SC Community Capital Alliance

What SC Community Capital Alliance does

SC Community Capital Alliance is a Charleston, South Carolina-based nonprofit organization operating as a statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) intermediary. Founded in 2011, the Alliance serves as a network platform connecting community development stakeholders, lenders, financiers, and investors to deploy capital into South Carolina's most underserved and undercapitalized communities. It identifies gaps in community development financing, facilitates co-investment opportunities between CDFIs for qualified projects, and engages in public policy advocacy (including pursuit of South Carolina Community Development Tax Credits) and capacity-building support for member institutions.

The organization's core offering is the Micro Equity Fund, established in September 2022 with an initial capitalization of $500,000, which positions the Alliance as South Carolina's first CDFI venture capital fund. The fund deploys equity investments of $50,000 to $100,000 into early and expansion-stage companies in healthcare, transportation, disaster recovery, bioscience, environmental and energy technologies, and small manufacturing, requiring that at least 51 percent of a portfolio company's tangible assets and employees be located in South Carolina. Beyond the fund, the Alliance provides community development financing facilitation, policy advocacy, training and capacity-building services, and annual conference programming (including the 2023 Community Capital Conference).

The Alliance operates on a nonprofit funding model rather than a conventional revenue model, with capital sourced from Founding Investors (Wells Fargo, South State Bank, Appalachian Development Corporation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Michelin Development Corporation, Charleston LDC, The Support Center), membership dues, conference sponsorships, and policy-driven tax credit allocations. SCACED (South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development) provides fiscal management and operational support. Governance is provided by a board chaired by Jeanne Milliken Bonds of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, with Prenita Mack serving as Director and Asset Manager. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the asset-light, network-based structure with 1-10 employees indicates a small operating footprint scaled primarily through institutional partnerships.

Name

SC Community Capital Alliance

Legal name

SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY CAPITAL ALLIANCE

Website

https://sccommunitycapital.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SC Community Capital Alliance is a South Carolina-based nonprofit CDFI network founded in 2011 that deploys community development financing and equity investments through its Micro Equity Fund into underserved businesses statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services (CDFI)

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Community development financing
• CDFI venture capital
• Micro equity investments
• Community development financial services
• Community development policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Community Development Financing Services: The Alliance raises, leverages, and aligns capital for community economic development. They identify gaps in community development financing and facilitate co-investment opportunities between and among CDFIs for qualified projects. With their transition to a CDFI venture capital fund, they deploy equity capital investments for small manufacturers and businesses to generate market-rate returns while promoting sustainable business growth.
2. Micro Equity Fund: The Alliance established a Micro Equity Fund to invest in early and expansion-stage companies in healthcare, transportation, disaster recovery, bioscience, environmental and energy technologies, and small manufacturing firms in South Carolina. Initial investment of $500,000 to generate market-rate returns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SC Community Capital Alliance is a statewide CDFI network that raises, leverages, and aligns capital for community economic development in South Carolina. It deploys direct equity investments of $50,000 to $100,000 through its Micro Equity Fund into early and expansion-stage companies in healthcare, transportation, disaster recovery, bioscience, environmental/energy, and small manufacturing. It also facilitates co-investment between CDFIs, conducts policy advocacy for Community Development Tax Credits, and provides training and capacity-building support to community development finance organizations.

Product overview

SC Community Capital Alliance is a statewide CDFI network that operates as a unified platform for community development financial services. The organization provides direct capital investment through its Micro Equity Fund (equity investments of $50,000-$100,000 for early and expansion-stage businesses), community development financing, policy advocacy for tax credits, and training/capacity-building for CDFI network partners. The portfolio includes venture capital fund management, co-investment facilitation between CDFIs, and annual conference programming for the community development finance community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Micro Equity Fund A CDFI venture capital fund providing equity investments of $50,000 to $100,000 for early and expansion-stage companies in healthcare, transportation, disaster recovery, bioscience, environmental and energy technologies, and small manufacturing firms in South Carolina. The fund targets companies with at least 51 percent of tangible assets and employees in South Carolina.
• Community Development Financial Services Capital investment, co-investment facilitation, and financing for underserved and undercapitalized communities in South Carolina to support job creation and economic growth. Identifies gaps in community development financing and facilitates co-investment opportunities between and among CDFIs for qualified projects.
• Policy and Advocacy Services Public policy advocacy and capacity-building support to develop a network for community investment, including advocacy for South Carolina Community Development Tax Credits (33% for equity investments and 50% for cash donations to certified CDCs or CDFIs) with a $3 million annual allocation request.
• Training and Capacity Building Provides training opportunities and capacity-building support to a network of community development finance organizations in South Carolina.

Quantifiable outcome

• $400 million of investment in downtown Rock Hill facilitated through partnership with RHEDC

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and founding investor.

• South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fiscal management direction and support to the Alliance, incorporates the Alliance in its annual conference, and provides communications and meeting planning assistance. SCACED also serves as the Hub for the SBA's Community Navigator Pilot Program.
• City of Rock Hill, SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent member and Premier Sponsor of the 2023 Community Capital Conference, committed to economic development and community growth.
• Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation (RHEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2023 Community Champion Award recipient, committed to representing business, educational, and community interests while promoting jobs and supporting growth. Led $400 million of investment in downtown Rock Hill through Knowledge Park redevelopment.
• Federal Reserve Bank of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner and co-host of past conferences. Published the 'South Carolina Community Capital Alliance Case Study' in 2018 by Jeanne Milliken Bonds detailing the history of the Alliance.
• The Support Centerfounding investorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Investor providing capacity-building support to the Alliance's community development mission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Opportunity Finance Network: National CDFI network and intermediary that supports hundreds of CDFIs across the U.S. with capital, policy, and capacity-building. Comparable in role as a CDFI network facilitator and policy advocate, though operating at a national scale versus the Alliance's statewide focus.
• Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing capital and capacity-building to underserved communities. Operates as a larger, broader incumbent in the CDFI venture and community development finance space, with overlapping mission and capital deployment model.

Direct peers

• Self-Help Credit Union: National CDFI credit union founded by Martin Eakes focused on community development financing. A current member and co-investor of the Alliance, providing a direct peer in impact-oriented depository and lending services.
• South Carolina Community Loan Fund: South Carolina-based CDFI that provides equitable access to capital for underserved communities. A founding investor and current member of the Alliance, sharing the same statewide community development finance remit and overlapping geographies.
• Charleston LDC: Charleston-area community development organization supporting small business and community economic development. A founding investor of the Alliance, operating in the same regional community development space.
• Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union: South Carolina community credit union serving Spartanburg, Greenville, and Gaffney with local decision-making and community focus. A current member and reception sponsor of the Alliance, operating as a mission-aligned depository peer.
• REV Federal Credit Union: South Carolina federal credit union focused on community relationships and local initiatives. A mobile workshop co-sponsor and member of the Alliance, operating in a comparable community development finance role.
• Optus Bank: South Carolina-based Minority Depository Institution founded in 1921 focused on wealth-building for underserved communities. A reception sponsor and core member of the Alliance, with a similar community development banking mission.
• CommunityWorks Carolina: South Carolina CDFI providing community development financing and lending services. Founding investor and current member of the Alliance, operating as a direct peer in the same geography and mission.
• Appalachian Development Corporation: South Carolina-focused community development organization providing capital and support for underserved regions. A founding investor of the Alliance, operating as a peer in place-based community development finance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/investcapitalsc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sccca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SC Community Capital Alliance