Our goal is to invest congregational financial resources in alignment with Unitarian Universalist Principles and values.
A committee manages the Congregation’s Socially Responsible Loan Program which is designed to assist under-served communities, enhance employment opportunities, support women entrepreneurs, encourage rural prosperity, and provide credit for under-banked communities.
HOW IT WORKS
After reviewing specific loan proposals and relevant
financial and historical data, the SRI Committee
may negotiate terms of a low-interest loan or
deposit with a 3 to 5 year term. Rates can vary.
Typically, loans are interest-only with payment of
the principal at the end of the term. If approved, the
proposal then requires additional approval of the
Board of Trustees of the Congregation.
Innovative and Responsible Loan Products
Currently addressing financial inclusiveness through progressive funding
- Home loan underwriting
- Green rehab initiatives
- Energy efficient co-ops
- Community centers
- Early childhood initiatives
- LGBTQ+ and BIPOC support
- Re-training and returning to the workplace
- State of the art training equipment
- Capital for co-op ownership
- Entrepreneurial development
- Innovative impact mitigation
- Local and organic market support
- Technical, financial, and professional development
- Entrepreneurial support
- After-school programs
- Educational opportunities
- Affordable and accessible childcare and health services
- Retraining for workplace re-entry
- Underwriting and support for organic farmers in rural America and in the global south
- Underwriting of international micro-credit and intermediate loans
- Support investments in Fair Trade coffee, cocoa, spices, and organic cotton
- PIBOC organic farming initiatives
- Alternative credit resources such as CDCUs to counter the “$100 billion predatory” loan industry
- Financial coaching opportunities for borrowers in
business, farming, social services - FICO score improvement training
- Immigration fee support
Access to transportation, employment opportunities, health care and healthy food options
Currently supporting
Calvert Impact Capital, Bethesda, MD
Capital Good Fund, Providence RI
Co-Op Fund of Northeast, Amherst, MA
Envest Micro Finance, Madison, WI
Foodshed Capital, Charlottesville, VA
Freedom First Federal Credit Union, Roanoke, VA
Inclusiv Credit Unions, New York, NY
Iroquois Valley Fams, LLP, Evanston, IL
La Fuerza Unidad, Glen Cove, NY
Latino Community Credit Union, Durham, NC
Leviticus, Elmsford, NY
Native American Bank, Denver, CO
One Detroit Credit Union, Detroit, MI
Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, Santa Cruz, CA
CONTACT US!
We are always looking for impact investment opportunities that augment sustainability and ethical outcomes in underserved communities locally and internationally. If you have a socially responsible initiative that generates some income and would be able to support a low interest loan, please phone the
Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche (516.472.2977) or
