Aeris Rating

Since 2005, Aeris has conducted an annual assessment of PeopleFund. We are proud to have received an ★★★ A+ Aeris rating in our most recent assessment. Aeris guides capital to good. It is the information service for community investors who champion economic justice in underserved markets. Since 2004, Aeris has provided data, analysis and advisory services that support investment in community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Its proprietary rating system assesses CDFI impact management, financial strength, and performance. It helps investors evaluate opportunities that meet their impact goals and risk parameters.

Impact Management Rating: ★★★
The CDFI has strong alignment of its mission, strategies, programs and services, and portfolio investments with its mission. It effectively uses its financial resources in alignment with its mission, primarily with portfolio investments; investment activities beyond its loan portfolio may be minimal. Its processes and systems accurately track output data, on an ongoing basis. Longer term outcome metrics may be limited. Impact metrics show positive changes toward achieving its impact goals. Board and management use the data on a regular basis to improve strategies and activities in pursuit of mission.

Policy Plus: PeopleFund
Policy change is an integral part of the CDFI’s strategies. The CDFI leads initiatives to change government policy to benefit the community development finance industry or disadvantaged people and communities. The CDFI can provide evidence of its leadership role in recent policy changes that produced benefits beyond additional resources for the CDFI itself, and management can clearly articulate the CDFI’s leadership role in current policy activities.

Financial Strength and Performance Rating: A+
The CDFI has strong financial strength, recent performance and risk management practices relative to its size, complexity, and risk profile. It is stable but more vulnerable to fluctuations in its operating environment than higher rated CDFIs.