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Upwell Community Capital is an integrated capital fund investing in capacity-building efforts across our bioregion—Oregon, California, Washington, and Alaska—in alignment with Ecotrust’s 3E approach of racial equity, environment, and economy. We provide financing and technical assistance to purpose-driven organizations and businesses through creative models that center the well-being of people and communities over profit maximization.
vision
We work to close the racial wealth divide and transform our economic system through the strategic redistribution of resources into community-led projects. We know community-driven solutions already exist, and it is our shared work to shift the power, capital, and support necessary where our partners’ projects succeed and we all thrive.
On Earth Day, Ecotrust staff and volunteers help out at Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm. Jason Hill
Sunset in the Tongass National Forest. These are the homelands of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Peoples who continue to care for, steward, and honor the lands and waters that sustain all Southeast Alaskans. Each isolated community is as unique and diverse as the people who call it home. Bethany Sonsini Goodrich
Why the name?
At Upwell Community Capital, we see a direct parallel in our work. By deploying capital and infusing resources into community-led, place-based efforts across our bioregion we unlock the same kind of generative energy. Just as upwelling brings deep abundance to the ocean’s surface, our work is designed uplift and strengthen the leadership and resilience already present in communities.
Upwell Fund
Upwell Fund is a charitable loan fund managed by Ecotrust focused on investing in community-led, climate-smart, and equitable projects across Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Grounded in Ecotrust’s 3E framework—Equity, Economy, and Environment—Upwell provides patient, non-extractive capital to purpose-driven organizations that are building climate resilience, shared wealth, and self-determination in their communities.
Learn more about Broadstreet
We welcome mission-aligned investment from:
Minimum investment: $250,000 + 20% operating grant
Term: 10 years
Return: 0% interest
Repayment: Lump sum at maturity
Healthy Food Financing Initiative
A collaboration across three states of Alaska, Oregon, and Washington with partners from non-profits, government entities, and community financial institutions. This program is meant to increase access to healthy food in underserved communities though grants and low-interest loans. To learn more or apply for funding, visit:
Our projects
A collaboration across three states of Alaska, Oregon, and Washington with partners from non-profits, government entities, and community financial institutions. This program is meant to increase access to healthy food in underserved communities though grants and low-interest loans.
Tolga Ahmetler / Unsplash
Red huckleberries harvested in the Tongass National Forest, located in Southeast Alaska. Bethany Sonsini Goodrich
Our projects
Because we know some ideas are big and not all projects are ready to access financing, we offer capacity building technical assistance for projects in the pre-development phase.
Community Asset Development works in collaboration with BIPOC-led and serving community-based organizations that are working to acquire or redevelop a building, a business, &/or land. Our support includes business, financial, and operational planning & strategy.
