Three decades ago, residents of neighboring communities in Midcoast Maine discovered that a local family was living in the hollow of a bridge over the Sheepscot River. What started out as a simple effort to house the family soon expanded as a broader issue came to light—the lack of affordable housing in their rural communities.

PHOTO Kate Manahan, who partners with the Genesis Fund as an individual investor along with her husband, Tim, and son, Jansen.Kennebunk, MaineKate Manahan and FamilyWhen my husband and I were ready to make an investment, we were looking for one we could believe in. I was excited when I heard about the Genesis Fund, which offered a creative way to use

Genesis has supported the formation of 10 resident-owned mobile home cooperatives in Maine, helping bring stability, affordability, and community pride to their residents. When we learned that neglected water, sewer, septic, and electrical systems posed risks to the health and safety of more than 200 households in six mobile home communities in Maine, we worked with residents to create plans

There is much to be done to bring justice and equity to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color in Maine, Northern New England, and beyond. As a CDFI, the Genesis Fund is part of an industry that emerged from the civil rights movement with the explicit goal of addressing the systemic racism that has denied communities of color access

PHOTO Brenda Peluso, a former Genesis Fund Board member and current individual investor. Photo credit: Erin LittleSouth Portland, Maine Brenda PalusoI served on the board of the Genesis Fund for several years, and have supported the work for much longer. I love that my investment loan helps my fellow Mainers, and I get to see the results in my community and all

Through direct engagement in communities, Genesis ensures our efforts are grounded in real needs and aspirations. We work with people to identify resources and create partnerships that can change lives. One example of that is a bold Genesis initiative supported by a contract from MaineHousing. In 2023, Genesis collaborated with local stakeholders to organize a series of eight regional training

We had just experienced one of the Genesis Fund’s most remarkable years ever, with success in 2019 across all categories: lending activity, growth of the fund through investments and fundraising, and deployment of vital professional expertise to guide nonprofit partners moving projects forward. And then came COVID-19. Businesses shuttered. Offices emptied. Schools quieted. Families facing illness, eviction, lost work, food

PHOTO Andrew and his wife, Emily, have made multiple individual investments in the Genesis Fund. For their young family, it’s a way to invest in their own future as well as their community’s.Wayne, MaineAndrew GorrillI’ve spent a lot of time looking for truly ethical investment options. . . . The Genesis Fund is one of the very few I’ve found

Step into Penobscot Elder Homes and behold the majestic view of the Penobscot River through large windows. This river holds profound significance for the Penobscot tribal community, and is the backdrop for 24 spacious apartments built in 2020 that provide tribal members safe and affordable housing to age comfortably within their island community.

For aspiring business owners like Yassin Moussa of Lewiston, Maine, acquiring a loan is often a critical step in embarking on a new enterprise. But for Yassin and others who practice the Islamic faith, the process can be complicated. Many Muslim borrowers are prohibited by their faith practice from paying interest to borrow funds. Most traditional lenders have been unable