Summary
Calvert Foundation gives investors the opportunity to support community development groups building affordable housing, creating jobs and small businesses, and financing community facilities in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Social Impact
Calvert Foundation has great partners that are actively working to provide affordable housing, jobs, and finance small businesses and community facilities in low-income communities throughout the Northwest Central region. These groups have financed child care centers, job/workforce training programs, drug prevention facilities, low-income housing, farms, and many small businesses and social enterprises. We encourage you to learn more about the groups we support.
Impact Example
Purity Seeds, LLC, is a privately owned, family business located near Raymond, SD (population 69) that is growing and packaging whole flaxseed for human consumption. They offer high quality, clean, whole golden omega flax seed, fresh cold milled flax, and crafted flax. Purity Seeds has also developed several ready to make mixes using flax seed such as chocolate chip cookie mix, sugar cookie mix and pancake mix. Flax is the highest food source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant form of omega 3 fatty acids. Flax is high in soluble fiber, has anti-cancer nutrients and is gluten free.
The products are marketed over their web site www.purityseedsusa.com and through a network of regional grocers and specialty stores. In 2007 Purity Seeds, LLC was created separating the new processing company from the family farm. A new facility for the grinding and packaging process was completed in 2009 and a new cold-milled grinder was installed. This process is designed to help aid in retention of flavor and extending shelf-life. The facility and equipment purchase was made possible with the help of financing from REED, a local bank and another regional loan fund working together. A grant from the South Dakota Value Added Ag Center was used for research and development for the flax mixes. Creating this business helped to diversify a small family farm and provide a high quality, nutritional product to the regional market. The business provides self employment for the owners, Wanda and Gene Bethke, and has plans to add more positions as the business grows.
