The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation's Impact Investing Donation Fund supports AAACF's Impact Investing program, and gives AAACF the greatest flexibility to address emerging community needs and priorities. Donors who want to leverage AAACF's support of our community's needs may provide a gift of any amount to this fund.
The strength of our growing endowment (we have nearly tripled in size over the last ten years), combined with our goal of making mission-aligned investments in key sectors, allows us to make high-impact investments at scale in our community – and to offer more flexible financing than other investors. As an endowed institution, we are committed to the long-term. These investments have a longer time frame than grants. We also take the long view as we work towards our goal of creating inter-generational impact.
To date, we’ve invested $7 million through a variety of vehicles, listed below. These partners are growing – and thriving – in Washtenaw County because of our investments! We want to encourage others to invest in these opportunities, just as the Community Foundation is committed to making further investments in Washtenaw County in the years to come. As our assets grow, our impact – and our impact investing – will continue to grow.
Impact investing refers to the practice of investing in community projects that are intended to generate a financial return as well as a tangible social or community benefit. Unlike grants, investments are intended to be repaid to the Community Foundation and can be “recycled” back into the community through additional investments.
To understand how capital and our community intersect, we commissioned a first-of-its-kind research project to establish an objective understanding of the local investing ecosystem.
The AAACF is proud to support initiatives that strengthen families and expand opportunities across Washtenaw County. One of our first childcare-focused impact investments came to life through Apple Playschools’ newly renovated early childhood center. Apple Playschools - an Ann Arbor nonprofit offering nature-based learning through its Green Apple Garden outdoor immersion program and Spanish-immersion education through Manzanitas - has grown from a home-based child care program in 2011 to a multi-site organization grounded in play-based, nature-centered, and anti-bias pedagogy.
AAACF’s investment, a $750,000 loan paired with $100,000 in development grants, made it possible to complete construction projects necessary for long-term program sustainability. Already, the expansion is yielding meaningful community impact: 12 new local jobs created and enrollment capacity increased by nearly 50%, adding 47 new child care spots for families across the region.
A Brighter Way provides critical navigation, mentorship, and community support for individuals returning home after incarceration, helping them build stability and reconnect with opportunity. With a focus on long-term housing, employment pathways, and supportive relationships, the organization fills essential gaps for returning citizens navigating reentry.
AAACF made an impact investment to help A Brighter Way purchase a transitional house in Ypsilanti, creating a stable home for up to eight men re-entering the community. This dedicated housing provides the time, support, and security needed to acclimate back into employment, community life, and long-term independence. This investment strengthens A Brighter Way’s ability to offer dignity-centered, community-rooted pathways toward successful reentry in Washtenaw County.
Our team was thrilled to announce a commitment of $1 million in Renovare Development, a mission-based housing developer, which is building Dorsey Estates: permanently affordable for-sale housing in Ypsilanti's Depot Town at 220 North Park.
This project will create 46 new, for-sale, single family houses, with 23 homes reserved for homebuyers making 40-80% of the area median income. Those homes will also have deed restrictions to ensure they remain permanently affordable while creating generational wealth for the homeowners.
Investing in women-owned businesses empowers community - Through Michigan Women Forward, we are making more capital available for women- and minority-owned businesses in Washtenaw County benefits the local economy and supports increased financial stability of entrepreneurs who sometimes lack access to adequate start-up and/or growth capital. This particular type of micro-loan program is aimed at long-term wealth-building for women and their families.
Fighting Food Deserts & Feeding Equity in Washtenaw County - The premise of the Fair Food Fund Social Impact Notes (the Fund) is simple: if food system entrepreneurs are offered catalytic capital and business assistance through a networked (10–15 companies in our geography) approach, then more of the food economy businesses will be able to provide healthy and nutritious food products that the community desires and can afford. FFF’s focus is on the food system entrepreneur, building their capacity through capital investments, technical assistance, and networks. The Fund wants to make visible the many investable food businesses in our community to attract local and outside capital for future investments.
Accelerate Economic Opportunity in Washtenaw County Through Mission Lending - IFF’s principal focus is lending funds to nonprofit organizations and businesses working to provide vital services and create economic opportunity for low -income and special needs people and places. Its vision is to provide comprehensive solutions with transformational outcomes in low-income and special needs communities throughout the Midwest through its mission (which is to strengthen nonprofits and the communities they serve by providing leadership, capital and real estate solutions). We can invest in affordable housing for families and seniors, early childhood centers, and expand access to health care services through the IFF Impact Connection Initiative. AAACF capital can be invested in neighborhoods previously overlooked and invest in generational human dignity by standing up the resources they have told us time and time again that they need to thrive.
The CCM Community Impact Bond Fund (Ticker: CRANX) is an investment grade, intermediate duration bond fund that seeks to preserve capital, deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns, and serve as the ballast in a portfolio. The Fund invests in well-researched, fossil fuel free bonds that have direct and measurable positive environmental and societal impacts. In Washtenaw County, funds support affordable housing and small business loans.
Donate today through our online portal.
If you have any questions about how you can give to our impact investing pool, please contact Jane Park, Director of Philanthropy.
