How
you can help a small business
LEAF provides an
opportunity for socially responsible investors to make a difference
with their funds. Capital invested in LEAF becomes part of a pool available
for reinvestment in new or emerging businesses.
LEAF accepts loans
under the following terms:
-
Increments of $5,000 and up
- Interest rates ranging from 0-4%
- Terms of two years or more
LEAF also seeks
investors who want to provide equity or grants to help build small businesses
in low-income communities. Grants to LEAF help in two ways: first, grants
provide LEAF with funds that can be used to make equity investments,
and second, they enable LEAF to hedge the risk inherent in lending to
start-up businesses. LEAF made its first equity investment in 1996 to
a start-up company that has grown to employ over 100 people and would
like to do more.
Since its founding
in 1983, LEAF has always repaid investors on time. These key
features of the fund help protect investors:
- A professional
staff with extensive lending experience manages LEAF
- A board
of directors with legal, small business, and community development skills
has final responsibility for loan approval
- A conservative loss reserve policy
- An ample, board-designated reserve for the protection
of investors
Finally, the U.S.
Treasury has certified LEAF as a Community Development Financial Institution
(CDFI). This assures investors that capital invested in LEAF helps
the organization carry out its mission of job creation for the benefit
of low and low-to-moderate income people.
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