Community ownership is a strategy that gives long-time residents, workers and local institutions greater ability to own assets in their neighborhoods and make decisions about them. In practice, this approach to power-building can many forms, including land trusts, cooperatives, democratic investment funds, neighborhood real estate investment trusts and more.

Potential economic benefits include:

• Greater access to homeownership and increased likelihood of home retention
• Increased resilience to economic instability
• Broader distribution of intergenerational wealth

A new report from the Urban Institute shares insights from nonprofits across the country that are implementing community ownership models. It also offers practical recommendations for funders interested in supporting community-led ownership and self-determination.