Investment Impact

Capital that builds lasting change.

The Fulcrum Impact Investment Fund is a nonprofit capital engine designed to move mission-driven organizations forward. We combine patient investment, hands-on support, and a reinvestment model so that impact grows over time — not one grant at a time.

Donate to the Investment Fund Back to the Compass

Chart your course

The Vision

From charity to ownership.

Too many nonprofits and social enterprises are stuck surviving grant-to-grant. They have proven models, talented teams, and real community trust — but they lack the growth capital to reach their next stage.

Our fund changes that equation. By treating mission-driven organizations as investable ventures, we give them the resources and runway to build assets, revenue, and resilience. We measure success in both lives improved and dollars returned, so the fund becomes stronger the more it supports.

"We are not building a fund that gives once. We are building a fund that gives forever."

Archie Holton

Founder, Fulcrum Impact

How It Works

A cycle of impact & return.

The fund is designed around four simple principles that keep capital flowing toward the organizations and communities that need it most.

Step 1

Pool Patient Capital

We bring together foundations, impact investors, donor-advised funds, and mission-aligned contributors to build a revolving fund. Every dollar is deployed with a long horizon, so organizations can plan beyond the next grant cycle.

Step 2

Invest in Repayable Instruments

We use loans, revenue-share agreements, equity-like structures, and other flexible tools tailored to nonprofit and social-enterprise cash flows. The goal is sustainability, not extraction.

Step 3

Coach & Connect

Capital alone is not enough. Every investment is paired with advisory support, governance guidance, and introductions to a network of mentors, partners, and follow-on funders.

Step 4

Reinvest Returns

When investments repay, the returns flow back into the fund. This creates a perpetual engine for impact: one success funds the next generation of changemakers.

Investment Types

Tools built for mission, not markets.

Every investment is structured to fit the organization’s capacity, revenue, and stage of growth. These are the core instruments the fund uses to move capital into impact.

Patient Loans

Low-interest loans with longer repayment timelines and grace periods that match the cash-flow realities of nonprofits and social enterprises.

Example

“A youth media nonprofit receives $50,000 to build a paid production studio. It repays the loan over five years from new client revenue, keeping ownership in the community.”

Revenue-Share Agreements

Flexible financing where an organization repays a percentage of revenue until a capped return is reached, rather than taking on fixed debt payments.

Example

“A clean-water social enterprise agrees to share 5% of monthly revenue until it returns 1.5x the investment. Repayments slow during lean months and accelerate during strong ones.”

PRI-Style Program-Related Investments

Investments structured like those foundations make to further charitable purposes, often with below-market returns, preserving tax-advantaged capital.

Example

“A community land trust uses a below-market PRI to acquire a commercial property, converting it into permanently affordable space for local entrepreneurs.”

"Capital with conscience, returns with purpose."

Who We Invest In

Backing leaders who turn purpose into progress.

We look for organizations with a clear mission, a viable path to sustainability, and a deep connection to the communities they serve.

Revenue-Ready Nonprofits

Organizations with a proven program model and a clear path to earned revenue — whether through fee-for-service, social enterprise, or licensed offerings.

Early-Stage Social Enterprises

Founders building market-based solutions to social and environmental problems, especially those led by people from the communities they serve.

Community-Owned Assets

Cooperatives, land trusts, community development corporations, and other ventures that build durable wealth for historically underserved places.

Innovation Pilots

High-potential experiments in education, health, climate, media, and economic mobility that need bridge capital to reach proof of concept.

The Bottom Line

Two kinds of returns, both compounded.

Financial

Repaid capital is reinvested, creating a self-sustaining pool that grows with every successful venture.

Social

Jobs created, services expanded, communities empowered, and durable assets placed in the hands of the people who need them.

Systemic

A demonstrated model of nonprofit investment that invites more capital into the impact economy and shifts how funders think about risk.

Apply for the Fund

Ready to move your mission forward?

If your organization meets the criteria below, share a brief application and our team will be in touch within two weeks.

Eligibility Checklist

Before applying, please confirm your organization is aligned with the following.

Registered nonprofit, social enterprise, or community-owned entity with a clear charitable or social purpose.
A viable path to earned revenue, repayment, or asset-building within 3–5 years.
Leadership with lived experience or deep trust in the communities you serve.
Willingness to receive coaching, governance support, and partnership introductions.

For Donors & Foundations

Common Questions

How your contribution works, how returns are recycled, and how we measure impact.

Is my contribution to the fund tax-advantaged?

Yes. Fulcrum Impact operates as a nonprofit entity, and donations to the fund generally qualify for a U.S. charitable tax deduction. Foundations, donor-advised funds, and individuals can contribute cash, appreciated securities, or other assets. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

Can a foundation make a Program-Related Investment (PRI)?

Absolutely. PRI-style contributions are one of the fund’s core tools. Foundations can deploy capital in ways that further their charitable purposes while preserving principal and recycling returns back into new impact investments. We work with each foundation to structure the right instrument and documentation.

What happens when an investment repays?

Repaid capital and returns flow back into the fund rather than to a single donor. This creates a perpetual engine: one successful investment funds the next generation of nonprofits and social enterprises. Donors can track this recycling through our annual impact and return report.

How do you measure impact?

Every investee reports on a small set of agreed-upon metrics tied to their mission and business model. We track financial health, operational milestones, and outcomes such as jobs created, people served, community assets built, and environmental improvements. Results are shared with donors and the public in our annual report.

Will I receive updates on how my capital is used?

Yes. Major donors and foundation partners receive quarterly updates, and all contributors receive an annual impact report. You will see which organizations received support, what they achieved, and how the fund’s portfolio is performing financially and socially.

What is the minimum contribution?

We accept contributions of all sizes. Major gifts and foundation commitments help anchor the fund, while smaller donations can be pooled through donor-advised funds or giving circles. Contact us to discuss the giving structure that works best for you.

Join the Movement

Ready to put capital to work for people and planet?

Whether you are a funder, a founder, or a partner, we would love to explore how the Fulcrum Impact Investment Fund can move your mission forward.

Contribute to the Investment Fund Meet the Team