Community Development Investing

Through MMA’s OneWorld Community Investment Program you can invest in a better future by fostering hope.

The OneWorld program creates economic opportunities throughout the United States and around the world through:

• mPower, which is devoted to eliminating poverty through international microfinance.
• nSpire, which supports faith-based community development projects in the United States.

These programs are open to all investors – you can start with as little as $1,000! Can’t decide which program you want to invest in? Why not invest in both? Since you’re in charge, you can:

• Choose mPower and watch your money work internationally, or
• Choose nSpire and support ongoing, faith-based, community development projects in the U.S., or
• Divide your money between both options.

You also decide how long you want to invest (from one to 10 years) and the rate of return you desire (up to three percent).

Ending poverty?

What’s a great way to end poverty among the world’s working poor? Provide them with access to microfinance (small loans to struggling individuals and families to help them start or grow their business) opportunities. You can be part of this when you invest in mPower.

A couple hundred dollars can go a long way in Peru, Kazakhstan, or dozens of other developing countries around the world. It can buy a new sewing machine, or a new loom, or livestock – any of which increases an entrepreneur’s working capital and helps lift a family out of poverty.

Claudio providing for his family

Claudio grew up in the village of Pampamaca, Peru. From childhood, he worked in his family’s textile shop. He did his part to provide the family with food – and later to pay the fees to send his children to school.

But cheap synthetic materials threatened his family’s business locally – until a loan from Edyficar, a Peruvian microfinance institution, helped Claudio expand his region of sales and target a completely new set of customers – tourists. 

“I’m learning to market things and shipping to Huarez,” the regional capital, Claudio said. But his dream is still expanding. “Soon I’d like to start selling to exporters in Lima.”

Faithfully serving the underserved

Building stronger, healthier communities in the United States is easier than you may think – and you can help!

nSpire, one half of the OneWorld Community Investment Program, does just that by financing affordable housing, small businesses, and nonprofit community facilities.

And that financing, provided in part by you, creates jobs and offers new avenues of hope for disadvantaged communities. Advised by MMA Community Development Investments, nSpire directs investments toward faith-based organizations serving the underserved and overlooked communities in the United States.

Strengthening low-income communities

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions Inc. (NFCDCU) exists to strengthen credit unions working with low-income communities. Often, these credit unions started as small, faith-based, efforts.

The NFCDCU serves more than 215 credit unions in 44 states. The average NFCDCU credit union has 1,000 members and assets of $1.4 million.

The Federation promotes Individual Development Accounts (restricted savings accounts that provide incentives to help low-income people).

Those who open an IDA receive matching funds, from $1 to $3 for each dollar they deposit. In addition, IDA programs often include services such as budget counseling and home ownership and entrepreneurial training.

Strong social returns for your investment

The OneWorld Community Investment Program provides investors like you the opportunity to make a difference through the purchase a Community Investment Note. (Notes are issued by Calvert Social Investment Foundation.*)

Your investment:

• Creates economic opportunities.
  
• Lifts families out of the cycle of poverty.
  
• Encourages stronger, healthier communities.
  
• Reduces public dependency.
  

You can invest in five simple steps:

1. Read the prospectus.
   
2. Decide how much you would like to invest ($1,000 is the minimum).
   
3. Decide on the term (1-10 years) and return (0 – 3 percent) for your investment.
   
4. Decide how you would like your investment allocated between mPower and nSpire.
   
5. Fill out the application and return it with a check to your financial advisor or directly to Calvert Foundation at the address below.

Ready to invest?

To receive a prospectus and application by mail contact:

Calvert Foundation
Community Investment Service Center
PO Box 30084
Bethesda, MD 20824-0084
Phone: (800) 248-0337
E-mail: oneworld@calvertfoundation.org 

Partnering for unique returns

The OneWorld Community Investment Program is a unique partnership of several organizations coming together to help you direct a portion of your assets to investments that offer more than just financial returns.

These organizations, including MMA, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) , MicroVest Capital Management LLC , and Calvert Foundation , are committed to fostering hope for a better future through international microfinance opportunities and faith-based community development projects.