New loans funding climate-friendly energy, housing, childcare, workforce development and natural products show how investors can support community well-being
San Francisco, CA (April 22, 2025)—Impact-investing trailblazer RSF has issued $23 million in loans since the end of 2024 to seven social enterprises providing clean energy, affordable housing and access to childcare, among other social benefits. The loans—financed by RSF’s Social Investment Fund—illustrate the opportunity for private capital to meet the moment while contributing to long-term resilience.
“Impact investors are needed now more than ever, in the face of the federal government’s potentially longer-term withdrawal of funding from social and environmental initiatives. The private sector can’t do it all, but we can do much more to support enterprises like these that are proving out effective models for increasing community well-being and chipping away at systemic problems,” said Jasper van Brakel, CEO at RSF.
Community energy projects get $6.3M to fuel growth
Halo Funding in St. Louis invests in solar developers and installers in a way that looks beyond simple credit scores to ensure that as many people as possible qualify for low-cost loans. With a mission of providing clear-cut, simple financing for commercial and residential solar systems, Halo estimates that the recent $5 million RSF loan will bring 1.3 megawatts of solar generation online—enough to power hundreds of single-family homes.
Green Power Ventures, which lowers the energy costs and carbon footprints of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, faith-based institutions and multifamily facilities, is using its $1.3 million loan to support two solar installations at Hype Athletics, a community-focused recreation center in the Detroit metro area. The project is an example of how Green Power is increasing access to clean energy in Black communities.
$5M flows to two affordable housing groups
RSF’s $2 million loan to Landwell enables the organization to purchase land that it has long leased in Sebastopol, Calif., and place it in a trust that will hold it in perpetuity. The move is part of Landwell’s long-term vision of creating regenerative housing cooperatives that integrate education, arts, ecological restoration and small-scale sustainable agriculture with cooperatively managed affordable housing.
In a participation loan with Mission Driven Finance, RSF has committed $3 million to help Hogar Hispano, a housing organization for people of color, create affordable housing in areas negatively affected by gentrification. Since 2011, Hogar Hispano has purchased over $400 million worth of single-family homes, helping to preserve or build 3,800 high-quality homes. RSF’s loan will help the organization acquire distressed mortgages and transform the properties into affordable housing.
“We’re proud to partner with mission-aligned lenders like RSF to support this critical work and help ensure housing remains a fundamental right for underserved families across the country,” said Marcos Morales, Hogar’s executive director.
$5M loan to CARE expands access to high-quality childcare
Many families have a hard time finding childcare due to a lack of licensed facilities in their areas. Care Access Real Estate (CARE)®️, a social impact real estate fund owned and operated by Mission Driven Finance, addresses this challenge by purchasing, renovating and leasing a national portfolio of commercial and residential properties designed for childcare. As of January 1, 2025, CARE has acquired 22 properties in Nevada, California and Colorado, creating high-quality places for 264 children whose families might not otherwise have found care.
“Stable, reliable, quality childcare is a critical need across the U.S.,” said Vice President of Care and Education Laura Kohn. “RSF’s $5 million loan will help us extend this much-needed resource to dozens of working families across Colorado.”
Expanded line of credit supports innovative workforce development enterprise
Ethical outsourcing company Boldr aims to interrupt cycles of human exploitation and economic disparity by boosting access to digital training opportunities in underserved communities. In contrast to the transactional relationships in a traditional outsourcing model, Boldr invests in both the success of its U.S. partners and long-term career opportunities for workers abroad. An expanded credit line of $750,000 allows Boldr to continue advancing this work.
A growing line of natural wellness products accesses $6M credit line
RSF joined Walden Mutual Bank in providing a $6 million line of credit to Apothékary, an herbal products company that builds upon centuries-old traditions like kampo, Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. The new financing will help this all-natural business expand into new markets across the country.
“As the company continues to scale, our goal is to bridge Eastern medicine and Western culture so that everyone has access to more natural herbal alternatives for stress, sleep, focus and more,” said Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothékary.
About RSF
RSF’s mission is to change finance and finance change. By offering investment notes, donor-advised funds and loans, the San Francisco–based impact leader mobilizes money for positive impact. Since 1984, RSF has invested over $1 billion in healthier food systems, climate solutions, whole-child education, community impact and more through grants and loans.
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