NonProfit Quarterly

OCTOBER 31, 2024

Typically, a one-megawatt solar array can power at least 400 homes for a year at a cost of about $4 million—making this cost-prohibitive to most community developers. What are some practical strategies for building local capacity and breaking a colonial mindset around community energy production?

Energy 131

Energy Environmental Community Development Public Policy 131

NonProfit Quarterly

JANUARY 15, 2025

An impact-first approach to investing requires [investors who are]willing to accept below-market-rate returns. Five years ago, BII launched a cohort-based approach to help organizations in other communities set up similar funds. Activating these funding streams will be challenging but not impossible.

Public and Social Policy 104

Public and Social Policy Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofit governance and management Public Policy 104

NonProfit Quarterly

JANUARY 22, 2025

Image Credit: Brian Koellish on iStock Nearly a third of US communities are CDFI deserts. In these turbulent times, many leaders of the nations growing network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs)which now collectively manage $468 billion in assets, a 615 percent increase over the past decadehave high hopes.

Finance 104

Finance Nonprofit Administration and Development Poverty Public and Nonprofit Management 104

NonProfit Quarterly

JANUARY 8, 2025

Public bankscreated by governments and chartered to serve the public interestoffer a powerful model to advance racial equity, public accountability, and community self-determination. In New York, the public banking movement has taken root.

Finance 135

Finance Law Poverty Governance 135

NonProfit Quarterly

AUGUST 10, 2023

Image credit: Chris Briggs on unsplash.com Dr. Akilah Watkins, who previously led the Center for Community Progress and has been a leader in the CEO Circle, a group of community development leaders of color, became president and CEO of Independent Sector in January 2023. I don’t want that just to stay in community development.

Civil Society 98

Civil Society Nonprofit Administration and Development Public and Social Policy Leadership 98

NonProfit Quarterly

JANUARY 17, 2024

That dismal track record raised the ire of the US Small Business Administration’s inspector general, who condemned the agency’s failure to prioritize rural and underserved markets as the PPP program was rolled out. The people of Massachusetts are also pushing for a public bank to benefit small businesses and community development.

Public and Social Policy 135

Public and Social Policy Finance Governance Disaster Relief 135

NonProfit Quarterly

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

For example, Limpopo returned over US $6 million in unspent grants —money earmarked for community development—back to the Treasury from 2022 to 2023. Philanthropy often supports neoliberal policies that reinforce the market power of elites—and perpetuate poverty. Where is philanthropy? Not in Limpopo and Eastern Cape.

Philanthropy 95

Philanthropy Public and Social Policy Poverty Civil Society 95