Orchids symbolize resilience, adaptability, and interconnectedness. We are inspired by how they flourish in the margins, drawing strength from and weaving intricate ecosystems. So this is where we invest: in what has been excluded and in ways that honor care, community, and complexity.
how we work
capital as a tool for care
Community care leaders shouldn’t struggle to survive while delivering essential care, especially when that care offers higher quality and better outcomes. Systems that should sustain them instead overlook their value or demand returns that undermine their purpose.
We believe that how we do our work is just as important as what we do. Orchid uses capital as care: grants to repair and sustain, and loans that flex with the community's needs while building resilient infrastructure.
And because money alone isn’t enough, we also provide strategic support so leaders have the healing, relational, and financial networks and tools to thrive.
the orchid model:
the anatomy of growth
We meet people where they are, moving capital along a spectrum of reparative to regenerative, so capital supports organizations as they root, stabilize, and evolve.
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This is capital for work that is blooming and re-blooming. It blends non-extractive and reparative approaches to anchor steady cycles of growth and renewal, and build on proven, sustainable models ready to expand and deepen their broader impact.
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This capital signals budding or new possibilities. It is flexible, risk-adjusted funding that sparks growth, attracts co-investment, and accelerates what wouldn’t otherwise be financed.
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Like the leaves, this capital tells the story of what is needed without extracting essential resources. It honors the principle that capital should not deepen debt, dependency, or harm, and offers patient funding to preserve autonomy and fuel steady, healthy growth for enterprises with emerging revenue streams ready to handle repayment without undue burden.
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Like the stem base, this capital stores strength and stability. It acknowledges harm and is used to prevent further damage, seed innovation and infrastructure, and enable generative failure. It prioritizes organizations and projects launching intentional growth initiatives with a focus on stabilizing and building financial resilience.
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Like the roots, this capital accompanies other resources with unrestricted grants to anchor and enrich the ecosystem. It redistributes resources to repair harm, strengthen the foundation for patient growth, and value relational, cultural, and other types of capital and returns.
testing this approach
We have been operating a pilot fund from October 2023 - July 2025, deploying grants and recoverable grants to seed and build a clearer picture of how to move resources with care and rigor.
pilot fund impact
$1.27M
in direct investment
$694K
dedicated specifically to real estate acquisition and development—enabling community birth centers and care organizations to secure, expand, or anchor their spaces
$430K
in additional capital for technical assistance, providing holistic, wrap-around support beyond financial investment
$150K
average check size, reflecting a commitment to right-sized, flexible funding
100%
of pilot fund capital allocated to community birth centers
84%
going to Black- or Native-led and serving organizations
partner spotlight
Mamatoto Village
Mamatoto Village is devoted to serving Black women through the creation of career pathways in maternal health; and providing accessible perinatal support services designed to equip women with the necessary tools to make the most informed decisions in their maternity care, parenting, and lives.
Washington, DC
what we’ve learned so far
We are encouraged by what we have learned and inspired by the opportunities that exist across the ecosystem. Starting with reparative capital demonstrated what is required to build, and that this is possible if we stay aligned with purpose and values.
lesson one:
The most effective models are built around community and care.
Community-based organizations build at the intersection of culture, economic power, environment, healthcare access, and collective wellness. This must be met with capital that enables sustainable economic modeling through collaboration across aligned sectors like housing and food justice.
lesson two:
Capital unlocks more capital.
When funders co-invest, even starting at $50K, those resources can de-risk and open doors to banks, CDFIs, impact funds, and other allocators. Moving beyond restricted, programmatic grants toward abundant, flexible capital is the shift both funders and communities need to build lasting stability.
lesson three:
Time is a justice issue
The ebbs and flows of policy and the environment necessitate that investments and resources operate beyond urgency, ensuring space to build mindfully with time for healing, assessment, and capacity building. This ensures investment mirrors how the community organizes and builds with generations in mind.
what’s next
We have planted the seed with the pilot fund. We will soon launch a charitable, evergreen loan fund and a holistic capacity-building and technical assistance program designed to bridge resource gaps, thereby circulating and growing capital over time. We aim to create a sustainable capital source to expand access to quality care and build resilience and reciprocity across the ecosystem.
Stay tuned for news and announcements!
