Community Investment Trust
Harnessing data and storytelling to promote practices of belonging nationwide
The Community Investment Trust (CIT) in Portland, Oregon, is an innovative real estate investment model designed to provide affordable, accessible, and local investment opportunities to communities historically impacted by systemic inequities. As the CIT prepares to expand to seven cities across the country, they recognized the need to capture and replicate their unique approach rooted in belonging. To achieve this, the CIT enlisted Fractal Strategies to help convey the impact of belonging and bridging practices and develop tools to help embed them in their expanding operations.
Process
Using the power of data, Fractal Strategies set out to capture how the CIT fosters community connections and deepens their impact through authentic engagement. Our approach involved developing a comprehensive evaluation plan and a narrative change strategy. We explored what an increased sense of belonging might look like over time within the context of the CIT and how this could be measured and sustained.
Results
Our work with the CIT led to the creation of the first-of-it’s-kind Belonging Guide and Toolkit and a comprehensive Evaluation Plan that have become essential resources for the CIT as they scale nationwide. These tools have helped the CIT integrate belonging into their model, making their work more impactful and sustainable. As CIT gains more national recognition, our collaboration has positioned the CIT to work more effectively with systems partners, including funders, and to influence the broader community development field. The CIT is now better equipped to expand its model and ensure that the communities they serve are not only economically empowered but also deeply connected and cohesive.
Let’s Work Together
Book a 30-minute discovery call to get started.