Firm Overview

At Shared Capital, we believe that by supporting the formation and expansion of cooperatives in communities, we help communities build more just, inclusive, and equitable local economies.  

Shared Capital makes investments in cooperative businesses that advance racial equity, social and economic justice, and build community wealth. In 2022, 84% of our investments are to cooperatives owned by people of color, women, LGBTQIA, and low-income communities. In 2022, 31% of our investments were to Black, Indigenous, People of Color-owned cooperatives. People come together to organize and own cooperatives to address community needs, such as access to safe and affordable housing, the creation and retention of living wage jobs, and access to healthy foods. The broad-based ownership of cooperatives helps create opportunities for communities that are left out of mainstream markets. We bring our extensive expertise in cooperatives to fill critical gaps in capital access and leveraging other dollars wherever possible. Our unique democratic, borrower-led financing model supports accountability to the communities where we work. The fund is owned by cooperatives that borrow from and invest in the fund.  

Shared Capital is a fund that is democratically owned and governed by its members and borrowers with a democratically elected board. With a 45 year track record of making more than 900 loans to cooperatives, Shared Capital is experienced and yet innovative. We provide truly cooperative capital that is flexible, patient and promotes, not undermines, the cooperative structure. In 2022, we gave back to cooperative member-borrowers a 2% rebate on interest paid in 2022 member patronage refund.