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Capital Impact Partners Named to ImpactAssets 50 For Seventh Straight Year, Retains Emeritus Impact Manager Distinction

The ImpactAssets 50 is a publicly available, searchable resource of impact investment fund managers who deliver social and environmental impact as well as financial returns

March 18, 2024 (Arlington, VA) – For the seventh straight year, Capital Impact Partners has been selected for the ImpactAssets 50 – a free, annual database for impact investors, family offices, corporations, foundations, and institutional investors that features a diversified listing of private capital fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.

Capital Impact Partners also remains on ImpactAssets’ Emeritus Impact Managers list, which illuminates impact fund managers that have achieved consistent recognition for at least five years on the ImpactAssets 50. Only 46 of the 155 fund managers on this year’s ImpactAssets 50 have received the Emeritus Impact Managers label.

A graphic featuring the logo of the Washington Business Journal, the words "The Power 100 of 2023," the logo for Momentus Capital, a smiling photo of Ellis Carr dressed in a suit with a pair of glasses, and the words "Ellis Carr, Momentus Capital President and CEO."

Ellis Carr of Momentus Capital Named to the Washington Business Journal’s “Power 100” List for 2023

OCTOBER 17, 2023 (Arlington, VA/San Diego, CA) – Ellis Carr, the president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance, part of the Momentus Capital branded family of companies, has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s annual Power 100 list.

“We assembled our annual Power 100 list of the most influential business leaders with the pending revival of Greater Washington top of mind,” wrote Washington Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Douglas Fruehling. “Who has the courage to stand up and discuss our problems without holding back? Who has the leadership skills — and, sometimes, the dollars — to make a difference? Who can we count on?”

Mr. Carr was one of 25 business leaders featured in the “Big Money & Financiers” section, which includes “the bankers, investors, and private and public behemoths driving the Greater Washington economy.”

A group of women, men and children stand (with a couple of small children being held) outside of Birthmark Doula Collective, also known as New Orleans Breastfeeding Center. The worker-owned cooperative is focused on improving maternal health and perinatal outcomes for historically disinvested communities in New Orleans.

Innovative Cooperatives Receive $170,000 in Grants From Capital Impact Partners and National Cooperative Bank

The ninth annual Co-op Innovation Awards supported four organizations’ work in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington state.

October 3, 2023 (Arlington, VA) – Four innovative cooperatives in four cities have received a combined $170,000 in catalytic grant funding from Capital Impact Partners’ 2023 Co-op Innovation Awards, which aim to increase cooperative development in communities living with low incomes and/or communities of color. 

This year’s awards, issued by Capital Impact Partners and National Cooperative Bank, are funding projects such as:

  • A composting company owned and staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals
  • A collaborative effort to convert multi-family housing into resident-owned co-ops
  • A training program for queer and trans farmers, and farmers of color
  • Professional development for maternal health workers who serve historically disinvested communities

“The recipients of this year’s Co-op Innovation Awards are helping to strengthen the kinds of shared pillars — access to housing, employment, health care, and healthy foods — that help build healthy communities and generational wealth,” said Ellis Carr, president and CEO of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations, which includes Capital Impact Partners, among others. “Capital Impact Partners was founded more than four decades ago as part of a federal effort to encourage co-op development, and supporting the co-op model continues to be one of our key sectors. In addition to these grants, we have disbursed more than $315 million in loans to support cooperative businesses since our founding.”

“Providing support to spur new co-op development is critical in helping cooperatives grow and prosper across the United States,” said Casey Fannon, president and CEO of National Cooperative Bank. “We are proud to continue our support of the Co-op Innovation Awards, which fully align with our mission and help improve the lives of our communities.”

Logo for Aeris ratings showing four stars for impact management and AA+ rating for financial strength and performance

Aeris Issues Strong Ratings for the Momentus Capital Branded Family of Organizations

AUGUST 3, 2023 (Arlington, VA/San Diego,CA) – The Momentus Capital branded family of organizations announced today that Aeris — a leading expert in the financial and impact performance of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and other private impact loan funds — has recognized it with strong ratings in the areas of impact management, financial strength and performance, and contribution to public policy.

Read the full press release.

Black real estate developers work in hard hats on construction site

Cleveland Moves to Level the Playing Field for Historically Excluded Real Estate Developers of Color

New program is being launched to increase diversity in Cleveland’s real estate industry and is expected to, in turn, uplift communities of color

July 19, 2023 (Cleveland) –– Entrepreneurs of color trying to develop real estate in Cleveland now have access to an innovative new program aimed at eliminating barriers to success and providing them with the tools they need to shape the future of the city’s communities.

Applications open today to register through August 6th for the Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative, which is designed to seed, mentor, support and create more opportunities for emerging real estate developers of color, particularly as they develop projects in the very communities they are from.

Woman in commercial kitchen holding a tray of vegetables in front of a cold storage refrigerator

Capital Impact Partners, with Transformational Funding from The Morningstar Foundation, Awards $430,000 to Support Small Food Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations’ Cold Storage Needs in the Washington, D.C. Region

Twelve grantees were awarded funds to support a variety of cold storage-related needs, from refrigerated vans to refrigerators in corner stores.

July 19, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) – Capital Impact Partners is pleased to announce the grantees for the inaugural round of Keeping it Cool, a new grant initiative conceived and supported by The Morningstar Foundation. Keeping it Cool is designed to close the cold storage gap in the region, furthering access to healthy, nutritious foods across Washington, D.C. and the surrounding jurisdictions including Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA, Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery County, MD; and Prince George’s County, MD.  With so many small food businesses and nonprofit organizations working with and distributing perishable foods, cold storage is a critical component of offering, serving and distributing healthy food in the region.

An image showing photos of Gary Cunningham, the new chair of the boards of directors of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance; and Kurt Chilcott, the vice chair of the boards of directors of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. The graphic has a yellow and black background with the Momentus Capital logo and the words "New Board of Directors Leadership."

Former Prosperity Now President and CEO Gary Cunningham Named New Chair of the Boards of Directors for Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance

July 10, 2023 (Arlington, VA/San Diego, CA) – Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance have announced that Gary Cunningham, the former president and CEO of Prosperity Now, has been named the new chair of the boards of directors for the two mission-driven lenders, effective June 13, 2023.

The previous chair, Kurt Chilcott, who also was the longtime president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance, will now serve as vice chair of both boards.

Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance operate under a combined mission and vision as part of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations, which also includes Momentus Direct Capital, Momentus Securities, and Ventures Lending Technologies, among other organizations.

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Institutional Capital for Social Impact: New Investment Bank Focused on Bringing Capital to Disinvested Communities

Momentus Securities aims to deliver more than $3 billion in community-based investments by 2026

May 22, 2023 (New York, NY) – Momentus Securities has launched with the goal of driving institutional capital to America’s small businesses and nonprofits — and positioning “social impact” as a fully investable asset class for institutional investors.

Momentus Securities — a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member — seeks to disrupt the mission-driven investing space by addressing the current scale and liquidity limitations in the sector that inhibit the deployment of institutional capital. Momentus Securities intends to facilitate the deployment of $3 billion of social capital by 2026.

“This is an innovative approach. We are transforming how institutional investment capital is unlocked and channeled into high-need community investments,” said Momentus Securities President and CEO Alicia Reyes, who brings 27 years of experience in investment banking and private equity to Momentus Securities. “The lending market in the impact sector is decentralized and highly dispersed. This is a challenge for institutional investors that want to fully incorporate the ‘S of ESG’ into their mainstream strategies because of the lack of liquidity.

“We see this as an opportunity to launch ‘social Collateralized Loan Obligations’ and, initially, intend to open warehousing lines to aggregate portfolios of loans across five key segments: affordable housing, healthcare, education, small businesses and food. Once ramped up, the portfolios will be securitized, and we will distribute the bonds as a takeout. These portfolios will offer institutional investors the opportunity to support communities and participate and invest at a scale not previously available. Lenders will achieve better terms while providing investors an improved risk return profile,” Ms. Reyes added.

Read the full press release.

 

A child and an adult in a classroom. Funding from Capital Impact Investment Notes helps expand Capital Impact Partners' national footprint through organizations that provide access to critical social services, including health care, education, healthy foods, affordable housing, cooperatives, and dignified aging facilities.

Capital Impact Partners and InspereX Reach $300 Million Milestone in Distribution of Capital Impact Investment Notes

Capital Impact Investment Notes help fund increased equitable access to health care, education, affordable housing, and healthy foods

MAY 2, 2023 (Arlington, VA) Capital Impact Partners today announced that it has achieved a significant impact investing milestone by issuing more than $300 million of Capital Impact Investment Notes (Notes).

Capital Impact partners with InspereX LLC to distribute the Notes through its Impact Investment Platform to a nationwide network of broker-dealers, institutions, and financial advisors. 

Individual and institutional investors can purchase Capital Impact Investment Notes for as little as $1,000. Capital Impact Investment Notes provide investors with a unique opportunity to align financial goals with personal principles through values-based investing. 

“Capital Impact Investment Notes help create a unique opportunity for funders and investors to work through Capital Impact to support communities,” said Natalie Gunn, Chief Financial Officer of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance. Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance are two of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations, which also includes Ventures Lending Technologies, among other organizations. “Investors continue to recognize that Capital Impact Partners delivers a strong financial performance while bringing a continuum of capital to disinvested communities, helping these communities have the chance they deserve to thrive.”

An image depicting the five building blocks to increase racial equity in CDFI lending, including community trust; client service orientation; customized technical assistance; flexible capital solutions; and appropriately priced capital.

New Report Helps Financial Institutions Address Inequity and Systemic Discrimination in Lending

The Catalyzing Finance for Racial Equity Report from mission-driven lenders Nonprofit Finance Fund and Capital Impact Partners surfaces community and peer recommendations.

APRIL 26, 2023 (New York, NY/Arlington, VA) – Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) were born out of the Civil Rights Movement to ensure that nonprofits and businesses — particularly those in communities of color and communities with lower incomes — have equitable access to loans. However, much work still needs to be done.

A new report examines ways that CDFIs, and other financial institutions, can further change their business practices to embed racial equity in their lending and investment practices.

The Catalyzing Finance for Racial Equity Report (PDF) is the result of a partnership between Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) and Capital Impact Partners, two mission-driven CDFIs. The recommendations are derived from interviews with 15 organizations in five states, including CDFI peers and community organizations. Those in-depth conversations covered subjects such as their experiences with community development and lending, as well as how CDFI practices and services could be improved to better support community health.

“Advancing racial equity requires that we listen to communities of color and constantly interrogate and improve our practices and policies,” said Aisha Benson, CEO of NFF. “By sharing our experiences of what’s working and what isn’t among peer CDFIs, we can speed progress toward shared equity goals.”