Impact Investing at Freedom Communities
In-vest-ment:
The action or process of investing money for profit or material result
An act of devoting time, effort, or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result
For the entrepreneur:
“What new business can I invest my time talent and treasure into so that I receive a financial return on my investment?”
For the stockbroker:
“What stocks can I buy and receive more money back than I put in?”
For the business owner:
“Where can I put time and money into my business for the purpose of increasing my bottom line?”
For the philanthropist:
“Where can I put money and gain a return in social good and betterment for causes I care about?”
For the social volunteer:
“Where can I spend my time that results in a better outcome for the group or cause that I choose?”
What does the term INVESTMENT mean to you?
Im-pact:
The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action on another
The purpose of impacting something for good is the desired outcome of most philanthropical investments and endeavors. Changing the speed, direction, or outcome of a situation, a project, or a problem simply through intentional and purposeful impact.
When we combine financial Investment with intentional impact and define the desired result, we can change the outcome of communities, social issues, and lives for generations to come.
Our hierarchy of investment priorities are:
IMPACT:
To have a positive and long-lasting effect on the Freedom Drive Corridor in the areas of affordable housing, job enhancement, education, and healthcare.
CAPITAL PRESERVATION: To invest in real estate projects, people, or businesses in ways that preserve the capital that is invested with the goal of returning the principle to its owner after a designated time.
MODEST FINANCIAL RETURNS: To make investments that are creative, strategic, and calculated in order to secure a financial return on investment while accomplishing the desired impact is our first priority. It is expected that financial returns will be modest in terms of finances while being significant in terms of impact in the targeted communities.
“At FREEDOM COMMUNITIES our desire is to identify priorities for Impact Investing so that expectations for success are clear and results are measured by an agreed upon metric. ”
Place based investing
TOPOPHILIA – The love of place
When people find meaning where they live, both the physical location and the ecosystem, they feel the freedom to create, grow, and take risks in hopes of breaking through glass ceilings and false assumptions of their potential.
As Freedom Communities invests in targeted neighborhoods, we are driven by the topophilia that exists and the need for more places where communities are enriched such as housing, businesses, schools, and common areas. By investing in these “places,” we can impact the community through the resulting acceleration of movement towards the goal of personal growth and mobility for each person.
Every opportunity for Freedom Communities to interact with individuals and families is an opening to care for their integrated needs of wellness, education, employment, and housing.
For more information, conversation, explanation, and exploration of possibilities contact Mark Talbot at Mark.Talbot@FreedomCommunities.com or call 843-902-7910.
Examples of investment opportunities
Land
Vacant land represents opportunity to guide and direct future investment to ensure that what happens is in the best interest of the community. By purchasing land in small or large tracts, FREEDOM COMMUNITIES can insure that future uses of the property will assist with housing issues, job creation, education opportunities, and health care needs. This might include sites for affordable housing, residential tract development, commercial out-parcels, or recreational spaces that will enhance the community.
Land Assimilation
In many communities there are opportunities for assimilating or collaborating adjoining parcels for a greater purpose. These may include government owned parcels such as parks, schools, roadways, and churches, as well as privately owned land. In these cases, FREEDOM COMMUNITIES can act as a “Master Developer” for the purposes of executing the plan and collaborating the parties involved with tools such as options, development agreements, and partnerships.
Residential Tract Development
Undeveloped Land or Functionally Obsolete buildings can be purchased and developed into individual lots for the purpose of selling them to agencies who are suited for building entry level homes for those challenged to enter the marketplace.
Buildings
Whether an existing structure or a new one, buildings are needed to create the spaces required for community to happen. Places to live, work, learn, and be cared for all happen in buildings that are safe, maintained, and economically sustainable.
Small Commercial Retail Spaces
Vacant buildings are available in our targeted areas and able to be renovated for the purpose of creating spaces where new businesses could begin, existing businesses could grow, and new employers could be recruited to. Multi-tenant spaces could create synergy for the business community and improve the vitality of commercial activity.
Business
Whether investing in a small business or accommodating a larger company to locate in areas where jobs are needed, FREEDOM COMMUNITIES can invest where impact can be realized. Both debt and equity structures can be used to accomplish the right solution for each situation.
Housing
New affordable housing, re-furbishing old housing, and creating opportunities for others to provide housing will be the goal of FREEDOM COMMUNITIES. To be a gap investor in situations that involve capable partners, local leaders, and other housing initiatives will accelerate the fulfillment of the affordable housing need.
Single Home and Multi Family Rehabilitation
There are many opportunities for FREEDOM COMMUNITIES to purchase properties in targeted areas for the purpose of renovating and making them available for low cost housing. After the home is renovated, a family would be identified to occupy with the assistance of local agencies. Financial counseling and vetting would take advantage of the relationship created and impact the family in ways beyond the real estate they live in. An on-going relationship would be created through the tenancy with the possibility of investors, churches, and others impacting the families personally. After an appropriate time, efforts would be made to explore ways for each family to purchase their residence. This would replace the original capital investment along with a modest return that could be re-invested or distributed to investor/owners.
