Social Impact Investing
We are reshaping investment strategy in the region by creating conditions for social enterprises, nonprofits, and community projects to succeed.
Focus
We advance opportunity in Eastern Kentucky through an approach that blends capacity building grantmaking with creative investment capital.
Partners
We collaborate with a network of dynamic grantee partners who help inform our work and we serve as a valuable funding platform for state, regional and national partners invested in our portfolio.
Impact
We measure a series of outcomes to understand the impact and progress being made by our grantee and investment.
National Funding Partners
Our Mission
AIF’s mission is to advance opportunities in the region that support economic opportunity and build community capacity.
Our Vision
We envision a day when Eastern Kentucky is a place of unique thriving local economies that enhance the existing natural and cultural assets of the region and offer economic opportunity for all people while keeping ownership, assets and wealth rooted in local communities.
Our Commitment to equity
The staff and board of the Appalachian Impact Fund believe in a future for Eastern Kentucky that offers opportunity for all people.
From its inception, AIF has invested in leaders, organizations and initiatives that have historically suffered from a lack of resources due to racial, gender, class and geographic inequities. Some of our earliest investments were in Black, youth, LGBTQ+, and women-led organizations, leaders, businesses and initiatives.
We know that when we center leaders and communities who have traditionally been left out of decision-making power and underfunded by philanthropy, we produce better results for every Eastern Kentuckian. As a result, we will continue to prioritize BIPOC, youth, LGBTQ+, and women- led initiatives within our work and seek out opportunities for how we can best support new leadership in the region.
We believe Central Appalachia has an important role to play in national conversations around equity. The Appalachian Impact Fund seeks to broaden those conversations with a truer understanding of who lives in our region and the many diverse and intersecting lived experiences, solutions, and lessons that Appalachian people have to offer the world.
Regional Impact
since inception in 2017
$1,520,000
in capital investments
through our impact investment portfolio that is supporting energy efficient and affordable housing, commercial real estate development for downtown revitalization, low-interest consumer lending, and lending for small business and entrepreneurship.
Over 660 total businesses supported
Over 1,430 jobs supported
$4,660,000 in grantmaking
to regional organizations in support of economic development and opportunity.
Over $7,500,000 in additional funding
for Eastern Kentucky leveraged through our grantmaking and investments.
Investments
Learn about our impact investments
Grantees
Learn about the programs and businesses we fund
Subscribe to our impact investing newsletter
Ready to invest?
If you are interested in investing in AIF or
if you are a potential grantee looking for investment,
please contact Jessica Bledsoe at jessica@appalachianky.org
