Consept

Consept is thrilled to share that the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI) NextHouse initiative has been invited to submit a full proposal to the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines competition. Consept is leading the community development strategy for the NextHouse initiative. The NextHouse initiative made the cut from over 300 applications nationwide to 71 finalists competing for a $160M investment. The NextHouse initiative is tackling the pressing issue of housing undersupply in the United States by creating a factory built housing industry in the Midwest that builds housing at the same scale and quality the auto industry builds cars. NextHouse is charting a new frontier for American innovation pursuant to the bipartisan "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022." The teams selected to submit full proposals stand to build upon an inaugural cohort of regions nationwide that are bringing technology-driven economic and workforce development to all parts of the United States. Consept is proud to be part of this team.

Anchor institution efforts to engage with their communities in an intentional way have grown in scope and number over the past 20 years. Churches are perhaps the prototype of the anchor institution. A close second to congregations in their longevity and presence are colleges and universities, who have been anchor institutions investing in their communities since well before that term was ever coined.

Improving board governance, especially when it comes to boards led by lay persons, can often boil down to how effectively you define the board's work and challenges. A critical tool for that are organizational diagnostic tools that help a board self assess. Use a good tool and you get well defined and actionable information and recommendations that you can build a workplan. This can be all the difference.

In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit work the ability to showcase tangible results has never been more crucial. Despite this, Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) systems were a luxury, accessible only to large corporations and investment firms with deep pockets. But the once-costly technology that powered these systems has now become affordable and accessible to the nonprofit sector. Now is the time to make this organizational capacity upgrade.

In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit work the ability to showcase tangible results has never been more crucial. Despite this, Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) systems were a luxury, accessible only to large corporations and investment firms with deep pockets. But the once-costly technology that powered these systems has now become affordable and accessible to the nonprofit sector. Now is the time to make this organizational capacity upgrade.

Tools and strategies that support small investor driven neighborhood revitalization have increased in use, which is a good thing. Permanent real estate cooperatives and community land trusts are among those tools. If you think of residents of disinvested neighborhoods as a class of small investors, it's clear that they face multiple obstacles when attempting to invest in housing and economic development projects. These barriers create a challenging environment for residents to directly invest in and revitalize their own communities: 1. Limited Access to Capital: Many residents have lower incomes and less access to financing, making it difficult to pool the necessary resources for large-scale projects. 2. Financial Literacy and Expertise: A lack of financial literacy and experience in real estate development hinders effective participation in investment opportunities. 3. Institutional Barriers: Traditional financial institutions often favor larger, established developers/investors over community-based initiatives, making it challenging for small investors to secure financing. 4. Scale and Influence: Individually, small investors often lack the scale to influence significant changes in their neighborhoods, making collective action crucial yet difficult to organize. 6. Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Navigating complex zoning, building codes, and other regulatory requirements is challenging for those without legal expertise or connections. I compare and contrast PRECs and CLTs as tools for the resident small investor class.

Consept is pleased to be affiliated with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the Center for Community Investment to advance the Capital Absorption Framework in Miami, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle.