What is Shared Capital?

Shared Capital Cooperative is Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan fund that provides financing to cooperative businesses and housing throughout the United States. Shared Capital’s mission is to build a just, equitable, and democratic economy by investing in cooperative enterprise.

Shared Capital is a cooperative association, democratically owned and governed by its members, with 330 cooperatives in 35 states and the District of Columbia. By borrowing from and investing in the fund, members directly engage in our work, connecting cooperatives and capital and supporting shared economic prosperity and ownership. Shared Capital Cooperative also raises investments from social investors who support the cooperative economy and are aligned with our mission.

Headquartered in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Shared Capital Cooperative is managed by a small, professional staff and governed by a board of directors that is nominated and elected by our members.

Our Impact

In 2024, Shared Capital Cooperative’s impact included:

• The fund has doubled in size since 2019 reaching $26.6 million
• Approved 28 loans totaling $7.5 million
• Closed 19 loans totaling $2.2 million
• Disbursed 27 loans totaling $4 million (which includes some loans closed prior to 2024)
• 37% of loans went to co-ops Black, Latine/x, and majority owned
• 83% of loans went to co-ops of people of color, low-income, women, and LGBTQ communities

Since 1978:
Over 1,000 loans made to cooperatives
More than $80 million in financing

History

Shared Capital Cooperative was founded in 1978 by cooperative leaders in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul who were frustrated by the challenges local co-ops faced in getting financing from banks. Wanting to ensure that all co-ops would have access to capital, they decided to pool their extra cash to start a self-help, revolving loan fund.

Since then, Shared Capital Co-op has remained true to our mission, providing financing to cooperative enterprises to support growth and expand the cooperative business sector. Over the years, Shared Capital, which was formerly known as Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund, has made nearly 875 loans totaling over $52 million to cooperatives in the United States.

Shared Capital is an Equal Opportunity Provider