|
|

The Fund

The HELP Fund makes the dream of a sustainable, energy-efficient home a reality for those who need it most

About the
HELP Fund

The HELP Fund is a pioneering green community investment fund. We’re raising $5 million to get Hudson Valley communities off of fossil fuels and provide safe, affordable and energy efficient housing for low-income families, starting with a pilot in Kingston, NY.

The Problem 

Hudson Valley’s low-income families are being left behind—trapped in unsafe, unhealthy homes, struggling with rising energy costs, vulnerable to displacement, and shut out of financial solutions that could help them. As the climate crisis looms, these families face disproportionately greater risks from extreme weather, poor air quality, and rising water levels.

How We HELP 

We created the HELP Fund because we believe that every Hudson Valley family deserves a safe, healthy, resilient, and affordable home – no exceptions. Our commitment to local investment means we’re taking money out of the hands of distant investors and putting it into our own neighborhoods. We’re not just saving homes today, but also preparing them to withstand future crises and emergencies, building a stronger, more resilient Hudson Valley for all.

The HELP Fund is...

Generating inclusive financing for people and communities facing systemic exclusion to accelerate a just and local renewable energy transition
Grounded in the community, advised by a community council and implemented by Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Supported by innovative partnerships with NYSERDA, a local banking partner, philanthropy, and investors like you

Why Invest Locally?

Our money should create a positive impact in local communities—not just fuel Wall Street profits. 

The HELP Fund is a local solution for strengthening community resilience to climate change. Every dollar invested stays in the Hudson Valley, building community health, wealth, and access to housing. We are open to investors of all income and experience levels, enabling neighbors to support neighbors.

Whether you are a community member looking to make a difference, an experienced impact investor, or representing an organization that wants to make real change. The HELP Fund makes it easy for everyone to get involved and see tangible results.

Your investment helps us connect vital resources directly to low-income residents who need them most, and ensures that the benefits of the clean energy transition are accessible to those who need them most. 

The HELP Fund’s financing is coupled with wraparound technical assistance through Mid-Hudson Energy Transition’s Home Upgrade Grants (HUG) Program. This program provides free project management support for upgrades and connects participants to existing state incentives. Learn more about the HUG Program here.

No one in our community should have to choose between keeping the lights on, staying warm, or keeping a roof over their head. We’re changing that – together. With MHET’s deep roots in Kingston and the Hudson Valley, your investment directly impacts the people and places you care about.

Our Fund is Different

Our Fund is reserved for individuals and households who earn <80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)

Our Fund allows community members (non-accredited investors) to invest, fostering ownership and solidarity

Our Fund prioritizes project viability, impact, and community connections over financial history

Our Fund aims to align loan payments with existing fossil fuel expenses, ensuring individuals experience no increase in their bills

Our Fund provides free-of-charge project management of home upgrades  through our parent organization, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition

Our Fund has built-in features that support borrowers to build and stabilize credit, generate passive income, and boost financial literacy

Invest

How to invest

1
Please read our Offering Memorandum in its entirety.
2

Consult the personal finance worksheet if you are unsure how much to invest.

3

Browse the below investment options and select the “Invest” button next to your desired option to invest online.

Contact us with any questions about the HELP Fund at invest@mid-hudson.energy.

Investment Options

The tiered structure of these notes will allow non-accredited investors – who are generally taking the most risk – to receive the highest return on investment.

Community Note

Who can invest?
Non-accredited investors in NY, DE, HI, IL, ME, OR, TX, MA, or RI
Annual return target
4%
Term length

2 years (with automatic renewals for successive 2-year terms)

Investment amount
(min – max)

$100 – $10,000

Impact Note

Who can invest?
Accredited investors
Annual return target
3%
Term length
5 years
Investment amount
$5,000 +

Mission Note

Who can invest?

Accredited
investors and institutions

Annual return target
0%
Term length

10 years

Investment amount
$25,000+

Gift

Who can donate?

Anyone!

Annual return target
None
Term length
None
Donation amount
$5

Measures

Pre-electrification
  • Electric wiring and panel upgrades
Weatherization
  • Insulation
  • Air sealing
Renewable energy
  • Solar panels
  • Micro-wind
  • Hydro
  • Battery storage
Energy efficiency
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Smart thermostat
Pre-efficiency
  • Remediation or containment of mold, lead, asbestos
  • Structural repairs
  • Deferred maintenance
Electrification

Of heating, cooking, cooling systems 

Electric vehicles, scooters, and bikes
Pre-electrification
  • Electric wiring and panel upgrades
Weatherization
  • Insulation
  • Air sealing
Renewable energy
  • Solar panels
  • Micro-wind
  • Hydro
  • Battery storage
Energy efficiency
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Smart thermostat
Pre-efficiency
  • Remediation or containment of mold, lead, asbestos
  • Structural repairs
  • Deferred maintenance
Electrification

Of heating, cooking, cooling systems 

Electric vehicles, scooters, and bikes

Impact

Climate

Reduced emissions, increased energy efficiency, grid resilience

Health

Healthier homes, positive health outcomes, reduced medical bills

Wealth

Lower energy bills, increased property values, reduced late fees, increased credit scores and lendability, more local spending

Housing Justice

Preventing displacement and reducing housing insecurity by keeping people in their homes

Values

Innovation

We are constantly creating new ideas, solutions, and systems

Impact

We create meaningful and measurable outcomes that advance climate, health, housing, and economic justice

Inclusion

We cater to those who are traditionally excluded from financial systems

Integrity

We foster relationships built on trust, prioritizing transparency and accountability to our community

Our Team

Jasmine Graham

Executive Director and Board Secretary

Rosalie Fransen

Fund Director

Portia Allen-Kyle

Board Member

Veekas Ashoka

Board Member

Jerome Cox

Board Member

Kate Davidoff

Board Member

Susan Gillespie

Board President

Simon Strauss

Board Treasurer

Estefany Umbach

Board Member

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Please read our Offering Memorandum in its entirety. 
  2. Consult the personal finance worksheet if you are unsure how much to invest
  3. Browse our investment options under the “Invest” section on this website and select the “Invest” button next to your desired option to invest online. 


We also welcome
donations to the HELP Fund.

An accredited investor is a person or a business entity who is allowed to deal in securities that may not be registered with financial authorities. They are entitled to this access if they satisfy one (or more) requirements regarding income, net worth, asset size, governance status or professional experience. Accredited investors include natural high net worth individuals, banks, insurance companies, brokers and trusts.

Standard criteria used to qualify accredited investors are as follows:

  • Income over $200,000 (individually) or $300,000 (with spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years, and reasonably expects the same for the current year
  • Net worth over $1 million, excluding primary residence (individually or with spouse or partner)
  • Investment professionals in good standing holding the general securities representative license (Series 7), the investment adviser representative license (Series 65), or the private securities offerings representative license (Series 82)


A non-accredited investor is someone who does not meet these net worth requirements.

Non-accredited investors from NY, DE, HI, IL, ME, OR, TX, MA, or RI are invited to invest in our Community Notes; accredited investors are invited to invest in our Impact Notes or Mission Notes.

The HELP Fund is a project of the Mid-Hudson Energy Equity Fund, a supporting 501(c)(3) organization to Mid-Hudson Energy Transition.
The pilot location of the Home Energy Loan Program is the City of Kingston, NY but we plan to expand across the mid-Hudson region.

No, our notes are non-transferable.

Gifts and donations enable us to complement our extremely low-interest loans with grant funding. They will also support the HELP Fund’s loan loss reserve to secure the investments of working and middle class investors, and enable us to keep interest rates on our loans low.

Unfortunately we cannot accept investments from outside of the United States at this time. Consider donating to the HELP Fund instead.

Contact Us

Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about the HELP Fund.

Interested in investing? Contact us with any questions about the HELP Fund or to schedule a meeting with our Fund Director.

Interested in borrowing from the HELP Fund? Opportunities will be posted on the Mid-Hudson Energy Transition website.

Disclaimer: This overview is not an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities; the offering is made solely by the HELP Fund’s Offering Memorandum.

Stay in Touch!