After four decades of transforming how America thinks about community investment, Donna Gambrell is entering a new chapter. As she prepares to step down as CEO of Appalachian Community Capital at year's end, we explore the remarkable legacy of the woman who rewrote the rules of community finance. From her groundbreaking tenure as the first African American woman to lead the Treasury's CDFI Fund to her transformative work in Appalachia, Gambrell didn't just witness the evolution of community development—she led it. As she calls it a "reorientation" rather than retirement, discover how her vision shaped an entire sector and what her next chapter might hold for communities nationwide.

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The activists are back for another season of asking the big questions that matter most. Renegade Capital Season 5 returns this fall with Andrea Longton, Ebony Perkins, and Leah Fremouw diving deeper into the intersection of finance, social justice, and community impact—at a moment when everything is on the line.

This is a defining moment for our communities, our economy, and our planet. The pressures are unprecedented, but so are the possibilities. When traditional systems are strained to their breaking point, innovation happens fastest. When the stakes are highest, communities dig deepest.

We're exploring the questions this moment demands: How do we build resilient community wealth when everything feels uncertain? What does environmental justice look like when the rules keep changing? How can community finance adapt and thrive under pressure? And why do the most powerful solutions often emerge from the most challenging times?

From community development under pressure to sustainable investing in uncertain times—Season 5 brings you the conversations, strategies, and solutions that are not just surviving this moment, but transforming it.

Join us this fall as we explore how communities are turning unprecedented challenges into unprecedented opportunities for a financial system that truly serves people and planet.

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15 years ago, some of the world’s wealthiest promised to give away at least half their fortunes through the Giving Pledge. Over a decade later, how much have they really given? In this episode, we unpack a recent update on the pledge, explore why many billionaires fell short, and discuss why real change can’t wait for the ultra-rich. Instead, we share how communities and everyday people can drive impact now and why the power to shape the future might be closer than we think.

Check out the link below to read the article referenced in this episode:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/giving-pledge-buffett-gates-billionaires-philanthropy.html

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