Established in 2004, the Canadian Community Investment Network is a national co-operative dedicated to bringing together the voices of community investment in Canada.

Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of our members to expand access to capital and support services for social economy enterprises and economically and socially excluded individuals and communities across Canada.

The goals of the Canadian Community Investment Network Cooperative are to:

• promote the alternative community investment sector
• support the sustainability and growth of member organizations and the sector
• work to increase the amount of accessible and affordable capital for use by member organizations
• improve the capacity of practitioners through improved practice and information sharing
• work with all levels of government to improve the regulatory environment for community investment in Canada. 

Become a member!
CCINC set up its first membership drive in 2006 and we are proud to already boast 25 active members and allies. We invite you to review our Membership and Ally application process by clicking on Membership in the left hand column.

A brief history of the Canadian Community Investment Network Cooperative

At the Montreal Community Loan Association’s conferences on "Financial Strategies for Socio-Economic Development" held in late 1990s, participants proposed that increased collaboration was needed amongst Canadian community financing organizations. In 2003, the Social Investment Organization, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of socially responsible investment, and the Riverdale Community Development Corporation conducted a study on the state of community investment in Canada. The Steering Committee for the study recommended that a national network of community investment funds be formed to help build the sector and assist it to become an integral part of Canada’s socially responsible and community investment movement.

In 2004, forty staff and board members of micro-loan funds, community loan funds, co-op funds, financial institutions and social investment funds from across Canada gathered to found the network. Together they wrote the mission and goals for the Canadian Community Investment Network. The Steering Committee then instigated a fundraising and communications strategy to support the development of the network.

In 2005, the Canadian Community Investment Network Cooperative (CCINC) was formally incorporated as a cooperative. An office was opened, a staff person hired and three year strategic plan developed.  By early 2006, the network had 26 members and allies.

On May 31st, 2006, CCINC held its first annual general meeting in Winnipeg. The well attended event was a forum where members could meet and network. CCINC’s bylaws and audited financial statements were approved and members elected a new board of directors.

The annual general meeting was held in conjunction with the National Community Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility Forum. The bilingual forum attracted 144 participants from every province in Canada to learn about trends and best practices in Corporate Social Responsibility and community investing and to explore opportunities for leadership and collaboration to build stronger communities.