Impact Investing

Impact Investing

LEveraging Our Assets For Greater Impact

Rotary Charities believes that how we invest is just as important as what we fund. In addition to making grants, we invest a portion of our portfolio in mission-aligned projects and funds that generate both social and financial returns.

Through our Impact Investments, we aim to create access to new sources of capital to provide social benefits to the community and inspire others to join us in leveraging our assets for greater philanthropic impact. It’s one more way we work toward a resilient, equitable region where everyone can thrive.

Our Approach

Our impact investing strategy prioritizes opportunities that:

  • Align with our mission and regional focus
  • Address complex community challenges
  • Catalyze other investment or unlock new capital

We work with trusted investment partners, including IFF and Venture North, and community stakeholders to identify opportunities and manage risk while staying grounded in our values.
 

What We Support

We've invested in projects and funds that support:

  • Affordable and workforce housing
  • Community infrastructure and economic development
  • Access to child care and other essential services
  • Small business support and development

Our portfolio includes a mix of direct investments and investments in community loan funds, intermediaries, and place-based initiatives. From catalytic loans for affordable housing projects to investments in local food systems, our impact investments are helping changemakers bring bold ideas to life.

Partnering with Community Development Financial Institutions

Investing in our Local Economy

$500,000 invested with Venture North

Investing in Our Community


$1.5 million invested with IFF

INVESTMENTS AT WORK

Commongrounds

A $1.5 million loan provided by IFF supported the construction of Commongrounds, a unique mixed-use cooperative owned by community members and tenants in Traverse City.

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Childcare

In partnership with Venture North, Traverse Connect, and participating large employers in the region, IFF analyzed how the business community can best support the early childhood education (ECE) in Northwest Michigan. Specifically, recommendations focus on how to provide ECE at scale in rural communities and how employers can make strategic investments to support local families.

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Local Businesses

Hundreds of small businesses have received grants from Venture North's Regional Resiliency Program, helping local small businesses contribute to the economic prosperity of our region.

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Housing

Advocacy work by Michigan Community Capital to amplify the need for state-supported tools for increasing access to affordable housing contributed to a $50 million funding allocation from the State of Michigan.

Community Investment Program

We are investing locally in our shared work to build a resilient region. Loans and loan guarantees with low-to-no interest are available, as an investment from our endowment. We are interested in making investments that will create a measurable community impact toward a fair, thriving, and resilient region. Proposals are encouraged in which our investment can help leverage additional funding. 

The maximum amount available is $250,000, and the length of term may not exceed 9 years. The amount of funds made available will be determined by the balance in the restricted Community Investment Program. Applications will go through a formal loan approval process.

If you meet the requirements below, you're welcome to connect with Sakura Takano to discuss a potential partnership.

INVESTMENTS AT WORK

Food Rescue

Goodwill Northern Michigan

In response to the need cause by the Covid-19 pandemic, we leveraged $250,000 from our endowed assets to accompany a $2.75 million loan from Northern Trust to Goodwill Northern Michigan. Read the press release.