Campaign 5000

Campaign 5000 is a call for African American people to pool all available resources and create their own economic self-sufficiency. The Black Dollar Task Force defines community as people who are held together by common self-interest and by how they spend their money. The end effect of all community must be group self-sufficiency. Thus, even though geographic boundaries generally are a primary indicator of community, we believe that common self-interest and economic inter-dependence are the primary factors that define authentic community.

Campaign 5000 is a comprehensive strategic plan to create financial institutions available to those who have been historically locked out of this country's economic opportunities.

Campaign 5000, a development program of the Black Dollar Task Force, complements the primary goals of the organization, which are:

• To create a cooperative relationship between business development and community organizing.
• To regain the dignity of the African American community through corporate community economics.
• To create a structured opportunity for full and sustainable employment for African American people.
• To create structures that guarantee equal benefit from corporate and government reinvestment in inner cities.
• To create an economic base that enhances the solidarity of deprived communities.

It is under the first principal, creating cooperative relationships, that the Black Dollar Task Force sought technical assistance from other organizations including the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, the Washington Association of Churches, A Territory Resource, and private corporate executives. This process has led to permanent relationships with these groups and their involvement in the Endowment Fund.

The Campaign 5000 program consists of:
Fundraising from individuals, corporations, small businesses, and foundations; Investment of an African American Community Endowment Fund; and Operation of the Campaign 5000 Loan Fund.

The "Stakeholders" in Campaign 5000 are primarily low-income African Americans who have contributed a minimum of $200 to the African American Community Endowment Fund. Stakeholders are the owners of all Campaign 5000SM activities; boards; loan repayment records; and the design of the future growth of the community financial institutions.

The Campaign 5000 African American Community Endowment Fund is the entity that generates income through socially responsible investments. The income generated from the Endowment Fund is transferred quarterly to the Loan Fund. One hundred percent of the principal funds deposited into the Endowment Fund remain in the fund.

The Campaign 5000 Loan Fund specializes in lending to small, inner-city businesses that are considered high risk by traditional lending sources. The Loan Fund is a development tool that transitions business owners from alternative borrowing to traditional bank loans. Loans made through the Campaign 5000SM Loan Fund are reviewed and approved by a qualified board of Stakeholders, ranging from loan officers to community business owners.