Calvert Giving Fund
Imagine for a moment your life without access to credit. Could you afford to buy your home? Educate yourself or your children? Run your business?
Around the world, millions of individuals face this dilemma. They lack access to the essential financial services necessary to be self-sufficient. As a result, the gap between rich and poor is widening.
Community investment helps close this gap by channeling flexible, affordable capital to areas underserved by traditional financial institutions. This capital enables individuals to live in affordable housing, expand their small businesses and rise above the cycle of poverty.
As an investor, you create a positive social impact while earning a modest return on your investment. Your interest and principal are returned at maturity.
Why Invest ?
Dedicating a small portion of your portfolio to community investment allows you to multiply your impact while increasing diversification. Furthermore, many people can afford to invest much more than they can afford to give.
| When you make a $1,000 donation: | When you invest $1,000 in a community investment at 3%: |
|---|---|
| You give $1,000. | You may sacrifice $20 in interest.* |
| Only $1,000 goes to work helping people. | Your entire $1,000 goes to work helping people help themselves for the term of your investment! |
* Compared to a T-Bill investment at 5%
What does community investment accomplish?
Community investment finances:
Our program lends money to nonprofit organizations, community development groups and social enterprises working to alleviate poverty in the US and abroad. In addition, we sometimes work in related fields (such as fair trade coffee cooperatives and independent media organizations) that support communities.
These organizations provide the means for your community investment capital to impact disadvantaged people in underserved communities.
How can I invest in communities?
There are several ways to participate:
- Purchase a Calvert Community Investment Note
- Choose a mutual fund that offers a community investment option as a percentage of its portfolio
- Invest directly in a nonprofit organization or cooperative that supports community initiatives
Regardless of the option you choose, every dollar of your capital is partnered with hard working people across the country and around the world to create jobs, build homes and change lives.
