CCL works with Lending Partners, community rooted organizations, to co-create the terms and underwriting criteria to pilot loan funds that deploy capital in their communities and provide evidence of the need of new financial products that better serve the needs of communities who are unable to access or afford traditional capital. Our Lending Partners directly determine qualifying loans and make referrals to CLL who deploys direct loans to small businesses across the country in historically marginalized communities. Through CCLs back office services, investments are facilitated on behalf of organizations (Lending Partners) Lending partners lead the front end qualification, underwriting, and make the loan referrals to CCL while CCL adds on necessary state and federal compliance criteria for qualification and originates and services the loans. This allows community organizations who see a capital need in their communities to provide direct and compressive services, while CCL acts as the lender so the community organization does not need to be.

These are investments into newly formed or existing funds that are seeking catalytic capital to seed or amplify their capital allocation strategies for their communities. CCL Fund lends capital directly to other community-led intermediaries and funds who manage all qualification / compliance criteria for their ongoing lending and investment activities for their communities. We aim to be an investment model for others in the ecosystem to showcase the type of capital and non-financial resources needed to invest in solutions designing the next economy where all people—no matter their race or class—have power, choice, and ownership over solutions that address the interdependence between building community wealth and preserving or sustaining our natural resources.