Community Money

Community Money Participatory Budgeting: What Residents Actually Get to DecideA participatory budget hands residents a binding vote over a pot of public money that one elected official already controlled alone. Field note August 28, 2026 Community Money Credit Unions and CDFIs: Where Local Deposits Actually GoA deposit is a loan to an institution, and its charter and certification decide whether that money is lent six blocks away or nowhere near your county. Checklist August 18, 2026 Community Money Community Foundations and the Grant Money Nobody Applies ForNearly every county sits inside the service area of a charitable endowment that gives money away locally each year, and the binding constraint in most places is that almost nobody asks. Reference August 11, 2026 Community Money Community Land Trusts and the Subsidy That Stays PutA land trust keeps title to the ground and sells only the house on it, so the discount that made the purchase possible stays with the home instead of leaving with the seller. Explainer July 31, 2026 Community Money Time Banking: Trading Hours When Money Is TightA time bank lets neighbors trade services by the hour, where one hour of help always earns one credit no matter whose hour it is. Explainer July 24, 2026 Community Money Lending Circles and ROSCAs: How Neighbors Pool Cash SafelyA rotating savings group lets neighbors take turns collecting a shared pot, delivering a lump sum without a credit check or interest. Guide July 16, 2026 Community Money Volunteering Boundaries That Keep People Coming BackGood boundaries make volunteering more sustainable, not less generous. Field note June 27, 2026 Community Money Co-op Groceries and Buying Clubs: What Makes Them WorkShared purchasing can lower friction, but only when expectations and labor are visible. Explainer May 23, 2026 Community Money Food Pantry Etiquette and How Donation Networks WorkFood support runs on timing, dignity, and logistics as much as generosity. Checklist April 18, 2026 Community Money How to Evaluate a Nonprofit Before DonatingA practical review of mission clarity, public filings, program fit, and communication quality. Reference March 14, 2026 Community Money Mutual Aid That Does Not Burn Out VolunteersMutual aid works best when tasks, limits, and rotation are clear from the beginning. Guide February 7, 2026