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Blue Forest has received certification by the California Department of Insurance as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This designation strengthens Blue Forest’s capacity to raise institutional capital to support both rural community initiatives and critical ecosystem restoration projects.

The CDFI Certification Program is managed by the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), which operates under the California Department of Insurance. COIN was established in 1996 and is a collaborative effort between the California Department of Insurance, the insurance industry, community affordable housing and economic development organizations, and community advocates. The COIN Impact Investment Marketplace facilitates voluntary insurance industry investments that benefit California’s environment and its low-to-moderate income and rural communities. Awarded to a subset of asset managers on the Impact Investment Marketplace that complete an extensive evaluation process, COIN CDFI Certification recognizes mission-driven community organizations, separate from government control, dedicated to providing financial products and services to low-income communities underserved by traditional financial markets. In 2023, there were 14 COIN-certified CDFIs.

Blue Forest was introduced to COIN by CSAA Insurance Group–a long-time participant in and supporter of the initiative–and subsequently received COIN Impact Investment Marketplace approval for the Yuba I & II Forest Resilience Bonds as well as the California Wildfire Innovation Fund I. Now, the COIN CDFI Certification validates Blue Forest’s impact alignment for insurance investors and will streamline future capital raising through the COIN Impact Investment Marketplace.

Since our founding, the Blue Forest team has been committed to introducing institutional investors to innovative financing opportunities at the same time as expanding access to capital markets for rural communities and environmental organizations. We have built an experienced investment team supported by a sophisticated back office in order to act as a high-capacity, institutional-grade facilitator. Partnerships with organizations like COIN are also essential to amplify and validate Blue Forest’s mission, and we are excited to continue working with the California Department of Insurance to expand investment opportunities and direct capital toward high-priority restoration initiatives across the state.