The Self-Help Association for a Regional Economy (SHARE)
is a model community-based nonprofit that offers a simple
way for citizens to create a sustainable local economy
by supporting businesses that provide products or services
needed in the region. SHARE makes micro-credit loans available
at manageable interest rates to businesses that are often
considered "high risk" by traditional lenders—usually
because of their credit ratings or the unique nature of
their business ideas. Local SHARE members make interest-earning
deposits in a local bank, which are used to collateralize
loans for local businesses with a positive community impact.
SHARE depositors live in the same community as the business
owners they support—bringing a human face back to
lending decisions.
The documents available below describe SHARE in detail and
provide all the forms and agreements needed to start a SHARE
program in your region. We also recommend reading the essay,
Local Currencies:
Catalysts for Sustainable Regional Economies, by
Robert Swann and Susan Witt, to understand the background
of the SHARE program.
Other Microcredit Programs and Materials
SHARE Handbook of Documents: For Use
in Establishing a Community-Based Small Business Loan
Collateralization Program
I. What is SHARE?
A. Introduction to SHARE
Online | PDF
B. Assumptions Underlying the SHARE Program
Online | PDF
C. A Real Story About the Impact of SHARE
Online | PDF
D. Congressional Testimony About SHARE before the
House Select Committee on Hunger
Online | PDF
E. Article in The New Farm, "What's
Your Money Doing Tonight?" by Fred Zahradnik, January
1984
Online
II. Corporate Documents
A. Bylaws
Online | PDF | download
editable .rtf document
B. Articles of Incorporation
Online | PDF | download
editable .rtf
document
III. New Account Documents
A. New Member Welcome Letter
Online | PDF
B. Deposit Agreement Form - Sets terms and obligations
entailed in creating a SHARE deposit
Online | PDF
C. Depositor Consent Form - Authorizes SHARE to use
deposits to collateralize loans
Online | PDF
D. Example Deposit Slips
<172
KB Jpeg> <276
KB PDF>
E. Brochure
side one: <432 KB
Jpeg> <796
KB PDF>
side two: <484 KB
Jpeg> <900
KB PDF>
IV. Loan Collateralization Documents
A. Criteria for Loan Collateralization for Applicants
Online | PDF
B. Loan Collateralization Application Form
Online | PDF
C. Security Agreement Form
Online | PDF
V. Example Letters to SHARE Members
A. Update I
Online | PDF
B. Update II
Online | PDF
C. Update III
Online | PDF
 To
view all PDF links you will need the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
>> Download all compressed documents in single .zip
file < as .pdf > | < as
.rtf > When you "unzip" this file onto
your desktop, select the folder called share_pdfs or share_rtfs
|
