Resources
This is a selected compilation of resources that I've personally found to be especially useful regarding each of the topics listed in the Table of Contents below.
How to use this page: There's quite a bit of content here, so I recommend using the links in the Table of Contents to navigate to the topics of most interest to you. As indicated, the first section ("Learn") is focused on topics that you may want to learn more about to help you better understand the landscape. The second section ("Do") lists resources that can be helpful when you are ready to get involved and take action.
Table of Contents
Learn
- Debunking "Econ 101" and Marketworld Thinking
- Understanding Economic History (an admittedly U.S.-centric view, sorry)
- Better Models for Economics and Finance
Do
- Current Examples of Better Models in Practice
- Direct Local Investing Resources
- Groups You Can Join Who Are Working On This Stuff
- More Sites for Finding Community Investment Opportunities
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Disclaimer: This page is a work in progress and will always be incomplete because these topics are BIG and emergent, and because I am a human being with biases. Please help me make this better and let me know what you think I'm missing!
Debunking "Econ 101" and Marketworld Thinking
My favorite books on this topic:
The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Globa…
Modern economies reward activities that extract value r…
Wealth Supremacy by Marjorie Kelly: 9781523004775 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A powerful analysis of how the bias towards wealth that is woven into the very fabric of American capitalism is damaging people, the economy, and the planet, and what the foundations of a new economy could…
The Big Myth
“A carefully researched work of intellectual history, and an urgently needed political analysis.” --Jane Mayer“[A] scorching indictment of free market…
Winners Take All
An insider’s groundbreaking investigation of how the global elite’s efforts to “change the world” preserve the status quo and obscure the...
The Deficit Myth
A New York Times Bestseller The leading thinker and most visible public advocate of modern monetary theory -- the freshest and most impor...
The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Or…
In this classic work of economic history and social the…
Understanding Economic History (an admittedly U.S.-centric view, sorry)
My favorite books on this topic:
The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth G…
“Read this book. It explains so much about the moment..…
Debt: The First 5,000 Years
Before there was money, there was debt Every economics …
Goliath
A startling look at how concentrated financial power and consumerism transformed American politics, resulting in the emergence of populis...
From Here to Equality
Racism and discrimination have choked economic opportunity for African Americans at nearly every turn. At several historic moments, the t...
Sapiens
100,000 years ago, at least six human species inhabited the earth. Today there is just one. Us. Homo sapiens. How did our species succe...
Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Ac…
Caliban and the Witch is a history of the body in the t…
Better Models for Economics and Finance
Better Economic Theory
My favorite books on this topic:
Doughnut Economics
Economics is broken. It has failed to predict, let alone prevent, financial crises that have shaken the foundations of our societies. Its...
The Making of a Democratic Economy: How to Build Prospe…
Our economy is designed by the 1 percent, for the 1 per…
Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalis…
The extraordinary efforts that took mankind to the moon…
Leading from the Emerging Future
Our Time Is Now We have entered an age of disruption. Financial collapse, climate change, resource depletion, and a growing gap between r...
Better Banking Theory
My favorite book on this topic:
Just Money
How to use finance as a tool to build a more equitable and sustainable society. Money defines our present and will shape our future. Eve...
Good research on this topic:
To learn how money and banking actually work today, I'd highly recommend this free Perry Mehrling course (warning: it's technical and it's a time commitment, but the pay-off is very worth it):
Economics of Money and Banking
Offered by Columbia University. The last three or four decades have seen a remarkable evolution in the institutions that comprise the modern ... Enroll for free.
To learn more about your bank - and maybe find a better one - check out:
Mighty Deposits | Find banking that matches your values
Mighty helps you see what your bank invests in. Find local, ethical, and sustainable banks that match your values.
Banks certified for sustainability
To learn more about the Public Banks concept:
Public Banks
How financial institutions owned by and accountable to the people help create a nonextractive economy.
more
Better Investing Theory
Investing frameworks and principles that I think are very cool:
Movement Portfolio Theory | CED
Movement Portfolio Theory (MvPT) is a social justice investment framework and portfolio management strategy that centers coordination with social movement leaders and alignment with social movement goals.
"Social Movement Investing" from the Center for Economic Democracy
Non-Extractive Finance - SEED COMMONS
A COMMUNITY WEALTH COOPERATIVE
"Non-Extractive Finance" as defined by Seed Commons
Restorative Economics: A Values-Based Roadmap to a Just Economy - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
What is restorative economics? Fundamentally, it’s a values-based approach, centered on healing vulnerable communities by investing in their self-determination.
Nwamaka Agbo
Links to other great resource lists on this topic:
Current Examples of Better Models in Practice
Community Wealth Building Initiatives
Minnesota-based examples (these get a special section because I live in MN):
Capital Funds with a Non-Extractive Finance Approach
Homepage - SEED COMMONS
A national network of locally-rooted, non-extractive loan funds.
Black Farmer Fund
Impact Investing & Lending
Prioritizing Sustainable Finance to Strengthen Indigenous-owned Businesses, Tribal Corporations, and Nations As the investing and lending arm of NDN Collective, NDN Fund provides debt financing and…
NDN Fund
Shared Capital Cooperative - Building Economic Democracy
Formerly Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF). We are a national CDFI loan fund that connects co-ops and capital to build economic democracy.
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT: An Organic Farmland Finance Company
Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT is an organic farmland finance company that provides farmer-friendly leases and mortgages to the next generation of organic farmers. Since our founding in 2007, we have directed over $50 million in investments in organic agriculture.
Kachuwa Impact Fund | Investment Cooperative | United States
Based in Colorado, Kachuwa Impact Fund (pronounced KAW-choo-wuh) is an investment cooperative and public benefit corporation focused on owning and operating “impact real estate” and investing in privately held “impact companies.”
Potlikker Capital
Potlikker Capital is a farm community governed charitable integrated capital fund created to holistically serve BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) farmers in America who operate at the intersection of racial and climate justice.
NEW WAY HOMES
Open to individuals and organizations, the New Way Homes Fund creates new affordable and below-market-rate housing while providing investors a fair return. (California-only)
Zero Percent Loan Initiatives
Slow Money
Building local food systems is one of the most direct, powerful ways to begin addressing critical challenges of our time—climate change, health, community resilience. Since 2010, over $57 million has been invested in more than 625 organic farms and food enterprises, via dozens of local Slow Money gr…
Woody Tasch
Kiva - Loans that change lives
Support women, entrepreneurs, students and refugees around the world with as little as $25 on Kiva. 100% of your loans go to support borrowers.
Home | Hebrew Free Loan Society
HFLS provides interest-free loans for lower-income residents of NYC, Westchester, and Long Island, regardless of race or religion. Apply today!
Direct Local Investing Resources
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The Main Street Journal ("the world's hub for local investors")
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Introduction to Community Investing (a short educational video series on local community investing from Grubstake)
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Michael Shuman's YouTube Channel (library of videos about local investing from Michael Shuman)
Angels of Mainstreet - Jenny Kassan
Legal advising, consulting, and coaching for mission-aligned structure and finance
Community Capital Toolbox
Community capital is an exciting idea for regaining control of our economy, but what does it look like in practice? The following Toolbox includes community capital strategies for two different...
Center for Community Ownership
The Center for Community Ownership is an organization that empowers communities to create wealth and economic well-being. This site offers an orientation to our community economic development model and examples for how the for-profit community-owned business strategy can be applied to help communiti
Current Projects
Groups You Can Join or Follow Who Are Working on this Stuff
Join:
National Coalition for Community Capital NC3
Our mission is to educate, advocate, and activate community capital. Learn more about our Mission, Vision, and Values here .
Home - Rethinking Economics
International network campaigning for a better economics education across the world with university students, academics and members of the public. Join us and help make economics more pluralist, critical and tied to the real world!
Debt Collective
As the first union of debtors our aim is to abolish debts and advocate for a transformation in the way public goods and services are distributed.
National Black Food & Justice Alliance
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The Next Egg ("reimagining retirement savings and investing")
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Zebras Unite ("a founder-led, cooperatively owned movement creating the culture, capital & community for the next economy")
Follow:
Transform Finance
Transform Finance is a research and implementation partner that supports investors and social change actors to challenge legacy investment approaches, seed transformative investment models, and build movement power.
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Common Future
A network of leaders (re)building an economy that includes everyone.
Sep 20, 2022 Common Future
Sustainable Economies Law Center
Check out all of our legal resources in a bunch of different formats. Bite-Sized Legal Guides! Books and Manuals! Model Legal Documents! Videos, MCLE Workshops, Policy Reports, and more!
Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia
United Renters For Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia works for permanently affordable democratic housing and structural changes: tenant unions, rent stabilization, stronger enforcement of renter protections, and cooperatively owned housing.
DONATE
Just Futures Retirement
More Sites for Finding Community Investment Opportunities
Investment Crowdfunding Platforms
Platforms with an explicit focus on community and/or impact:
Crowdfund Mainstreet
"Crowdfund Mainstreet is all about bringing a new type of investor to the table."
Invest in Climate | Raise Green
Raise Green is the climate investment marketplace for clean energy, ESG, & local impact investing registered with the SEC & FINRA to sell private securities.
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about community investing
Funding the Growth of Regenerative Agriculture | Steward
Steward is a mission-driven lender partnering with regenerative farms and agriculture businesses to transform local food systems. Apply for a loan or lend support.
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Investment Crowdfunding FAQ - an informational handout I created for a talk in May 2024
CDFI Aggregators
CDFI Locator from Opportunity Finance Network
From Opportunity Finance Network: "Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) finance microenterprises and small businesses, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, affordable housing, and more. Use the search filters to locate and learn more about Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) member CDFIs based in rural, urban, and Native communities across America."
CDFI Selector and Fact Sheets from AERIS
From AERIS: "A Fact Sheet containing a summary profile of a CDFI’s financial performance is available. Please contact us to sign up for a free subscription if you are not already a Subscriber or with general questions about investing in CDFIs."
Impact Fund Lists
Integrated Capital Investing | The Transformative 25
"The Transformative 25 is a regular list of funds, banks and initiatives that are demonstrating the power of integrated capital that is designed to reimagine the finance system to work for people and planet."
ImpactAssets 50 - Impact Fund Manager Showcase
The ImpactAssets 50 (IA 50) is the most recognized free database of impact investment fund managers committed to generating positive impact. Learn More!
