IFEL Fall 2026 Update
Over the last two months, I've given a few talks and presentations in which I've emphasized the importance of relationships as the driver of access to resources, including capital. I can attest that my own life would look very different if not for the influence of relationships, good and bad ones.
In resource-scarce communities, it's easy to talk about access to capital as if it's purely a numbers game - credit scores, revenue, collateral. But I've been in rooms of wealth to see how the money flows, and so much of who gets funded comes down to who's in the room, the networks that you're plugged into, and who is willing to vouch for you.
That's exactly what we're testing with Capital Circles. Since launching this initiative, we've seen everyday community members show up to support crowdfunding campaigns with small dollar amounts (<$50) to collectively fund meaningful amounts of capital for local businesses. Capital Circles is demonstrating that you don't need to be a venture capitalist to move the needle for an entrepreneur in your own backyard. Learn about some of the open crowdfunding campaigns in the IFEL community.
I am very excited to invite you to our first-ever Community Table Dinner on December 10 in New York City. This will be an intimate community-connection event and a fundraiser to kick off our 25th Anniversary Year. Yesssss, 25 years of impact! If you are receiving this email, we invite you to join us.
Thank you for being with us on this journey and for making us part of your journey to making a difference in the world. It might seem slow, but change is happening. Keep doing the work. Let us know how we can help. We look forward to seeing you for dinner in December so we can celebrate together!
Jill & the IFEL Team
