Racial Equity, Economics, Finance, and Sustainability

REEFS is designed to encourage stakeholders in finance to think holistically about financial inclusion across their investment portfolios, to advance opportunities for greater representation of underserved communities in the field, and to support frameworks and approaches that support resilient wealth-building. REEFS is a flagship program of Croatan Institute.

Programs & Projects

Investor Resources

A Racial Equity Investment Database applying total portfolio activation
Convene diverse stakeholders and publish innovative research on the intersection of finance and social equity

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BLAISE

Increase underserved student representation in the fields of finance and impact investing through the BLAISE internship program
Engage the finance community to remove barriers to entry

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Financial Health

Develop financial health programs for underserved entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers, and households across the nation
Provide a platform of financial resources including learning modules, interactive maps, 1:1 coaching, and more through the FARMWISE Hub

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FARMWISE

In 2021, we launched our first cohort to support underserved farmers on their journey toward financial health. Now, we’re taking that mission to the next level with FARMWISE: Financial Agriculture Resources for Maximizing Wealth, Income Stability, and the Environment—a transformative initiative designed to empower farmers like never before

Building on the work of our Financial Health Investment Project, which takes a place-based and individualized approach to supporting farmers on their financial resilience journey, we are thrilled to introduce the FARMWISE Hub, an innovative platform designed to break down barriers and provide underserved farmers, ranchers, and landowners with the financial knowledge they need to succeed. FARMWISE offers comprehensive tools and guidance to navigate USDA programs and improve financial health.

In line with our commitment to inclusivity, the FARMWISE platform and its services are accessible in both English and Spanish—ensuring that we increase access to those on the journey to financial empowerment.

Together, we’re cultivating a future where underserved farmers have the tools they need to build sustainable, prosperous, and resilient operations.

RE-Allocate Campaign

The RE-Allocate campaign is part of our work to encourage investors and capital allocators to pursue racial equity investing within their investment portfolios. This campaign builds on the research of the Capital at a Crossroad report and its complementary webinar series Redirecting Capital. The goal of the campaign is to encourage investment managers and decision-makers to reallocate 15% of AUM over three-years to invest in America’s emerging majority.

Highlighted Projects & Resources

New Tool Launch – Introducing the Racial Equity Investment Database

We are thrilled to launch the Racial Equity Investment Database, including hundreds of firms and investable products across asset classes. ...

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Capital at a Crossroads: Redirecting Capital to Accelerate Racial Equity

Since the events of 2020, our nation has arrived at a crossroads. To create a more equitable future for all ...

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Financial Health Investment Project

This project aims to increase the financial health of Black and other minority farmers and landowners through online financial coaching ...

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History OF REEFS

Since its launch in 2014, Croatan Institute has made tackling structural racism in finance central to our mission. In response to the persistent racial segregation and lack of diversity we observed within the sustainable business and investing community (and financial services more broadly), we organized an internal “brain trust” composed of some of the Institute’s advisory board members and senior fellows. In 2018, after years of engagement with professionals of color working on equity issues, the Racial Equity, Economics, Finance, and Sustainability (REEFS) program and its Steering Committee were formalized.

At the 2018 Croatan Forum, the first REEFS Roundtable was held, bringing together more than 40 stakeholders to advance opportunities for black and brown communities.