Rhode Island Community Investment Cooperative

"I'm an investor in Local Return's community investment fund...because it is so important to band together to support our local entrepreneurs and build community capital." -- Kate on why she invests

Our beloved Viola Davis said it best: "We either move forward together or not at all. There is no man behind the curtain who has control over your life” (or our community).

Aprenda cómo escribir y apoyar proyectos de ley que promuevan leyes en Rhode Island para que los trabajadores sean dueños de sus propias empresas (Cooperativas)
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Miércoles 18 de marzo, 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Lugar: White Electric Coffee (café y refrigerios)
@investri.bsky.social

If you'd prefer to make a charitable gift to support the community investment fund, reach out — we have options for you.

White background, white text reads: Invest [verb] 1: to involve or engage especially emotionally 2: to commit in order to earn a return 3: to furnish with power or authority

All of these meanings, please!

Join us tomorrow evening to learn more about Rhode Island's first and only community investment fund. There will be plenty of time for your questions and reactions. localreturn.org/events/?even...

Purple background, lighter purple letters read LOVE (except O is replaced by the pinwheel symbol that is our icon). In smaller letters at the bottom: We love you, Rhode Island.

Happy Valentine's Day to our beloved Rhode Islanders.

Green background, with lighter green map bubble arrow that has a heart in the center. Text reads: We are all shareholders in Rhode Island. Call on your companies, churches, or institutions to invest locally.

Rhode Islanders! Call on your companies, churches, or institutions to move some of their money into local investments. P.S. We host the state's first and only community investment fund.

"Today, investing is what people do to preserve their wealth. In a sacred economy, it is what we do to share our wealth." Charles Eisenstein

If you have a donor advised fund, you know something about community investing. And you can invest through your DAF in Rhode Island's community investment fund. Learn more:

Black chalkboard background, with a banner at top reading "Community Investment 101." Handwriting underneath says: "What does it mean to be an investor?"

Black chalkboard background, with a banner at top reading "Community Investment 101." Underneath it says: "An investor is a person or organization that puts money into a venture (e.g. company, property, or fund) with the expectation of achieving a financial profit. A community investor expects a social return (a benefit to the community) as well as a financial return."

Black chalkboard background, with a banner at top reading "Community Investment 101." Underneath it says: "An investor into the Local Return DCIF owns a piece of the fund. That means you have certain voting and dividend rights. The subscription agreement is a legal agreement. It outlines the mutual understandings of the investor and the fund."

What makes investing into the Local Return DCIF different from other forms of supporting the community financially? As an investor, you're a legal owner of the Fund.

2026 Just Economy Conference » NCRC April 14-15

We'll be presenting at the @justeconomy.bsky.social Just Economy Conference this April on Community Investment Funds: The Antidote to Extractive Capital. Will you be there?

Logo for the Rhode Island Community Investment Cooperative, with purple and green pinwheel, and the words Local Return DCIF underneath in a lovely shade of teal

So, now you know why the Local Return DCIF is a DCIF — and why that's kind of a big deal.

A DCIF must meet 2 key requirements: (1) Its primary business is investing in real estate, not securities issued by other companies, and (2) real estate and other non-securities assets must comprise at least 60% of the fund's assets.

The Diversified Community Investment Fund (DCIF) is a compliance strategy that keeps a fund out of the definition of an "investment company" and therefore unburdened by the ICA's heavy compliance requirements.

But federal laws (specifically the Investment Company Act of 1940, or ICA) restrict the kinds of funds that are possible at a community scale.

Sounds good, right? Like something we should do?

In other words, they're a way for community members to (1) pool their funds on behalf of their community and (2) invest in their own backyards instead of sending their money to Wall Street.

Community investment funds are effective and efficient vehicles for raising capital from within a community and deploying it in ventures that the community wants to support, with the potential for the non-wealthy to build wealth.

Community investment funds: it's all in the name! Well, the name and federal securities law.

I’m so proud to be an early investor in the RI Community Investment fund — to literally *invest* in our community!

Check it out 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Are you interested in learning more about the Local Return Diversified Community Investment Fund? Join us virtually on Tuesday, February 17, at 5:30-6:15 p.m. for an information session. localreturn.org/events/?even...

On blackboard background, banner reads Community Investment 101. Handwriting: What is community investing?

On blackboard background, banner reads Community Investment 101. Community investing is a form of investing that allows you to invest your money in a specific community...such as the places where you live, work, play, and love.

Starting with the basics: Community investing allows you to invest your money in your community.

Purple background, green boxes, white text: 3 reasons to invest in the Local Return DCIF: 1. Financial returns + community returns = you can feel good about this investment. 2. Every investor is also an owner with an equal vote (no matter how much you invest). 3. Making history! We're the first diversified community investment fund in the U.S.

3 really good reasons to invest with us.

Green background, purple text. Text at top reads: A path for change that is worth investing in. A light green circle/cycle made up of four arrows: Community investment, Community ownership, Community wealth, Community prosperity.

If your theory of change looks anything like ours, let's join forces.

White text on purple background with green heart reads: Resolutions for 2026: 1. Invest in Rhode Island 2. Expand our circle of community investors 3. Support the people who make our neighborhoods better

Theme of the year: We're all in.

An assortment of polaroid pictures in the shape of a heart on a purple background, with the Rhode Island Community Investment Cooperative logo along the bottom.

We are grateful to our community investors for a year of growth. We hope you join us in 2026!

Our @jdinri.bsky.social with a wicked meaningful list for 2025. What would you have suggested?

How to get meals, repairs, and rides to the airport without spending a dime - The Boston Globe In these community-led economies, time literally equals money.

Love seeing these kinds of beloved economies!

Inspired by @danmcgowan.bsky.social’s Rhode Map, we offer our Thanksgiving vibe check on Rhode Island’s only community investment fund:
⬆️ 40 investors
💸 $337,500 raised
🫶 100% gratitude
💫 All-in for 2026