Align your money with your values
Invest in local businesses. Promote a vibrant and sustainable economy.
WHO ARE WE?
Angels of Main Street is a nation-wide investment community for ANYONE who wants to learn about investing directly in businesses that are doing work you care about.
Our community is open to EVERYONE—you can be an Angel investor too!
There is NO MINIMUM net worth or income requirement—you DO NOT need to be an accredited investor.
Join our community and become an
Angel of Main Street...
MEET SOME OF OUR ANGELS
Tracy Gray is the Founder and Managing Partner of The 22 Fund (The 22)—an impact, growth equity, and advisory firm. But she hasn’t always worked in finance—she started out as a systems engineer on the Space Shuttle program, she’s managed indie bands, and was a senior advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
In 2015, Tracy gave a TEDx Talk entitled “Why It's Time for Women to Be Sexist with Investment Capital.” Due to the overwhelming response, Tracy founded the non-profit We Are Enough, which is focused on increasing the flow of capital to women entrepreneurs by educating women on how and why to invest in women-owned, for-profit businesses and/or with a gender lens.
With a current portfolio of 22 investments in women-led companies, Nancy Hayes is an active angel investor and advisor to women entrepreneurs.
Nancy was a senior executive of the IBM Corporation for almost 20 years and served as CEO of two social services nonprofit organizations—WISE Senior Services and the Starbright Foundation.
For six years, Nancy served as the Dean of the College of Business at San Francisco State University and as the university’s CFO for two years. Nancy cofounded a rewards-based crowdfunding site and was Managing Director of Golden Seeds Silicon Valley chapter, a national angel investment network with the goal of achieving above-market returns by investing in women-led businesses.
Felipe Witchger is passionate about racial equity, sustainability, and social good, and he knows first-hand that one can realize financial and social benefits from mindful investment. He has written extensively on his experience in the mainstream investment paradigm and his decision to move his money into purpose driven investment. Through his involvement in a community purchasing alliance co-op, Felipe has overseen investments in 75 churches and schools in Durham, North Carolina with 60% of contracts won by POC-owned businesses.
Through mindful investing, Felipe has found great satisfaction and contentment with his investments in small local businesses such as his kids’ favorite bakery. For more from Felipe, check out "My Investing Turmoil," "Truly Ethical Investing: Finally, A Step Towards Making My Conscience Happier," and his website.
Michelle Greenwood’s interest in values-driven investment reaches back nearly a decade to her time as a financial advisor. Watching others move money from Wall Street to main street, she learned to see financial resources as tools for change.
In 2014 she committed to the idea full-time as a director for Slow Money SoCal. Today she continues her work with the social enterprise, Good Capital Projects, which she founded in 2017.
Michelle’s personal investment thesis builds on her early investment work with small food businesses, though she is also open to other types of social enterprise.
WHY JOIN US?
You may not think of yourself as an investor, but if you have ever bought a home, invested in the stock market, or contributed to a retirement account, you ARE an investor! But did you know that you can also align your investments with your values and invest directly in the small businesses and causes you care about? When you join our community of Angels you will...
Grow businesses that are making the world a better place
Create millions of jobs in our communities
Fund solutions to our greatest social and environmental problems
Learn from talented entrepreneurs and business professionals you can trust
BENEFITS OF BECOMING AN ANGEL
Access to comprehensive training on investing led by lawyers, investors, and successful entrepreneurs
Access to a community of like-minded investors
Early notice of investment opportunities and invitations to on-line and in-person events for mission-driven investors, entrepreneurs, and change-makers
WHAT DO WE ASK IN RETURN?
$100 one-time membership fee
Commit to investing at least $500 per year directly in small businesses
Join Our Referral Program
We want our community to grow! We pay a $40 commission every time you refer someone to join. If you would like to sign up as a referral partner, click here to get started, and you will receive a personalized link that your referrals can use when they join Angels of Main Street. Note: You must be a member of AMS to be a referral partner.
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
-Louis Brandeis, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We have the answers.
How does it work?
Click the "Get started" button to pay your one-time membership fee. You will receive an email with instructions on how to access our online training platform, and a schedule of upcoming meetings and events. The online training is self-paced so you can complete it on your own schedule.
What if I don't know anything about investing?
All the more reason to join us! Our training explains what you need to know about investing in small business. You will also have the opportunity to communicate with other Angels to help you make investment decisions.
What if I can’t find anything I want to invest $500 in during my year of membership?
We ask that you make a good faith effort to invest at least $500 per year in a small business of your choosing. If you are having trouble finding a business to invest in, you can schedule a call with us and we can help you identify options.
Do I have to pay the $100 membership fee each year?
No, your $100 membership fee is a one-time expense.
Do you vet the investments that are shown to Angel community members?
Yes, we only show investments that we believe are creating positive impact in the world and have a relatively well thought-out business model with potential for future growth and success. However, all investing is risky. You will need to make your own investment decisions and only invest what you can afford to lose.
What if I join Angels of Main Street mid-year? Do I still have to invest $500 by the end of the year?
You may either consider your "year" to be 12 months from the date you joined AMS, or you may prorate your first year investments with a plan to invest $500 or more in the new calendar year.
I know an entrepreneur who wants to raise money. Can they present their investment to the Angel community?
There are strict legal requirements about how investment opportunities can be presented to potential investors. All companies that present to our community must have completed the legal work required to be able to make their offering publicly. If you know an entrepreneur who would like to do this, please share this link with them: jennykassan.com/strategsession They can request a strategy session, and if it looks like a good fit, we will schedule a call to discuss next steps.
Join the movement now and align your investments with your values!
Angels of Main Street is a program of Jenny Kassan Consulting
Disclaimer: Neither Jenny Kassan Consulting, its agents and representatives, nor participants in the Angels of Main Street program, gives investment advice. Investing in securities involves risk, and you should not invest unless you can afford to lose the entire amount of your investment.