NEWSLETTER VOL 19 | October 2025

Our world measures a lot — growth, profit, performance — but rarely what matters most. This month, we’re pausing to ask what true success looks like when we center people, planet, and shared prosperity.

From Delta Fund’s call to move beyond “market rate” thinking, to on-the-ground models like Rooted Northwest and the Transformative 25, we’re reminded that change happens when capital and community move in alignment. It’s a thread we’ve been weaving through our newsletters all year — now compiled in a centralized page on our website.

As the season turns, we’re celebrating community in tangible forms, from gathering at the events below to sharing conversation over a unique cup of coffee from our new neighbors, Bonhomie Coffee Bar, at Labour Temple.

FEATURED BLOG POST

"Market Rate" is Code for Maximum Harm

This recent blog from the Delta Fund posits that impact investors have been caught in a financial trap tied to an extractive benchmark: the market rate. While the term may sound innocuous, in practice, “market rate” often prioritizes profit over people, communities, and the planet. The article illustrates how rigid financial benchmarks can incentivize harm while ignoring long-term impact. It begins with the arbitrary origin story of benchmarks and closes with useful suggestions for defining success beyond the traditional paradigm.

CATCH UP ON PAST NEWSLETTERS

Check out our Newsletter Library!

This month, we’re highlighting our Newsletter Library page, which features our most recent (and still relevant) publications. Check out any that you missed or consider sharing with a friend.

SEPTEMBER: Grounded. Still Going.
This newsletter explores how to stay grounded amid political and economic shifts, highlighting reparative and community-driven capital models.

JULY: Public Dreams, Private Means
This newsletter explores the shrinking public purse and the critical role values-aligned private capital can play in bridging the gap.

JUNE: Being in Community
Uncertainty remains a constant, but connection—to people, to purpose, to values—continues to ground us. Learn about some of the incredible organizations we’re engaging with.

MAY: Stay Engaged
The causes and communities that rely on our collective support can’t wait. The need for intentional, equity-driven giving remains constant—even (and especially) in quieter months.

APRIL: Impactful Undercurrents
Earth day reflections, an intentional banking guide, community banking, and urgent need for deploying philanthropic dollars.

EVENTS WE PARTICIPATED IN

Washington Women’s Foundation Convening

The Convening is a call to action that every year brings together speakers, writers, thinkers, community leaders and essential nonprofit directors to educate the community on the most pressing concerns in Washington.

Three insightful panels of non-profit leaders shared their thoughts on: The State of Women in Washington, Advocacy + Philanthropy, and the Current Political Climate + Nonprofits. These leaders shared the need to move with urgency, but not frenzy, to meet this difficult moment.

Rooted Northwest Gathering

We recently had a chance to participate in a learning event hosted by the team from Rooted Northwest, a new agri-village forming north of Seattle. Development plans are “shovel ready” and focused on farmland preservation, housing, and community. It’s an exciting project emphasizing intentional living and preservation of critical Western Washington farmland. Click here to learn more or sign up for a virtual information session or property tour. Special thanks to the team at Gearhouse Coffee Shop for hosting, chef Cody Westerfield of De La Soil in Kenmore for catering, and the farmers from Rooted NW for providing the wonderful veggies that were the stars of Cody’s dishes.

Collective Action for Just Finance

Last week in Seattle, we had the privilege of learning about the Collective Action for Just Finance / Transformative 25 story. The group is comprised of a collective of financial activists working to source, amplify, and connect funds, banks, and initiatives that exemplify restorative economics and a transition to a more just economy. We heard directly from three stellar T25 Funds: Dion Cook of Denkyem Co-op, Sandhya Nakhasi of Common Future /Community Credit Lab, and David Kenney of Project Equity’s Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund. Each shared how they’re deploying capital with heart, justice, and deep community insight—building an economy designed to work for all.

A NEXT-LEVEL LATTE

This month, we’ve had the joy of welcoming Bonhomie Coffee Bar as a neighbor at our home base, Labour Temple. The Haitian-inspired espresso bar is on site for a special three-month residency through the end of the year—bringing people together through craft coffee, culture, and connection, true to its roots in bon moun (“good people”). Stop by Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM–2 PM, for Haitian coffee blends, house-made syrups, and that signature community warmth that makes every cup feel like home. Bonhomie is proudly Black-, queer-, and woman-owned. Labour Temple is located at 2800 1st Ave.