Our Story

Mission

We promote economic justice and alleviate poverty by increasing the financial resilience and sustainability of community-based nonprofits and enterprises. Through flexible financial products and sound advice, we create opportunities to make socially responsible investments that revitalize Northern and Central California communities.

Vision

We envision financially strong and culturally vibrant communities where each person has access to decent jobs, homes, health care, education, and economic opportunities. We work in partnership with individuals and organizations who share our vision of sustainable communities and social and economic justice.

History

In 1987, our founders had a vision of putting their money to work as a tool for building financially strong and culturally vibrant communities capable of growing their sown seeds of self-determination. We have successfully carried out that vision since the 1980s, by connecting investors to communities, lending to nonprofits, small businesses, and cooperatives, and providing financial and real estate consulting to organizations that share our vision of sustainable communities and social, racial, and economic justice.

Since then we’ve invested more than $350 million to projects throughout California, impacting the lives of more than 1.5 million of our neighbors. Our lending and consulting services support organizations that provide affordable housing, equitable and sustainable access to healthy food, community arts, and critical social, medical and youth services.

Our Values

Conscious Investment

We deploy capital and knowledge that creates long-term systems change to power structures.

Learning

We use evaluation, reflection, and knowledge sharing to inform nimble and innovative approaches to solutions that achieve personal and organizational excellence.

Humility and Respect

We value the wealth of experience, insight, and culture rooted in the communities we work with.

Client Service Focused

We are responsive and consistent in our interactions. Everything starts with our clients’ needs. We adapt our process and offerings accordingly.

Racial and Economic Equity

We recognize that a history of discriminatory financial practices and intentional disinvestment have contributed to a lack of economic progress in low-income communities and communities of color. Community Vision provides capital and technical assistance for communities that have been systemically disadvantaged to ensure fairness in opportunities, resources, and rights for everyone.

Integrity

We are honest, accountable, and transparent with each other and our stakeholders. We value and practice sound ethical character and behavior.

Collaboration

We recognize and engage each other’s strengths to achieve a shared vision or goal.

Careers at
Community Vision

Community Vision believes in fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for our employees. We know this to be key in continuing the success of our work.

We realize that the impact of discriminatory policies, institutionalized financial neglect, and systemic racism have resulted in a deep sense of distrust felt among communities on the margins of opportunity, including people of color, folks of various abilities, genders and sexualities, and communities with low financial wealth. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

Community Visions is an equal opportunity employer; people of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.