Root Capital

Incubating Innovation

In 1999, recognizing the role of affordable credit as a component of sustainable community development, EcoLogic incubated a loan fund to serve rural communities. This loan fund evolved into a separate nonprofit organization now known as Root Capital (formerly called EcoLogic Finance). EcoLogic and Root Capital continue to collaborate toward realizing a shared vision of environmental stewardship and grassroots development in developing countries.

Root Capital Today

Root Capital is a social investment fund offering access to affordable credit and grassroots financial education to community-based businesses operating in environmentally sensitive areas of lesser-developed countries. Targeting the rural credit market, it provides loan capital and financial education to support small-scale agriculturists, artisans, and other rural entrepreneurs whose business activities foster sustainable natural resource management and grassroots economic development. Root Capital manages a portfolio of $25,000 to $500,000 loans made to small- and medium-sized enterprises that do not meet traditional requirements for accessing credit from local financial institutions. Target sectors include agroforestry crops (shade-grown and sustainable agriculture), wild-harvested products, sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, and handicrafts.

Shared Mission

EcoLogic and Root Capital have a shared mission: to reduce threats to biologically important ecosystems by promoting economic development and self-determination in local communities. EcoLogic accomplishes this in Latin America by providing community groups with the financial and technical assistance necessary to effectively steward natural resources. Root Capital accomplishes this by providing affordable credit and financial education to community-based businesses operating in environmentally sensitive areas in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Given our shared mission, we look forward to potential areas of future collaboration.

For more information, visit Root Capital's website.