Village Launch Catalytic Fund

Village Launch exists to equip under-resourced entrepreneurs to become providers, creators, and producers in their own communities. Programs include a start-up bootcamp, an entrepreneur academy and a market featuring Village Launch graduates.

A common challenge among under-resourced entrepreneurs is access to funding for starting their businesses. A Village Launch Catalytic Fund (VLCF) has been established at Abundance, allowing you to use venture philanthropy for making flexible small- business loans to select graduates of the Village Launch training programs. The VLCF is advised by Village Launch and an appointed screening committee comprised of staff and program advisors.

How it Works

  1. Open a donor-advised fund at Abundance (if new to us!) called an Angel Fund.

  2. Donate to your Angel Fund to cover your desired investment amount and ongoing admin fees as applicable (see Terms & Conditions). Donations may be in the form of new, tax-deductible charitable gifts or grants from other donor-advised funds or foundations.

  3. Recommend that your Angel Fund be used to invest in the pooled VLCF for investing in all qualifying companies. Note, your Angel Fund will not incur fees after transfer is made to the pooled VLCF.

  4. As the VLCF advisor, Village Launch (with guidance from its appointed screening committee) will direct loans that meet Abundance impact-focused compliance. 

  5. Abundance executes and monitors placement, aggregates and distributes the funds, carries VLCF loans on its books, and manages all compliance in partnership with Village Launch.

  6. Any returns to the pooled VLCF are shared out proportionately with individual Angel Funds, available for further venture philanthropy or grantmaking. Angels also have the option of keeping their “share” in the VLCF.

Questions? Contact Margaret Gifford at margaret@abundancecap.org