If you’ve listened to KQED public radio in northern California in the last week, you may have heard a spot from a new sponsor: the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a CDFI (community development financial institution) based in San Francisco.

The spot is part of LIIF’s marketing campaign to raise $35 million through its new LIIF Impact Note, marking the first time the CDFI has sought capital from individual investors. Like many community development lenders, LIIF has traditionally sought capital from banks, foundations, and other large investors.

More online platforms are emerging that allow more individual investors to put money into community development. CNote launched a year ago but only just opened up to all investors. Previously, it was only open to “accredited” investors — the Securities Exchange Commission’s shorthand for wealthy individuals, specifically those with a net worth of at least $1 million or an annual income of at least $200,000 for the previous two years. CNote pools the capital it raises from investors and invests it in CDFIs.

Read the full article by Oscar Perry Abello about community development investment funds on Next City