For Donors/Investors
CataCap is built to make impact investing accessible – even at small amounts – by pooling donations and minimizing costs.
CataCap charges no fees to ventures receiving investments. All fees support donor services, compliance, and long-term platform sustainability as a nonprofit.
Here’s how fees work:
All payment types include a CataCap platform fee of 1.25% per year, pre-deducted for the first 4 years (totaling 5%)
Then the fees vary depending on your payment type. The rates:
- Credit card donations: Our credit card fees are 2.2% of the total + $0.30 transaction fee
- Bank (ACH) transfers: 0.8% per transaction for standard settlement timing, max $5.00; $1.50 per instant bank account validation.
All fees are taken from your donor account balance – not your tax deduction. Your full donation amount is tax-deductible at the time of giving.
Would you like help or additional details, or to have your own desired donation calculated for fees? Contact us at support@catacap.org.
Because you’re donating to a 501(c)(3), you’re not the investor —CataCap is. This allows your donation to fund for-profit impact ventures without needing to be accredited or navigate securities rules. Any returns flow back to your donor account, not your personal bank account.
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable account that lets you make a tax-deductible donation, then recommend how those funds are granted out over time. Think of it as a flexible, low-cost alternative to a private foundation – with fewer administrative burdens.
With CataCap, you can use your DAF to recommend grants into impact investments. Your DAF provider sends the funds to the Impactree Foundation, which then invests in vetted ventures listed on CataCap. Any returns are credited to your CataCap donor account, where you can reinvest or grant to other nonprofits – amplifying the impact of your original donation.
Yes! Your donor-advised fund (DAF) or foundation can recommend grants for impact investing on CataCap – just like any other charitable grant. While most DAF capital today is invested in traditional markets (often misaligned with values), CataCap allows you to redirect those funds toward vetted impact ventures.
You get the same tax benefits while the funds are invested in companies that align with your mission and can generate returns to be reinvested or granted out again – amplifying your impact.
Legally, it’s a charitable donation to the Impactree Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that runs CataCap. Those funds are then used to make impact investments into social and environmental ventures. Returns generated come back to your CataCap donor account to be reinvested or granted out – extending your impact over time.
Impact investing means deploying capital into ventures that aim to generate both financial returns and measurable social or environmental benefits. With CataCap, your donation fuels businesses solving real-world problems – all while your funds grow inside the charitable ecosystem.
When you donate through CataCap —via DAF, foundation, or direct contribution —your funds are pooled and invested into for-profit impact ventures or funds. Unlike traditional platforms that require $25K+ minimums, CataCap enables investing from $250. Returns flow back to your donor account, where they can be reinvested or granted out, creating a lasting impact cycle.
CataCap helps your donation do more. Instead of being used once, your donation is invested into scalable solutions like clean tech or inclusive finance. Returns stay in your donor account to support future causes – so your gift keeps working. You support innovation, maintain philanthropic intent, and expand your impact with each reinvestment.
Your recommended allocation is held until the campaign reaches its funding goal. Then it’s invested alongside others into the selected venture or fund. As returns come in, they’re credited to your CataCap donor account.
When you donate to make impact investments through CataCap, you gain several tax advantages:
- Immediate Deduction: Your full donation is tax-deductible at the time of contribution.
- Tax-Free Growth: Any investment returns grow tax-free inside your donor account.
- No Tax Reporting: No K-1s or capital gains to track – just one initial receipt.
Returns are always reinvested or granted out, keeping them within the philanthropic system. - Reinvestment or Grants: The returns generated by the investments can be reinvested into other impact ventures or granted to charitable causes, continuing the philanthropic cycle.
In short, investing through CataCap via a donation offers significant tax benefits, eliminates ongoing tax reporting, and allows capital in the charitable endowment to grow tax-free, all while supporting impactful businesses and charitable causes.
When you contribute through CataCap, your donation goes to the Impactree Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. CataCap then invests those funds into for-profit ventures that deliver measurable social or environmental impact.
You’re not investing personally – you’re recommending a charitable donation to be used as catalytic capital. If that investment generates returns, those funds come back to your CataCap donor account, where you can reinvest in new ventures or grant to any nonprofit, foundation, or DAF of your choice.
It’s a way to use your giving to fund innovation and scale impact – while staying fully within the charitable ecosystem.
First navigate to your desired investment to support on the CataCap platform, then follow your DAF or foundation payment instructions.
Include the following details when you arrange your grant:
- Donation Recipient: Impactree Foundation
- Project Name: CataCap – [Insert specific project name]
- EIN: 86-2370923
- Email: support@impactree.org
- Address: 3749 Buchanan St Unit 475207, San Francisco, CA 94147
Yes. You can donate directly via credit card or bank transfer (ACH). All donations go to the Impactree Foundation (a 501(c)(3)), making them fully tax-deductible.
Your donation is then invested into impact ventures or funds, and any returns flow back to your CataCap donor account – not your personal account – to reinvest or grant again for more impact.
Yes. Please see our payments page for details, or else reach out to support@catacap.org with your intended donation medium. Our team is glad to work with you.
You can do either.
- Direct donors can be given via credit card or bank transfer.
- DAF/foundation donors can recommend grants as usual.
All funds go through the Impactree Foundation, keeping your donation tax-deductible and eligible for impact investment via CataCap.
$250 is the standard minimum for impact investments on CataCap.
If a campaign hasn’t yet raised $25,000, the minimum is $2,500. Once the $25K threshold is crossed, all donors can participate from $250 and up – opening access to more people at different giving levels.
No. Donations are irrevocable once made – but they can continue to work for the world. Any returns from the investment are credited back to your CataCap donor account. You decide how to allocate them: reinvest in new ventures or funds, grant to nonprofits, or send back to your DAF.
For Group Leaders
A Group is a community of donors – led by a person or organization – who collaborate to fund a shared portfolio of impact investments. Groups can be thematic (e.g., climate tech), geographic (e.g., Appalachia), or relational (e.g., alumni networks or employee giving circles).
A Group Leader mobilizes their network to channel capital into mission-aligned investments. You don’t manage the investments themselves – you curate opportunities, rally supporters, and help your group fund solutions that matter to you.
Group Leaders are champions – they bring people together around a shared cause or theme and guide where their group’s charitable capital flows. They do not manage the underlying businesses.
Investments are the companies or funds being funded. These are run by separate founders or managers responsible for operations and outcomes.
Think of it this way: the Group Leader is the organizer, the Investment is the recipient.
A Group Leader is anyone with a strong network and a clear mission. Group Leaders include:
- Individuals passionate about a cause
- Foundations or donor collaboratives
- Corporations organizing employee giving
- Advisors guiding clients into purpose-driven capital
All you need is a commitment to raise at least $50K across one or more ventures.
No. Group Leaders can be individuals, companies, or organizations.
For example, some companies organize employee giving groups through CataCap. This lets them:
- Support mission-aligned impact ventures
- Engage employees with values-based investing
- Recycle returns into future philanthropy
- Offer upfront tax-deductible giving
Any person or group with a purpose and a network can lead a Group on CataCap.
Because it’s aligned, flexible, and underused.
CataCap connects ventures with capital from a $2 trillion pool of philanthropic funds – most of which isn’t currently invested for impact. This kind of capital offers key advantages:
- Patient and values-aligned: No pressure for fast exits or inflated returns
- Higher risk tolerance: Donors already received a tax benefit, so they’re focused on outcomes – not personal gain
- Mission-first structure: Terms can prioritize purpose over profit, helping you stay true to your impact goals
For impact companies and funds, this is catalytic capital – purpose-built to fuel long-term change.
We do! Check out Empower Her, doing fabulous work to support female-led impact businesses.
Yes! The CataCap team will provide support to you through best practices and tools.
CataCap has details on how to engage as a Group Leader. Thanks for your interest!
For Investments
An Investment on CataCap is any company or fund that accepts capital from philanthropic sources to drive measurable social or environmental impact.
While open to a range of sectors, most investments align with core themes like climate solutions, racial equity, gender justice, and poverty alleviation.
Donated capital comes from DAFs, foundations, or nonprofits. It’s already been given for charitable purposes – so it’s not seeking personal financial return.
Here’s how it differs from traditional investment capital:
- Mission-driven: Prioritizes social or environmental impact over financial upside
- Tax-advantaged: Donors already received a tax deduction, so the focus is impact – not profit
- Patient and flexible: No pressure for fast exits or high IRRs
- Higher risk tolerance: More open to early-stage or unconventional ventures
- Purpose-aligned terms: Capital can be structured in ways that put mission first
For founders, this is catalytic capital that’s often more aligned and accessible than traditional VC.
Donated capital is best suited for ventures with clear, measurable social or environmental impact. While financial returns are welcomed, the primary goal is positive change.
Typical investments include:
- Climate and clean tech solutions
- Circular economy and waste reduction models
- Female- or BIPOC-led businesses
- Companies focused on underserved communities
- LGBTQ-led ventures
CataCap prioritizes ventures that are mission-aligned, impact-focused, and capable of meaningful systems change.
CataCap invests using the same terms as other participants in a funding round. This can include:
- Equity (including SAFEs or convertible notes)
- Loans or revenue participation agreements
- Other standard structures used in venture or private investments
What makes CataCap different is not the structure, but the source and intent of the capital: it’s donated, not personal, so there’s no pressure for fast returns or liquidity. The goal is to support ventures that deliver real, long-term impact.
CataCap aggregates many small donations into a single investment. Instead of dozens of individual names, only one entity – Impactree Foundation – appears on your cap table or loan agreement.
This offers key benefits:
- Simplicity: One line on your cap table, one set of documents
- Compliance: No issues with unaccredited investors – CataCap is a qualified institutional investor
- Efficiency: Access to diverse donor capital without added admin or complexity
CataCap expects financial returns where applicable, but donors are impact-first. Clear social or environmental outcomes matter most. Metrics can be customized and reported over time to demonstrate progress.
CataCap is a strong fit for:
Investors who passed
They liked the mission but declined due to risk or return concerns.
Pitch: “Support us through a tax-deductible donation or DAF grant via CataCap.”
Current investors who want to do more
They want to increase support without using personal capital.
Pitch: “Use DAF or foundation funds to amplify your investment.”
Cause-aligned donors
They already give in your issue area (e.g., climate, equity).
Pitch: “This channels your giving into scalable solutions, not just programs.”
Smaller-scale donors
They’re curious but not ready for a large check.
Pitch: “Start at $250 using charitable dollars – low barrier, high impact.”
CataCap is a charitable platform. Donors make tax-deductible contributions to the Impactree Foundation (a 501(c)(3)), which then invests those funds in impact-driven ventures.
Although the funds are used to make investments, this is not a personal investment – donors do not receive financial returns directly. Instead, all returns are reinvested for future philanthropic impact.
No. You should continue following the same legal and compliance guidelines used in traditional fundraising.
Do not solicit non-accredited investors. Instead, direct them to CataCap, where they can support your venture through tax-deductible donations.
CataCap can provide suggested language to help you communicate appropriately with both accredited and non-accredited contacts.
CataCap makes impact investing accessible by pooling donations – from $250 to over $1M – and passing on institutional benefits. Fees are:
- Credit card donations: Our credit card fees are 2.2% of the total + $0.30 transaction fee
- Bank (ACH) transfers: 0.8% per transaction for standard settlement timing, max $5.00; $1.50 per instant bank account validation.
- CataCap platform fee: 1.25% per year, prepaid for four years (totaling 5%)
All fees are deducted from the donor account – not the tax-deductible amount. Donors receive a receipt for the full donation amount at the time of giving.
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