FAQs
» What is Community Investing?
» What is the difference between Community Investing and Socially Responsible Investing ("SRI")?
» What type of community investment products focus on community investing?
» What type of community development activities do these investments support?
» How does a community development bond fund like the CRA Qualified Investment Fund help support community development initiatives?
What is Community Investing?
Community investing is the practice of using financial investments to help underserved communities and support community investment initiatives while earning a financial return.
What is the difference between Community Investing and SRI?
Community investing, a sub-set of Socially Responsible Investing, is an investment style that allows investors to have a direct positive impact on communities. SRI includes the addition of any secondary objectives into the investment process such as an investor's social, moral, ethical, or religious criteria and may include positive and negative screening and shareholder advocacy.
What type of community investment products focus on community investing?
There are many types of investment institutions that offer community investing products. These include community development banks, credit unions, bond funds, loan funds, venture capital funds, pooled funds, and social enterprises, among others.
What type of community development activities do these investments support?
These investments support all different types of community development activities which may include, but are not limited to: affordable housing, microfinance, job training to underserved people and communities, economic development in low- and moderate-income communities, basic financial services to underserved individuals, community development projects, and affordable healthcare.
How does a community development bond fund like the CRA Qualified Investment Fund help support community development initiatives?
The CRA Qualified Investment Fund invests in fixed income securities such as mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and municipal bonds that support community development activities nationwide in low- and moderate-income and minority communities. These activities help create jobs, stimulate neighborhood revitalization and community development, and supply capital for small businesses, affordable housing, and vital community services.