Investing in assets that anchor communities
Redirecting the flow of charitable capital to grow in community, not the capital markets.
Thriving Communities Fund pools philanthropic capital, including capital from foundations and donor-advised funds, to provide patient, low-cost loans and other recoverable investments for community ownership and stewardship.
The Problem
Hundreds of billions of dollars in charitable capital are invested in capital markets, often for years or even decades, while waiting to be given away.
The Solution
Through TCF, that capital can be put to work today—invested in community ownership of real estate to build lasting assets, community wealth, and wellbeing.
Put charitable capital to work now, then again in the future.
Your charitable capital — You contribute to the Fund
Your capital is pooled with other participants
The Fund invests in community ownership and stewardship projects
Projects repay or refinance over time
Reinvest & Repeat
Capital returns to Fund to support new projects, or returns to your DAF.The sponsoring 501(c)(3) charitable organization is the legal owner and investor of Fund assets. The capital remains charitable throughout and does not return to a participant personally.
Our portfolio focus
What we invest in
Community ownership means communities gaining durable rights, decision-making power, and economic benefit from the assets that shape their lives and futures.
We look for approaches that keep assets rooted locally, protect community benefit over time, strengthen the relationship between people and place, and give residents, workers, Tribal Nations, and other community stakeholders a meaningful role in ownership and governance.
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Community land trusts, resident-owned communities, cooperatives, and other models that preserve affordability, prevent displacement, and give residents a lasting stake in their homes and neighborhoods.
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Worker and community ownership, locally controlled businesses, and commercial spaces that keep economic activity, jobs, and ownership rooted locally.
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Land, farms, equipment, and food infrastructure that support producers, sustain working lands, strengthen local food systems, and keep ownership rooted in communities.
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Land reacquisition and return, housing, agriculture, businesses, cultural spaces, ecological stewardship, energy, and other community-determined assets that support sovereignty and cultural continuity.
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Forests, watersheds, open space, working lands, and other natural resources owned or stewarded to protect ecosystems, preserve community access, and keep land healthy for generations.
Partner with us.
We’re bringing together a group of founding participants interested in putting philanthropic capital to work in community ownership. You don’t need to be an expert or ready to make a commitment.
Seeking patient, flexible capital?
We want to hear from communities working to acquire, build, preserve, reclaim, or steward assets for long-term community benefit.
Learn more
The Thriving Communities Fund deploys capital to communities across the country. But our work goes beyond capital: we’re working to change the narratives and systems that stand in the way of scaling community ownership—and moving more capital behind it.
Through our newsletter, Built to Last, we share what we’re learning about the people, projects, history, and ideas shaping community ownership.