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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.
Investment Impact Priorities
Capital Access: Investing in historically excluded operators who have faced systemic exclusion from capital markets.
Healthy Food Access: Investing primarily in food retailers that promote access to affordable, healthy food for under-resourced communities.
Local Food Systems: directly investing in farmers and the critical infrastructure that supports their ability to get products to market and command a fair price.
Our Investment Approach
Two Pools of Capital
Our investment fund holds two revolving pools of capital—the credit enhancement pool and the direct investment capital pool. Both address working capital needs for high-impact food businesses that have struggled to find financing from traditional sources like banks, venture capitalists, and CDFIs. Fair Food Fund fills this capital gap.
Our Niche
Our capital niche is considered impact-first or catalytic, meaning we often deploy at below-market or non-traditional terms to meet the needs of the entrepreneurs and the system impacts we seek.
Credit Enhancement Pool
The Credit Enhancement Pool is a revolving pool of catalytic capital designed to unlock more capital for entrepreneurs traditionally seen as higher risk by other business lenders. Through this pool we offer collateral, loan guarantees, interest rate buy-downs, and working capital grants, to facilitate the infusion of more fair capital into food enterprises.
Partners: Banks, credit unions, CDFls, and private loan funds that are hesitant to deploy capital in our impact areas.
Typical Investment Range: $10,000-$250,000
Return: While we revolve this capital, it typically does not produce return on investment over time and has a slowly declining balance.
Results: As of December 31, 2024, we have made 34 investments, deployed $960,000, and leveraged $3.9 million externally.
Featured Investments:
Direct Investment Pool
The Direct Investment Pool is a revolving suite of flexible direct investment products designed for modest return and high impact. Our funds both absorb risk and provide capital when traditional financing options are insufficient. Products include below market-rate loans and micro-loans, creative loan structures, equity, near-equity, and working capital.
Partners: In this pool, partners are the good food businesses and operators themselves.
Typical Investment Range: $10,000-$25,000 for micro-loans; $50,000- $250,000 for other products
Return: We deploy and invest these funds for impact first, while achieving a rate of return that enables the Fund to meet its repayment obligations on its investment capital.
Results: As of December 31, 2024, we have deployed $6.07 million across 44 investments and leveraged $2.1 million externally.
Featured Investments:
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.
