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RSF Social Finance Launches Food & Agriculture PRI Fund

New Program-Related Investing Fund Helps Foundations Support Local and Sustainable Food Systems

RSF Social Finance Launches Food & Agriculture PRI Fund

New Program-Related Investing Fund Helps Foundations Support Local and Sustainable Food Systems

Published 07-13-10

Submitted by RSF Social Finance

RSF Social Finance (RSF) is proud to announce the official launch of its Food & Agriculture Program-Related Investing (PRI) Fund. RSF's PRI Fund aims to increase the flow of funding to social enterprises in local and sustainable food and agriculture by unlocking a new source of patient capital for this important sector. Program-Related Investing is a tool that allows foundations to make recoverable investments from the 5% annual distributions required by law.

Building on RSF’s more than 25 years of experience in social enterprise lending, the Food & Agriculture PRI Fund reduces the barriers to entry for foundations that want to leverage their philanthropic dollars for additional impact through PRIs, but that lack the in-house expertise to source, underwrite, service, and monitor loans. With a minimum investment of $100,000 and a five year term, foundations can receive a 1% annual return through RSF's PRI Fund and ultimately "recycle" their investment toward additional PRIs or grants.

Local and sustainable food system projects serve a variety of foundation mission areas, and it is because of their wide-reaching impacts that RSF has chosen to launch the first of several planned PRI Funds in Food & Agriculture. RSF PRI Fund borrowers will positively contribute to:

  • healthy ecological systems,

  • urban and rural economic development,

  • safe and equitable labor conditions, and/or

  • increased access to healthy food in underserved areas.

Investments in the RSF PRI Fund will be used to provide loans of $50,000 or more to non-profit and forprofit social enterprises addressing key issues in food production, food access, value-added processing, distribution, retail, and waste management. RSF is currently evaluating several prospective borrowers for the fund.

If you are interested in helping to fund the launch of this innovative investment vehicle for local and sustainable food systems, or for more detailed information on the RSF Food & Agriculture PRI Fund, please contact Taryn Goodman, Impact Investing Manager, at 415.561.6195 or taryn.goodman@rsfsocialfinance.org. If you are a potential borrower seeking a loan, please contact Ted Levinson, Senior Lending Manager, at 415.561.6179 or ted.levinson@rsfsocialfinance.org.

About RSF Social Finance

RSF Social Finance (RSF) is a 501(c)3 financial services organization with a vision to transform the way the world works with money, one transaction at a time. Inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner, RSF offers investing, lending, and giving services that support non-profit and for-profit social enterprises addressing key issues in the areas of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship. In partnership with its community of investors and donors, RSF has made over $200 million in loans and over $90 million in grants since 1984.

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RSF Social Finance

RSF Social Finance

RSF Social Finance is a financial services organization dedicated to transforming the way the world works with money. RSF offers investing, lending, and giving services that generate positive social and environmental impact while fostering community and collaboration among participants. Our growing community of clients is furthering the work of social entrepreneurs in the fields of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship. Building the field of social finance through community-based economic practices and a productive ecosystem of social finance partners is part of our work toward a human centered culture of finance. Since 1984, RSF has made over $275 million in loans and over $100 million in grants to non-profit and for-profit social enterprises.

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