Current Projects
Truebody 2.0
Innovative Organizational and Capital Structures to Promote Impact Goals
This project aims to relaunch the TrueBody brand and product line as a new for-profit enterprise, TrueFamily Brands LLC. The new company will carry on the original TrueBody social and environmental missions with the additional mission to provide a reliable and meaningful revenue stream to support local, mission-aligned nonprofits.
The money map
Capital Innovation Lab is leading the design and implementation of an open-access online capital formation tool, plus downloadable resources, for investors and entrepreneurs. The Money Map will identify, analyze, and recommend investment structures that more deeply align management teams and capital providers toward long-view strategies in support of social/environmental goals and outcomes.
Community Investment Fund Catalyst
Capital Innovation Lab is developing educational programs, resources, and consultancy for community leaders and grassroots organizers to augment the Community Investment Fund Toolkit we created for the National Coalition of Community Capital in 2021. Our role as CIF Catalyst will foster increased establishment of community-sourced, community-focused investment funds for local economic resiliency.
The Lab
Capital Innovation Lab fosters the broader development of capital innovation by offering a “virtual lab” for projects, research, and other exploratory efforts that align with our mission and vision. Students, grassroots organizers, investor groups, and aspiring capital innovators can access ressources, advice, consultancy, stipends, and fiscal sponsorship to support successful development of their endeavors.
Completed Projects
the home of local investing
Since 2012, the Local Investing Resource Center has provided educational resources for investors, businesses, and communities to support investment into local small businesses and nonprofits. In 2019, Local Cap acquired the website, bringing a fresh new look, easier navigation, and updated information. New resources coming soon for Investment Advisors and Business Owners.
Community Investment Fund Task Force
The COVID-19 crisis created a heightened awareness of the importance of our Main Street businesses and spurred greater interest in Main Street investment. A Community Investment Fund Task Force — led by Local Cap and comprised of legal, financial, and community organizing experts — is engaging with public policy decision-makers and fund management resources to promote strategies for durable, sustainable community capital solutions to usher in a more inclusive and democratic economy with greater local ownership and control.
how-to guide for building local wealth, equity, and justice
A collaborative effort with Solidago Foundation and the National Coalition for Community Capital, the Community Investment Fund handbook helps communities design a legal, financial, and operational structure to pool money from citizen investors for patient, neighborly capital into local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Measures of Success
