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BECOME AN INVESTOR
Since 2013, we have fueled the success of local food entrepreneurs in our home state of Michigan and beyond. Our Fair Food Fund is an impact-first investment fund housed within our nonprofit that creates innovative financial products to support food entrepreneurs who nurture the health and vitality of their communities.
Together with our network of national lenders, we believe that food and farm businesses are powerful engines for positive economic development in their local communities. When we invest in these businesses, we amplify their impact to strengthen local food systems and make affordable, healthy food accessible to all.
Join us to make an impact.
We are raising capital and support to food entrepreneurs transforming their communities for good.
Our Impact
Over the past 10 years, we’ve supported x businesses, deployed y dollars, and had a loss rate of z%.
Our Niche
Our capital niche is often intentionally below-market, concessionary, or otherwise non-traditional.
Our Approach
Our investment fund holds two revolving pools of capital—the collateral pool and the direct investment capital pool. Both facilitate capital stacks for high-impact food businesses that have struggled to find financing from traditional lenders, including banks, food venture capitalists, and CDFIs.
The Collateral Pool
Through this pool we offer collateral, loan guarantees, and interest rate buy-downs. These investments generally range from $10,000 to $250,000. While we revolve this capital, it typically does not produce ROI over time and has a slowly declining balance.
The Direct Investment Capital Pool
Through this pool, we typically offer below-market-rate loans, including micro-loans, as well as creative loan structures, equity, near-equity, and working capital.
The Collateral Pool in Action
The Direct Investment Capital Pool in Action
When our local food economies thrive,
we all thrive.
Locally-rooted food businesses create a foundation for healthier, more livable communities. By supporting entrepreneurs who are deeply invested in their neighborhoods, we unlock boundless potential.
